So we are beating it out the door this morning. Kris has Aidan and Conor in tow as they walk over to our community school where she works and the boys attend. Liam goes to MQP because he is in french immersion and I drop him off each morning. As we get in the car I am hit with an overwhelming fragrance attack. Liam has literally drowned himself in cologne. He'd decided that he has to smell good for school and raided a bottle of my cologne, which I have begun using less and less due to some fragrance allergies at my workplace.
Only yesterday his school sent home the list of allergies that kids in his class have been diagnosed with. It was a very broad list and will make for a fine post on its own. Fragrance sensitivity is an issue at the school so I marched him back in to the house to change. Fortunately he has sprayed his shirt only so a bath was not needed. A few minutes later we were out the door.
There is certainly a need to educate the public about the real effect chemicals and fragrances can have on individuals with sensitivities. Many people are unaware that the scents they use can actually make another person ill.
According to the Lung Association of Newfoundland and Labrador , 20% of the Canadian population have some kind of breathing problem. My cologne is poison to that percentage of the population that is hypersensitive to chemicals.
There was a guest on CBC Radio's Cross Talk earlier this week that spoke about this issue. I was surprised with the number of people who called to say that they felt their rights were being taken away. That they saw no reason why they should not be permitted to wear fragrances that please them, and that the onus should be on the person who is allergic to protect themselves. I think that is selfish and very disrespectful.
The simple solution is not to wear perfume, aftershave or cologne when going out to public places.
As a person who likes to wear a dab of cologne, I hate not being able to do it at work but I have adjusted my personal preferences in the best interest of others. I have even stopped sneaking Kris's baby powder scented deodorant!
So if a co-worker tells you that your fragrance is making them ill, do not take offense - take action. It is not personal.
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