Fragrance sensitivity

[terkatz56]

My DS has a sensitivity to most colonges and perfumes, she is going on her first cruise to Alaska this Sept. I enjoy the formal dinners but am concerned about her problem with fragrance. Has anyone else encountered this problem and any suggestions on how to minimize her exposure? I think we will try one night at the formal dining room and get a table for just the four of us, otherwise we may have to use the LIDO, as it seems more open. Thank-you for any ideas.

[vjw1218]

I have never known it to be a problem. My father has the same problem and even the slightest scent can set him off. That isn't to say you won't encounter that on your cruise, however.

 

I hope you get to experience and enjoy at least one formal night. It is definitely something special to remember! :)

[kakalina]

I may get flamed for this, I hope not. We have found that the younger the pax mix the less of a problem you will encounter. OK, here it comes, I have found that some few older persons seem to bathe in the stuff.

If it really bothers you, as it does me, try to stay out of the elevators on formal nights, that is when it is at its worst.

Hope this helps some.

[norcal2]

My DH has a bad reaction to perfume if there is nowhere to go. We flew to Mexico and the stewardess overdid it. My DH was really nauseated the entire flight. We've been on a few cruises and have not run into that problem. If she just gets a little woozy she can easily get away from the offending odor on a ship. She should be fine but it depends on what her reaction to it is. I am just assuming that is is just discomfort and an upset stomach which should ease as soon as she gets away from it. If she experiences bigger problems she should ask her doctor before leaving. He or she may have something to ease it.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I am very sensitive to perfumes, smoke, even some stronger deoderants! The only time I had issues on cruises is waiting in line in front of the dining room or in the elevator on formal nights. It does seem that some of the older women like to wear really strong perfume. I just walk away ASAP. We always request a small table for our party so I don't have to smell anything/anyone offensive during dinner.

[esther e]

I may get flamed for this, I hope not. We have found that the younger the pax mix the less of a problem you will encounter. OK, here it comes, I have found that some few older persons seem to bathe in the stuff.

If it really bothers you, as it does me, try to stay out of the elevators on formal nights, that is when it is at its worst.

Hope this helps some.

 

 

How right you are!!! I am of the "more matronly set," yet cannot stand any heavy scents or overly sweet. Of course, I am perfect and use just the right amount of fragrance;). Seriously, if anyone smelled Youth Dew by Estee Lauder it will knock you off your feet. Dreadful stuff. As is any of the heavier scents, Opium, etc.; they bother me a lot.

[newmexicoNita]

well I don't think there is too much one can do about the over-use of smelly stuff. Trying to get a table for two is your best bet, otherwise just hope you are not at a table with someone who doesn't know, a little goes a long way. By the way, we have never had this problem on any ship...

 

Nita

[English_in_Spain]

I have a major problem with this. Not just on cruise ships but in restaurants etc. It affects me like a bad case of hayfever - streaming eyes and sneezing. I have even had situations in restaurants when the wait staff are wearing perfumes (male and female).

 

Also, on occasions, we have had to change tables in a restaurant.

 

On a cruise, we always book a table for 2. Avoid elevators (not just on formal nights but any night around dinner time).

The casino and the show lounge are also areas of potential trouble.

 

If someone suffers this allergy I really feel for them.

 

Everyone understands it when you don't like people smoking but often think it a joke when you are allergic to their perfume.

[fatcat04]

My DH has a bad reaction to perfume if there is nowhere to go. We flew to Mexico and the stewardess overdid it. My DH was really nauseated the entire flight.

 

One time years ago, a very stupid man brought some loud after shave in his carry on on a plane with me and mine. He was running late for the flight so the overhead compartment were almost full. He proceeded to violently cram his carry one duffle bag into the over head bin with my luggage. His aftershave broke open, saturated the cabin compartment, and my carry on luggage which sadly was one of the ones in with his. The flight and the luggage were simply nauseating. I had to literally throw the bag away it stank so bad. :mad: Thankfully it didn't have anything too important in it as most of the porous contents were ruined. Didn't help that this guy was also a huge loud mouth, talked loudly the whole flight, and a horrible flirt with all the female flight attendants.

 

As for any trouble on a cruise with this, no, not so far. I am sure some men and women do get a bit over zealous with their fragrance of choice but I have never had trouble. Maybe if you were forced to sit next to them at dinner. I don't know exactly what one would do in that situation.

[fatcat04]

How right you are!!! I am of the "more matronly set," yet cannot stand any heavy scents or overly sweet. Of course, I am perfect and use just the right amount of fragrance;). Seriously, if anyone smelled Youth Dew by Estee Lauder it will knock you off your feet. Dreadful stuff. As is any of the heavier scents, Opium, etc.; they bother me a lot.

 

My granny used Youth Dew, in moderate amounts. Just enough to smell grandmothery and generally only on Sundays. I can imagine though, when overdone, that stuff could be caustic. :eek::p

[lazey1]

I am another one that is severely bothered by strong odors, not only perfumes but candles and incense along with many cleaning products will leave me wheezing, gasping for breath and frequently I totally lose my voice. To date I have never had a problem in the main dinning room on any cruise however I have always asked our dinning steward to remove any candles and explained why. I agree that seniors (of which I am one), both men and women are by far the worst.

Try going to the main dinning room on embarcation night, explain that dw is severely allergic and ask that both the men and women refrain from using strong perfume. Most people will be sympathetic and comply. It works for me. Good luck to you and wife.

[PatsyAnne]

There are several perfumes that kick up my allergies, but I think there's another reason people should limit their use of scents in restaurants. When the odor is strong, I get the taste on my tongue and it interferes with the taste of my food. :eek: Now that's serious! Maybe even more than the breathing thing.

 

Trish

[norcal2]

One time years ago, a very stupid man brought some loud after shave in his carry on on a plane with me and mine. He was running late for the flight so the overhead compartment were almost full. He proceeded to violently cram his carry one duffle bag into the over head bin with my luggage. His aftershave broke open, saturated the cabin compartment, and my carry on luggage which sadly was one of the ones in with his. The flight and the luggage were simply nauseating. I had to literally throw the bag away it stank so bad. :mad: Thankfully it didn't have anything too important in it as most of the porous contents were ruined. Didn't help that this guy was also a huge loud mouth, talked loudly the whole flight, and a horrible flirt with all the female flight attendants.

 

As for any trouble on a cruise with this, no, not so far. I am sure some men and women do get a bit over zealous with their fragrance of choice but I have never had trouble. Maybe if you were forced to sit next to them at dinner. I don't know exactly what one would do in that situation.

 

How terrible! In the lighter forms of reaction just getting away from the odor helps but in your case there was no way to get away. I think that is why cruises are less intrusive in the sense of being able to remove yourself from the offending odor. You can't help how your body reacts so you just have to move as soon as you feel the nausia coming on. In our flight I would have sworn the airline employee bathed in the perfume known as "Poison". It was poison all right! Funny but I loved that perfume until that flight and to this day I can't stand it. I have never been on a flight where I could smell the airline attendent's perfume. I suspect they have a rule against it so I don't know why she smothered herself with it.

 

I am pretty sure you could have had most of the odor removed professionally but I suspect I would have done what you did and tossed it. Once you are overdosed even the faintest smell causes a reaction even if it is just a bad memory.

[vjw1218]

My father's reaction is trouble breathing... not nausea or hives or anything like that. His chest closes up and he has to use an inhaler. We have had to change seats in church and in restaurants to avoid heavy scents. We've even had to leave Cracker Barrel if their fireplace was on.

 

I do agree, though, that it seems to be the "more mature" women that are the heavier perfume wearers... Emeraude, Vanderbilt, Beautiful, etc. Sometimes it's not perfume, but lotions. Either way...yuck.

[GeezLouise1]

My DS has a sensitivity to most colonges and perfumes, she is going on her first cruise to Alaska this Sept. I enjoy the formal dinners but am concerned about her problem with fragrance.

 

No solution, other than spreading the word about sensitivities and allergies. Many people just don't realize that scent can be such a problem for some people. My asthma is triggered by scents, I use a ventolin inhaler -the culprit can be perfumes, candles, room fresheners and even cleaning solvents. I've had to leave movies, theaters and even the ballet! Even body gels and hair products can trigger reactions in sensitive people. I wish there was a simple solution. Public education is the key. I hope nobody is flamed over this issue - it is a matter of education and personal respect.

[fann1sh]

Bighorn Hockey Nut, all kinds of things give me reactions, so I always have a small ionizer with me. It precipitates out nastiness, and cleans the air.

 

Some can be worn around your neck, and the cost is moderate:

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/PERSONAL-IONIZER-NIB-WITH-NECK-STRING-BACK-STAND_W0QQitemZ150322041368QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item150322041368&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

 

(This is the second post today when I've recommended this gadget. Please trust me - I don't sell them! I just find them amazingly useful.)

 

In extreme situations, I hold the gadget right under my nose, until I can get clear of whatever is impairing my breathing.

 

BTW - it usually isn't the scent itself that causes a reaction, but the carrier medium. Of course, if you're allergic to roses, you'll also be allergic to rose perfume. But often it's the concatenation of chemicals that carry the fragrance - and turns the scent nasty. (A friend is a parfumeur.) Generally, the cheaper the scent, the more likely it is to offend. (If you don't like the way your grandmother smells, maybe it's that cheap cologne you gave her for Christmas!) Of course, a rule of thumb is once you can smell the fragrance on yourself, you've applied too much...

[fcorey]

In my experience men as well as women can accidentally over do it a bit, there have been many times my nose has been assaulted by an overwhelming dose of AquaVelva..... I agree with the poster that said once you can smell it yourself its too late...you've got on too much.

[CoconutFish]

I have experienced the over-perfumed crowd on HAL mostly on shore excursions. A bus load of people, many of whom have just doused themselves with half a bottle of cologne/perfume/whatever: in close quarters on a bus this can be really bad. So, I would suggest thinking very carefully before booking any shorex.

As to dining a table for 4 would be the best bet for your group, either in the Dining Room or the Lido. I don't see the Lido being more "open" than the Dining Room.

[jhannah]

Remember the old Brylcreem commercials ... a little dab'll do ya'?" (That stuff is still available!!)

 

Even if you don't have medical issues, an overpowering scent can really make you nauseous.

[alaskancruzr]

We usually avoid the theater or sit at the very back so I can escape if necessary. A few years ago we were several rows behind a woman who must have literally bathed in her perfume - even those without allergies were coughing and covering their noses. We were in the middle of the row so were pretty much stuck - never again.

[terkatz56]

fann1ish...thank you so much, I will check into this. The chemical is the culprit too...as there a few that do not bother her. But when she gets exposed, her throat closes up and she can't talk, and has trouble breathing. She is going to try a new medication (used for epilepsy) and will be doing some speech therapy to learn how to control the vocal cords that actually make the throat close.

Thanks to all for your advice and I know that we will first ask for a table for the 4 of us and then go from there. We already planned to use the stairs as much as possible. CC' people rock!

[pipedreams62]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBeP8yc5P64

[m steve]

We had to switch corridors to avoid the smell. I will take smoke everytime over perfume. Especially rose and gardenia based ones.

[newmexicoNita]

We had to switch corridors to avoid the smell. I will take smoke everytime over perfume. Especially rose and gardenia based ones.

you mean you don't like that wonderful fresh smell of faux gardenias...??? LOL

[fatcat04]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBeP8yc5P64

 

What a trip down Amnesia Lane. :D