The Factory Of The Olfactory

[lupestripe]

Human smells have always bemused me. While I am not a fan of body odour, the cornucopia of perfumes and deodorants available today almost invariably smell like a chemical toilet to me when combined with the natural oils on human skin. I find the smell extremely off-putting, particularly when in close proximity to people. In fact, it's as invasive as sharing their munty breath or 'personal' stereos, as is often the way on the bus.

I use deodorant for its antiperspirant qualities, not particularly for the smell, although I accept it does neutralize a specific pong. I accept it's better than BO but I do use such sprays sparingly rather than bathing in the stuff. And anything more than this - aftershaves, perfumes and the like - smell so sharp and abrasive to me that I never use them at all and often gag when I am around someone who has been far too liberal in its application. Obviously others think it makes them smell nice - my senses are clearly tuned differently.

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Comments

[guitar-stitch.livejournal.com]

I have some perfumes and such that are very gentle and smooth. I don't deal well with the knife's edge scented stuff either.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Some of the gentle, smooth ones smell quite nice. Sadly though they seem to be drowned out by the abrasive pungeance of so many other brands.

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

I use anti persperant roll ons during the summer months. Sprays during the winter

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Yep me too - and that's all I use. I use those sparingly too.

[whitetail.livejournal.com]

*chuckle* People are so much less odoriferous today than they were when I was a kid! The idea of a deodorant for men was unheard of, so every man either smelt like BO or BO + cologne/aftershave. Women wore truly toxic concentrations of perfume to deodorise themselves, and that was still ineffective at 'that time' of the month. If you think it's bad now, fifty or more years ago, you would absolutely choke in a public place!

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Really? It must have been really bad back then, then.

[whitetail.livejournal.com]

Funny thing was, it wasn't really "bad", it's just the way things were. Everyone was used to it; took it for granted. That's what humanity smelled like. *shrugs* I do prefer our deodourised modern world, though. Body odours are very distracting. They have a tendency to take over our thoughts in what can be an unwelcome way. I'm sensitive to that now, myself. I liked people-scents when I was tiny. Not so anymore. I still don't mind my own scent, but I'd rather not smell others...

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I am not a huge fan of scent at all, I am very much a scent neutral kinda pup. I think it's because my nose is so sensitive. As I say, anything pungeant in either direction I find quite offputting.

As you say, I guess you get used to what you know. Most people do. I am sure there is so much from my childhood that I didn't notice at the time which I would notice now due to a change in perception or sensibilities.