How can I be less scentsitive?
February 26, 2023 2:23 PM Subscribe
How can I minimize my perception of strong scents? They are a migraine trigger for me and I feel I’m getting more sensitive as I age. Surgical masks provide some relief and N95s are much better, but I’d rather not wear a mask all the time.
Strong scents, especially things like perfume, aftershave, and cigarettes/vapes, are migraine triggers for me. I live in a city and work in a patient-facing role in healthcare and I ride on public transit, so I’m surrounded by these odors a lot and have very little control over them. As I’m getting older (female, early/mid-40s) I find the sensitivity getting worse. Even in a crowded city, I can smell cigarettes or particular perfumes from over a block away. Going through the Duty Free section of the airport is a nightmare, as is any shopping mall.
Masks have some effect but are not ideal. I’ve found carrying tiger balm and dabbing it on my nose can help, but it tends to lose its effect somewhat quickly. I know coffee beans are used as a scent eraser but it’s hard to carry a bag of beans around with me (especially if I’m just walking around or seeing patients!) I know migraines can get worse during menopause so maybe this will just resolve, but I don’t have any signs yet (I’m early/mid-40s) so it may be years!
Strong scents, especially things like perfume, aftershave, and cigarettes/vapes, are migraine triggers for me. I live in a city and work in a patient-facing role in healthcare and I ride on public transit, so I’m surrounded by these odors a lot and have very little control over them. As I’m getting older (female, early/mid-40s) I find the sensitivity getting worse. Even in a crowded city, I can smell cigarettes or particular perfumes from over a block away. Going through the Duty Free section of the airport is a nightmare, as is any shopping mall.
Masks have some effect but are not ideal. I’ve found carrying tiger balm and dabbing it on my nose can help, but it tends to lose its effect somewhat quickly. I know coffee beans are used as a scent eraser but it’s hard to carry a bag of beans around with me (especially if I’m just walking around or seeing patients!) I know migraines can get worse during menopause so maybe this will just resolve, but I don’t have any signs yet (I’m early/mid-40s) so it may be years!
Smelling is a chemical reaction, so 'odor destroyers' like coffee beans may not be as helpful as in other situations.
I knew a French fellow whose grandfather was an old-school perfumier -- he told me that many American products are made with synthetic "binders" - the things in perfumes that allow the natural extracts to mix and not lose their fragrance so quickly. According to him, synthetic binders are rarely used in European perfumes because a lot of people react to the binders (and not the natural extracts). Passing this along in case it helps you in determining your solution.
All of this said - I have the same problem. I have found Nasya Oil to be very, very, very helpful, tho not 100% in 100% of situations. I usually use it in the morning and re-apply during my lunch break. Your nose might dribble a tiny bit of oil for an hour after, but just carry a hankie. I think the Nasya Oil works because it coats the inside of the nose which prevents the scent molecules from binding as easily, but that's just a guess.
Edit: I suspect tiger balm helps because the eucalyptus causes "scent fatigue" - the cells in your nose get overwhelmed and and the exhausted and then stop firing.
posted by Silvery Fish at 2:48 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
I knew a French fellow whose grandfather was an old-school perfumier -- he told me that many American products are made with synthetic "binders" - the things in perfumes that allow the natural extracts to mix and not lose their fragrance so quickly. According to him, synthetic binders are rarely used in European perfumes because a lot of people react to the binders (and not the natural extracts). Passing this along in case it helps you in determining your solution.
All of this said - I have the same problem. I have found Nasya Oil to be very, very, very helpful, tho not 100% in 100% of situations. I usually use it in the morning and re-apply during my lunch break. Your nose might dribble a tiny bit of oil for an hour after, but just carry a hankie. I think the Nasya Oil works because it coats the inside of the nose which prevents the scent molecules from binding as easily, but that's just a guess.
Edit: I suspect tiger balm helps because the eucalyptus causes "scent fatigue" - the cells in your nose get overwhelmed and and the exhausted and then stop firing.
posted by Silvery Fish at 2:48 PM on February 26, 2023 [1 favorite]
Are you sure that the scents give you migraines or could it be that you notice the scents much more when a migraine is imminent? Either way I suggest getting a cefaly. I have one and I'm also super sensitive to smells (Even good ones, even weak ones) when I have a migraine or a migraine en route. The cefaly stimulates the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is also involved in smell. Though this is not listed as a side effect and though when I called and asked they knew nothing of this: I once used cefaly twice in a row at the start of the pandemic and then completely flipped out: a family member was using muscle rub (the stinky kind) and I came out just after the second cefaly session and said "Oh, you're using that stuff, I need to get out of here because you know how it bothers me when I have a migraine." and then I realized "Oh I can't smell it." Came closer. Couldn't smell it. if I actually put the tube to my nose and huffed it, I could smell it, just barely. My sense of smell was gone for a few hours and then returned. I did not have covid (which is of course what I feared when I suddenly couldn't smell).
I also find the cefaly helps a lot with migraines (I only use acute mode), and that though it's only advertised as addressing pain, I find that for me it actually also treats nausea and other symptoms (including smell sensitivity).
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:50 PM on February 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
I also find the cefaly helps a lot with migraines (I only use acute mode), and that though it's only advertised as addressing pain, I find that for me it actually also treats nausea and other symptoms (including smell sensitivity).
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 2:50 PM on February 26, 2023 [3 favorites]
Lots of women have more migraines as they enter perimenopause and HRT can help.
posted by HotToddy at 2:53 PM on February 26, 2023
posted by HotToddy at 2:53 PM on February 26, 2023
I'm sure you have heard of this being in healthcare, but I've heard of nurses dabbing some Vicks Vaporub between their upper lip and nose to block other scents. Same principle as the Tiger Balm.
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:13 PM on February 26, 2023
posted by Snarl Furillo at 3:13 PM on February 26, 2023
An N95 mask designed to handle organic vapors (this one has charcoal) will help more.
I think the only thing that might really help is working as hard as you can to defeat the migraines. Recently, I learned that vitamin B2 (riboflavin) has been shown to be remarkably helpful, and it's helping me I think, at least when I remember to take it.
The study on B2 and migraine I found used a total of 400 mg/day (200 mg x 2x/day).
posted by amtho at 4:36 PM on February 26, 2023
I think the only thing that might really help is working as hard as you can to defeat the migraines. Recently, I learned that vitamin B2 (riboflavin) has been shown to be remarkably helpful, and it's helping me I think, at least when I remember to take it.
The study on B2 and migraine I found used a total of 400 mg/day (200 mg x 2x/day).
posted by amtho at 4:36 PM on February 26, 2023
Sometimes getting older means you absorb less B12. I haven't touched the ibuprofen since I started really taking b12. I thought I was taking b12 but it turns out 100% DV isn't nearly enough for some people. Some people need a lot more, like 1000 units (mcg?) per day. You can get your b12 tested.
posted by aniola at 4:57 PM on February 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by aniola at 4:57 PM on February 26, 2023 [2 favorites]
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