Scent Sense

Perfume is one of my favorite daily experiences. I love it. I use perfume in moderation and enjoy the scents that others use. I was taken aback one day when during a lecture, a young woman next to me began to huff and chuff and wave her hands about in the air. When I turned to see her odd behaviour, I learned that she was "allergic" to perfume. To the perfume I was wearing. The room was partly to blame in that the ventilation system was faulty. When I spoke with the young lady after the talk, she told me about the symptoms she suffers from breathing in perfumes. I suggested we sit apart  so that neither of us would be bothered. Later, it set me thinking about scent in an entirely different way. I had seen the little elephant signs on mirrors in washrooms and other places warning people to avoid wearing perfume.  From what I understand, certain kinds of perfumes, even the most expensive ones, have ingredients that cause a few individuals to have unpleasant reactions such as headache, feverish symptoms and shortness of breath. For those of us who enjoy perfume, it is difficult because it is a freedom that we have and don't want to be denied. On the other hand, for those with allergies either real or imagined, it is a complex matter. Just as all allergies and sensitivities, there has to be fair play. I can see that if one wears perfume, it should not be so heavy that it can be smelled by anyone a yard away. Perfume used correctly is something that is private and personal, an accessory that is used sparingly and only noticed by those very close, hugging close, is my best description of how intimate perfume ought to be. The matter of banning perfume entirely is offensive to me, therefore, I feel the onus must be on the person with the allergy much like the peanut allergy folk who check out their environment themselves or put out a warning of some kind for others. I have seen  people who walk in pine forests and rose gardens with no trouble at all but feign fainting spells when someone who wears perfume walks by. Perfume makers themselves also must take some responsibility. They should not use in their products, substances that are harmful. And there are circumstances in which absolutely no perfume should be worn by anyone. These would be in medical treatment areas. But even then, some of the smells in hospitals of chemical germicidals etc, are heady matters in themselves. What is mysterious is that in recent years, there is talk of hordes of people suddenly developing allergies of all sorts. I will always remember my aunt Bess, whose dressing table held a pretty blue glass bottle. On it was a label: Evening In Paris. When I was treated by Aunt Bess, to a dab of Evening In Paris, I felt I was no longer a bony six year old, but an elegant lady off to a ball.  That  perfume epiphany, convinced me that scent, like music, can transport someone into an imagined world of magic and wonder and today, causes me to think:  long live perfume!