I’m so tired of everyone else’s obsession for perfumes. As sometimes sensitive to smells, it’s annoying that every product in the universe now comes with a noxious cloud of fragrance. Take trash bags, for example. One day I was sorting through a bunch of junk in my office, so I needed a trash bag to put the discards into. But just having the bag in my office made me sneeze. Its fragrance was that strong. And what purpose could all that perfume serve? If I wanted my house scented, I’d scent my house. If my trash stank, I’d put it outside rather than try to cover one smell with another.
When I go walking on library grounds, I often see other hikers and runners on the path. Sometimes I can smell them, too. They leave a trail of laundry scent behind them. I’m not kidding. If I had to be in closer proximity to them, they’d probably make me feel ill. (Counterpoint: There’s a commercial for Downy Unstoppables in which a woman periodically gives her clothes a sniff and each time announces, “Still fresh!” I adore the commercial but can’t imagine ever buying the product.)
And don’t even get me started on scented dishwasher tabs. Like, why in Hell would anyone want their dishes (and consequently their food) to smell like cheap perfume? It boggles my mind, even as it irritates my nose.