Does anyone else avoid going into strong smelling stores?

[Juliana]

Does anyone else avoid certain stores that sell bath products/candles/incense etc?

There is a Lush store in the town I live in and I pass it every morning on my way to work. I love their products but between the dust coming off all of the products and the extremely strong scent they give off… it’s game over for me if I actually go inside.

just walking by it and inhaling the scents coming from it this morning was enough to make me sneeze a quick double.

Equally, there’s a Yankee Candle store in my closest city and I like to go there to buy presents from my family and friends around Christmas time. My nose is way too sensitive to be sniffing candles for an extended period of time so I try my best not to do that and trust the opinion of the sales people. But of course just being in the shop sets me off. 

I went to Marrakech on holiday last year and loved experiencing all the different markets and bazaars there. But so many of the stalls sold incense, most of them lit joss sticks outside the store to entice people in. I was in big big big trouble. Between the dry heat and the smoke from the incense I think I sneezed so hard that I pulled a muscle in my chest. Fun times. 

I don’t mind sneezing in public or in a store when I can control them… but when they’re big and itchy and allergic, I just lose all control. Like make up down my face, nose running everywhere, spray flying. It’s just embarrassing. I’ve taken to avoiding these ‘smelly’ stores all together.

can anyone else relate?

[EveP]

Yes, they don't make me sneeze but I find it hard to breathe in places like that.

[Melody]

Yes I avoid stores and even people who smell really strongly of artificial scents. First of all I get bad headaches so no bueno. But second of all artificial scents are toxins that are marketed to be good for us and normalized to be a part of every day life by clever marketing schemes. Artificial scents have been proven to disrupt your immune system and hormonal system because you are essentially breathing in toxic shit straight into your lungs. 
 

the body doesn’t lie. There’s a reason it makes you sneeze or gives me headaches it’s trying to warn you against bad shit 😅

Edited April 19, 2023 by Melody

[SneezeFae]

I mainly avoid due to asthma, but also for my boyfriend’s sake. His nose is so sensitive. We once went into Bath and Body Works to get him cologne and some of the scents really tickled his nose.

[sneezzy_bec]

Yes I get this, if I spray to much deodorant or perfume or air freshener I can't stop sneezing. Lush does it everytime I go in. I send my husband in now 

[SneezyKateM]

Yup i cant go into store like that either.

Even some aisles of other stores will be too much for me