Perfume on Planes!!!
 

How does one cope with the incredible amount of perfume some people wear on airplanes? I have asthma and was really starting to have problems on our flight. I turned up the air and pointed it in the direction of the "offender" who got mad at me for doing so! <BR>I am at a loss at what to do in these situations. Any ideas?

Hear, hear! It is so ironic that folks pour on the fragrance, ostensibly to be more "attractive" and "appealing", only to render everyone around them repelled by their presence...Explain the situation to the flight attendant, who will do everything possible to find you another seat, even if someone must agree to switch with you. (No guarantee that there's won't be someone equally as aromatic in the vicinity of your new seat, though.) If you're stuck, just explain to the offending party that the amount of fragrance they are wearing is aggravating your asthma and redirecting the air is absolutely essential in order for you to be able to breathe as well as possible under the circumstances.

Use your inhaler maybe? I have problems when the disgusting fuel exhaust is accidentally blown back into the plane's cabin. Several months ago it made me cough for a half hour and I could barely breathe. Then there are the people with foul breath, the bathroom odors, the occasional illegal sneak smokers. I may have mild asthma (just diagnosed a few mos. ago) and was told to use the inhaleer in situations like that.

I am with Anon, I became very ill when the person next to me on a transatlantic flight kept spraying perfume on herself every hour during the flight. My requests to change seats fell on deaf ears. It is a problem for those of us who are allergic but barring moving seats, there isnt much which can be done.

I once sat next to a woman who painted her nails.

Talking about unco-operative people, on a flight from Cairo to Tel Aviv it was impossible to use the toilets. One toilet door had someone's luggage wedged into it and the other was permanently closed. I knocked several times to be confronted with a woman who shouted "I'm washing my hair", who promptly closed the door again! How she managed that in the tiny sink, I don't know. Talk about selfish. I finally caught an attendant's eye and asked him to kindly move the luggage from the other door, which he did after finding out who it belonged to. Unattended luggage on an El Al flight struck me as strange.....

I am totally UNsympathetic to heavy/frequent perfume users, and very sympathetic TOWARD your difficulties with anything in the air that you breathe. <BR> <BR>But it does need to be said that YOU are responsible for taking all the necessary steps YOU need for your MEDICAL condition. There seems to be some interchange of the terms "allergy" and "asthma" and simple "don't-like/get-upset-over" various air contaminants - - from cigarette smoke to fragrances to whatever. <BR> <BR>If you really do have labile reactive airway disease (asthma and/or allergies that trigger it), you owe it to yourself to see your internist, pediatrician, pulmonologist or allergist to talk about medication approaches to protecting yourself. If you don't know about zafirlukast (Accolate) or montelukast (Singulair), you might want to discuss these, in addition of course, to the bronchodilators and aerosol corticosteroids you know about already. <BR> <BR>I am also sympathetic to the simple don't-like/get-upset-over "sufferers" but your problems are not the same as someone whose airway is prone to serious bronchoconstriction. Double dosing of over-the-counter Benadryl might be a solution (on a long flight) - - to just knock you out - - might be as good a solution as moving seats for the "lesser" problem travelers. <BR>

It's those times one whishes one could fart loud and stinky! <BR> <BR>See who reaches for the air vent then!

This is a pet peeve of mine. You can wear perfume all you like, but please don't inflict it on me. Please, not in a closed space. <BR> <BR>Some people simply don't realize that their perfume can make others sick or uncomfortable. My wife gets headaches when around some perfumes. (Please don't suggest that she take an aspirin.) We also sat next to a woman who sprayed perfume on herself every hour. It was awful. I think the best thing to do is nicely and quietly explain to the person that the perfume is causing a problem, and I suspect that most people will stop. <BR> <BR>My wife has gotten to the point of emptying the perfume containers in the bathrooms as soon as possible. <BR> <BR>Is there some way, maybe by signs, that airlines can educate people that using perfumes, like smoking, in a closed space can cause discomfort to others? <BR> <BR>If only people had more consideration for others.

I like the farting suggestion . . must be an Aggie? <BR> <BR>Rich

Perhaps we all have to become more verbal.Subtle hints like redirecting air vents don't work. My worst encounter was a flight attendant wearing too much perfume. <BR>The anti-smoking crowd found their voice now it's our time.

This is a Troll right ? <BR>I've flown inumerable times & never noticed an 'excess of perfume'.

Actually I don't think this is a troll, this is a real problem. I have pretty nasty alergies and have gotten some major headaches and sinus problems from people doused with perfume or aftershave on airplanes. Likewise I spent an entire performance of Romeo and Juliette in Stratford Upon Avon, sneezing and struggling to view the production through watery eyes and a drippy nose thanks to a troup of teenage girls who apparently went a little berzerk the the local cosmetics counter. My only solution is to always travel with a pill for alergies.

Once, I was on a plane from going Las Vegas. I thought I was lucking out when I arranged to have my seat changed to the front row. Lots of leg room and no seat in my face. At the same time, I had two empty seats next to me. <BR> <BR>Well, I made a mistake. Just before we were to back off from the terminal, 5 guys jumped on the flight. Things were very disorderly. The flight attendants were busy prepping for departure. They stood at the beginning of the aisle of coach looking for their seats (the flight was quite full). No one steered them to their seats. Finally an attendant asked them where have they been (since they were so late) and where were their boarding passes. <BR> <BR>They declared that their connecting flight forn Detroit just got in. Some of them didn't understand english and were confused with the attendants request. <BR> <BR>In the end 2 of them took the closest seats..aka next to me. 1 fellow smelled like body odor while the other had a stench of heavy cologne and alcohol. Uggh! <BR> <BR>After I thought my nose couldn't be filled with any other odors the poor kid directly behind me began throwing up (he started before we got in the air). Yummy! <BR> <BR>Oh geez, did I forget to say that it was a late flight and people were very quiet/or sleeping (well almost everyone). One of the fellows that came in late but sat in the back, felt the need to come up on his friend (next to me)and wake him up. He did this every time he went to the bathroom. He made quite a ruckus! The baby across the aisle didn't appreciate it at all! Uggh!

Seems to me that more women than men are affected badly by perfume. Could this be true? Anon and Huh -are you M or F?

I happen to believe that many headache,sinus, breathing, nausea, and other physical problems are due to exposure to excess fragrance when other causes are wrongly suspected and, worse, medicated. No one should have to take drugs (or be prepared by having them along) because someone nearby has applied excessive fragrance. It is more than inconsiderate to fill a crowded enclosed space with an offensive smell. For some reason, no one cares to enlighten the offenders. I saw a piece on 20/20 about people who wear too much fragrance. They sent someone overloaded with perfume into a meeting. Not one of the other eight people said a word, and only one exhibited a noticable reaction. Dave's wife ("My wife has gotten to the point of emptying the perfume containers in the bathrooms as soon as possible.) is one smart lady. I wish I had thought of that on Swiss Air. In the morning, nearly everyone emerged from the rest rooms reeking of Eau de Swiss Air. I thought I'd throw up before I could get myself off that plane. <BR> <BR> <BR>

While I agree with Holly in principle, those who "have to take drugs" are those who have abnormal airway constriction. It might or might not be triggered by any of a number of things in the air. The person with asthma CAN and MUST take responsibility for her/his health and medical treatment. <BR> <BR>"Victim-ism", a close cousin to "do-nothing-ism" can cost lives, in asthmatic patients. <BR>

I don't have Asthema or allergies and have a big problem with any type of perfume. Mainly because people bath in it these days. What are trying to cover up? We have started a scent free campaign at work. At least I can walk to the other side of the room, not like on a plane.

I authored the postings about the importance of those with medical problems remembering that they can and should be responsible for themselves, their health and their treatments. <BR> <BR>I did not mean to take a side against "no-scents" campaigns. This will be a difficult batle to wage, but there are interesting fronts. Halifax, NS (Canada) is one of those places where the crusade has mounted a major beachhead. <BR> <BR>The local government speaks best for themselves on this subject. <BR> <BR>www.region.halifax.ns.ca/mediaroom/scents.html <BR> <BR>

There's more: <BR> <BR>www.csmonitor.com/durable/2000/06/21/p1s4.htm <BR> <BR>Does the "improvement of air quality" in a scent-free world result in any other individuals getting "bothered" or ill due to by "body odors", associated with perspiration or any other biological functions? <BR>

One thing about someone with too much perfume, body odor, bad breath, etc. is that once they are on the plane, there isn't much they can do to end your misery, even if they wanted to. <BR>It would be nice if airlines included a little pamphlet with your ticket that says something like 'you will be in an enclosed area and any odors will be magnified so please take a shower and don't use any perfume' but that probably won't happen. <BR>I am a smoker but like many others I know that the smell is offensive so I do what I can to reduce the smell on me. But I am also one of those people who gets really sick by too much perfume. I don't wear any cologne and my wife almost never wears perfume. My nose will itch and run and I will get a headache within a short period of time. Telling a person that they have too much perfume on will only serve to make them upset since there's nothing they can do about it at that point. It's better just to suffer, take some allergy medicine and headache medicine, sneeze on them and if you have to throw up make them your target.

Telling a person that they have too much perfume on won't help your flight, but maybe the person will remember it for the next flight. I don't think people would be upset if they were told nicely.

Why don't the people who can't tolerate fragrance just stay home?

go to Halifax and get re-programmed. <BR>

An oldie but a goodie with all the travlin' going on! <BR> <BR>What say you?

I am one of those allergic people. But, I'm not allergic to every perfume. Indeed I have sat next to some women and inquired what perfume they were wearing because it was so beautiful and subtle. Just some give me terrible headaches and certainly an overabundance gives most people a headache. I don't have a solution. So many people are so involved with themselves that they can't ever (or don't want to) consider those who have to be close to them. I've met people who think that perfuming themselves is a substitute for bathing. <BR> <BR>Like one of the posters above, on a flight from France to NY, I endured six hours of body odor from a group sitting all around me. THe plane was packed. Maybe the body odor is a cultural thing for some, but I was never so glad for that plane to land.

Imagine flying from Mauritius to Paris (11 hours flight). There was this classy looking young woman sitting in the middle row. We had seats on the side. Each time she got up there was this unbelivable odor. Finally my husband said "She stinks" and every time we saw her getting ready to get up we stood up and went to the back of the plane. And there was this guy who sat next to her and flirting. I have to admit she was very attractive. <BR>I understand why Meg said she was glad when her plane landed. We did too. Then we got to the taxi and guess what. The taxi driver had the same body odor. <BR> <BR>Once we were in Paris we forgot a whole thing until today when reading this post. <BR>We still love France and people (those who don't stink)

I heartily agree that it's time to get militant about this, but probably more with the airlines than with any single fragrance-wearer. <BR> <BR>When you are forced to share space, no one has a "right" to inflict their particular form of air (or noise or whatever) pollution. Much as I hate smoking, at least people can put out their cigars/cigarettes; once perfume, cologne or aftershave is on, it's ON! <BR>Even worse, these people seem to think it's important to re-apply the "fragrance" (stench) in mid-flight and/or just before landing. One lady nearly killed me with renewed "Estee" with an hour of turbulent descent still to go. <BR> <BR>And let's back off of all this anti-victim nonsense about drugs and the difference between "real" disease and mere distaste. I used to wear perfume and liked it Then certain brands began to give me cluster headaches and close up my sinuses. Now they all do. Asthma or pulmonary distress? Migraines? Sensitivities? Or pure aesthetics? What difference does it make -- the cause is the same and risks all of those. <BR> <BR>For me, antihistamines sometimes help, but why on earth should I have to "dope myself up" because other people think it's their godgiven right to impose their "aura" all over the place in a closed area? <BR> <BR>My two cents? Yes, indeed, let's start asking airlines to make a point of it -- at ticketing or at check in or in the pre-flight spiel about lifevests. Maybe you can't keep people from dousing themselves before they get to the airport, but at the very least, airlines could request they "not reapply fragrances until you are well inside the terminal." At least as useful as knowing you are sitting on a "flotation device." <BR> <BR>And I have achieved mild relief by applying a natural oil of peppermint (or camphor) on my upper lip. Doesn't eliminate the need for strong painkillers but at least it opens up my nose a bit, and it's my own choice of odor. <BR> <BR>Finally, I honestly don't think these people really realize that their "toiletries" are so painful for some people. I once got up my nerve and, at the _end_ of the flight, told a seatmate that her perfume was lovely (what is it? etc. etc.) but that it might be easier on her seatmate next time if she waited until the flight was over to put it on. She looked a little annoyed but mostly surprised and all she said was "oh!" <BR> <BR>So how 'bout some ideas about the gentlest, most polite way of communicating the problem to someone?

Maybe just tell them that THIS part of the plane is a "scent-free zone"? ;-) <BR> <BR>Actually, asking the airlines to make flights "scent-free" is not a bad idea. They can demonstrate that they don't need externally-imposed regulation by taking the initiative themselves. <BR> <BR>Yeah, like that's gonna happen... <BR>

No peanuts, no perfume, no bodily odor, no babies, no kids, no fat people, no liquor, no tour groups, no shoe-less people, no cigarettes.... <BR> <BR>I HATE people that wear too much perfume -- I DON'T. A friend of mine who is extremely allergic to perfume doesn't even sniffle when she's near me. Now I should not wear perfume? I suffer for the small portion of the population who can't properly apply perfume? <BR> <BR>I am NOT allergic to peanuts, however I understand that there are people who are. But I have to give them up for the minisule part of the population who is (and who are probably eating things with peanut oil in them right now, but because they're not aware of it, it's ok). <BR> <BR>I AM NOT FAT (but I was once "Rubenesque", never overflowing the seat, though). But I have to accept that my escape route can be blocked by someone who is jammed into their aisle seat? I should die, trapped against the bulkhead because they "shouldn't have to pay for 2 seats"? <BR> <BR>I DON'T HAVE KIDS, however I have to put up with the screaming brats when their parents don't think of bringing anything on the plane to entertain them? Or better yet, have to sit on a plane for hours after some idiot tried to flush their kid's diaper in the airplane toilet and the plane can't take off until it's been de-jammed? I have to miss my connection because someone "is going to Disney!"? <BR> <BR>I am a normal (but irritated) human being who is slowly watching their "rights" (to smoke, to wear perfume, to eat peanuts, to have access to an escape route, to have a quiet flight, etc.) being taken away! I don't kvetch about not being able to smoke EVERYWHERE -- it's gross and disgusting (I've walked out of places because it's horrible even for my smoking self!) -- I accept that there are places I can and places I can't. If someone asks nicely, I'll gladly put it out (even if I'm in a smoking section -- I do not smoke if the table next to me is eating, wishing they will do the same for me). If I overflowed the seat, I'd buy two. If I had kids, I'd bring something to entertain them AND would have done the right thing and taught them that there is a time and place for everything, and trapped in a plane isn't the time for whining/crying/running/etc. <BR> <BR>I put up with all this crap, why can't you? I have allergies too, I have asthma too. But once you start taking away the small things, it's just a matter of time until the "travel police" will be after YOU. <BR> <BR>

Individual rights / freedoms vs. existing / living within a group. Message to "not to pc" - rent own jet and do the hell you want. However - to live in today's society means you can't do whatever you want - one has to take in consideration others around you. I find it irritating to no end when I see smokers casually throw their cigarette butts on the ground - not only does it show a lack of respect for the environment (it takes 10 year for A SINGLE cigarette butt to disentigrate) but also an indifference to communal space. I could care a less if you want to smoke - shoot up heroin - you'll die quicker - but if you can't control your habit (and this includes children) then keep it at home in your private domain. A lot of people don't think that their actions make that big a difference and yet 4 million people doing the same act does causes an impact. I agree that there are some people out there who are just whiners and complainers - and to them i would say - deal with your control issues with a therapist and stay home.

Excuse me, "pc", your rights to eat peanuts and wear perfume? I'm sorry, but can you point out that clause in the Constitution?

Anon, <BR> <BR>I agree that perfume that people wear on an airplane can be offensive to some, but by you taking your air vent and aiming it at the "offender" in my opinion, was quite rude in itself. I would have been just as upset as the person sitting next to you. Your action should have been to use your inhaler and/or ask the flight attendant to be reseated.

Ilisia -- not only AMERICANS are subject to too much perfume, yada, yada, yada. So it's not just the American constitution you have to consider. How very "American" to think that you're the only ones on the planet.

Gary - <BR>Sometimes the only response is to "fight fire with fire" Some people expect other people to be intimidated or not to say anything - and as long as these rude peolpe aren't challenged, confronted or smacked they'll continue being rude. I'm tired of being patient with stupid people or people who pretend to be stupid (oh you didn't realize?...well, realize this....SMACK) Except of course airline personel - I wouldn't want to be arrested.

We don't seem very tolerant of each other these days.

I'm not usually bothered by perfume on planes, but once some woman kept squirting herself every 20 minutes with some really pungent perfume and it was nauseating. If I'd been allergic to it as well... <BR>An official "nose" (the scent experts) from a perfume house once said you should not be able to smell your own perfume for more than a minute or two after you put it on. If you can continue to smell your own perfume after that time, it's too much. <BR>I find it interesting that here in Belgium and also in France, I often pass close by women who smell absolutely wonderful--they must be using very high quality perfume products--but as soon as I'm more than two or three feet away I don't smell them at all. Don't know what that exact technique is, but I'd wish they'd pass it on to those women (and men) who feel the need to drench themselves in obnoxious scent that you can smell 10 feet away. <BR>BTilke

How about this? When someone is near you with too much perfume, you loudly ask (to them, or no one in particular): "My God! What is that smell? Geez, do you smell it? Whoa! It smells a little like perfume, but it can't be. Wow! I hope something didn't break in someone's suitcase . . . " Until the point has been made. They'll figure it out. <BR>

I'd like to add...also theatres, and especially restaurants. Heavy perfume spoils the enjoyment of smelling your food because someone's canel#6 is too strong.

Canal #6 - the new fragrance from Amsterdam