How to Protect Yourself Against Fragrance in Public
Last updated: July 2022
We can take all the measures to avoid a migraine.
We take our medicine, eat the right foods, get consistent sleep, stay hydrated, avoid fragrances… and then we leave the house and are vulnerable to the uncontrollable elements of our environment.
- A coworker may wear strong perfume or cologne.
- The hotel room you’re staying in was sprayed with an air freshener.
- You’re riding in a friend’s car who is a smoker.
There are SO many scenarios we find ourselves in that can directly affect our health but we don’t have full control over.
What’s a migraineur to do?
What can you do?
At work: Talk with Human Resources about a fragrance-free policy in the workplace and/or request a workspace by a window, the best ventilation, or even a work from home option.
On vacation: Go prepared with your own fragrance-free sunscreen and bug repellent and call the hotel in advance to request that your room not be sprayed with air freshener.
In the mall: Take a different route through department stores to avoid walking through the fragrance department.
On public transportation: Leverage the normalization of masks to lessen the exposure and impact of the scent.
Tell us below how you navigate scents in public spaces.
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