Blame your “best female perfume” for those terrible headaches!

Do you dread going out in public places like the subway, public transports, malls, etc. just because you can’t stand the mix of smells, scents and perfumes you’re bombarded with? You could also instantly get a one-sided headache also known as a ‘migraine’ when you experience such exposure. Plus, if someone must have at least once suggested aromatherapy to you because it’s “well known to improve health and mental well being”, you must’ve gone all “no thank you!” on them. If you end up behaving like this, it doesn’t mean you’re antisocial; you’re suffering conditions like ‘Osmophobia’ or ‘Hyperosmia’. Don’t panic and start making your bucket list already. It just means that you have a heightened sensitivity or dislike for smells & scents. Our blog post centrally deals with this to help you understand why your husband’s best selling men’s perfume brand and others makes you so icky.

What to expect from this post:

1. Causes of headaches / migraine triggers
2. Effects on your life
3. How to cure and deal with such headaches?

Hyperosmia is a condition in which a person’s sense of smell is amplified, making them intolerable to a lot of smells, scents and aromas. Whereas, Osmophobia is a phenomenon that occurs mostly in migraine sufferers.

When both are equally difficult conditions, you must thank your stars if you’re not a migraine patient.

Here are some facts you must know about migraine sufferers:
- Almost 1 billion people across the globe suffer from migraines.
- Migraine, if chronic can diminish the quality of your life.
- A migraine attack lasts anything between 7 to 40 hours.
- It is most common amongst people aged between 22 to 55.
- Migraine is one of the most prevalent & the most disabling illnesses in the world.

1. Causes of headaches / migraine triggers
- Various foods & food additives
- Stress
- Hyper acidity
- Lack of sleep
- Smoke
- Smells

Smells are the most prominent triggers for migraine sufferers.

Here’s a further drill down on the smells in specific that cause headache:

- Paint thinners
- Strong perfume/colognes with notes of floral, fruity, sandalwood, etc.
- Gasoline
- Tobacco
- Air fresheners
- Laundry detergents
- Incense sticks, etc.

2. Effects on your life

To understand better, consider the given scenario. If one of the new colleagues at your workplace loves to wear perfume and you end up in the cubicle right next to theirs, you’re doomed. A headache will trigger if you’re a migraine patient or else, you’ll end up with watery eyes and allergy-like symptoms. In such cases, your productivity levels drop to the floor and you’ll probably call in sick the next day.

- Loss of health: In addition to feeling nauseous, dizzy and physically vomiting, it is excruciating when you become completely intolerant to light & sound.

- Monetary loss: You lose out on a productive day which affects your performance and attendance at work. 

- Social discomfort: People may perceive you to be intolerant when you express repulsion to the way they smell (good or bad).

Plus, if you’re irritable most of the time it spills over into your personal life and relationships. 

3. How to cure and deal with such headaches?

- Avoid closed spaces: If you have to use fragrant products, avoid it in closed spaces as they concentrate the smell / fragrance and trigger misery.

- Face masks: It can at least reduce the smells going to your nose and control the dilation of cells that activate the pain receptors in your brain.

- Maintain a migraine / allergen diary: Have a list of the allergens & reactants that cause your headaches and allergic reactions. This would help you filter your environment and sharing this with your doctor / physician will improve your treatment.

- Consult your doctor / headache specialist: Trying over the counter medication too frequently can be hazardous & addictive. It is best suggested that you visit your physician or a headache specialist.

- Remove the source of these smells / scents: Try requesting your close ones to tone down their fragrance choices if possible. Avoid going to areas that are high on smoke, etc.

- Breathing exercise: Helps improve your congestions and increase the flow of oxygen to your brain which radically reduces stress & headache.

Scents are everywhere, in everything. From clothes to dish wash bars. There’s no escape. When a majority of people have allergies to different foods, dust & animals; very few understand how terrible things can get for people with sensitivities for smells.

But if you do, ever in your wildest thoughts think of gifting any of your loved ones some perfume, check out the best perfume brands on Lyla Blanc. visit www.lylablanc.com