Smell sensitivity

The smells and aroma's of food being cooked and served outside like chippy vans, BBQs etc makes me feel nauseous.  I'm not sure where it stems from, always thought it was dodgy food I got somewhere when I was young and this has ingrained into my memory.  Though I do have sound and light sensitivities but smells would be a big one.  Would avoid all social interactions involving outside catering if I could, just the thought turns me.  So glad to hear it isn't just me. 

Must give some of these tips a go 

Thanks

Tobacco smoke, vape clouds, any over-applied perfume and some specific perfumes are my main bugbears. I have lost count of the times I have got off a bus at a random stop, and waited for another, because the smell of someone's perfume was unendurable. 

Hello, I do and I would say it makes my life extremely difficult. Not only is my sense of smell extremely acute compared to other people, but also I dislike/fear many smells and experience extreme panic and distress or anger and upset, or physical responses when exposed to them. The worst things for me are smoke (bonfires, wood burners, coal fires, cigarette smoke etc), diesel fumes, petrol lawnmowers and strimmers, burnt/browned toast, cooking smells, and strong fragrances especially from some of the modern laundry detergents and fragrance boosters, this comes from passing by people who are wearing these heavily scented clothes, or people running tumbler driers which vent outside, and people hanging clothes outside. I am traumatised on a daily basis by smells that I have no control over and invest a great deal of time, energy and even money into trying to manage and protect myself from smells. It leaves me exhausted and very alone feeling.

Tips to help.

1)For the last several years I have worn a merino wool "buff"/"neck snood" around my neck at all times during the summer, doubled over, and I wear two in the winter (which makes four layers) so I can always pull it (or them) over my nose and mouth quickly when attacked by a sudden smell. This really helps a lot.

2)Another tip is to carry something, like a cotton hankerchief, which has a few drops of a pure essential oil (that smells in a way that you like) on it, which you can use to calm yourself with.

3) I have just bought an air purifier to use in the house, I am not sure how effective it is at removing smells, but it makes me feel like there is something proactive I can do when smoke from our neighbours is getting in our house.

I think it all depends. Sometimes my brother will cook one of those boxed meals that comes with oven-ready ingredients, often at a fairly late hour, and the smell drifts upstairs (since we have no kitchen door or extractor fan), it can really irritate me, especially when I’m ready for bed. Some dishes are worse than others, and over the years I’ve gotten used to most of them - except when it’s a very spicy smell or something unfamiliar. Other times, he’ll make something quick in the microwave, and because it’s what I consider “normal” food, it’s not too bad. What makes it worse is when I’m not expecting it; it’s easier to handle if I know it’s coming. Funnily enough, I’ve always loved that smell you get when walking past a gas station, as long as it’s not too overpowering. I’m afraid I can’t stand the body odour of some people, even though they may not be able to help it.

I do, but other than avoiding people I don't know what to do about it. My worst ones are perfumes and laundry products and foods, BBQ's, fish and chips and the smell of roast dinner form over the hedge, I can't get it out of my nose now.

I thought that getting older would make my sense of smell less acute, but it seems to be getting more sensitive