Highly Sensitive to Bad Smells

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Are there specific smells and odors that you just cannot stand? And which smells are so wonderful they leave you in a state of bliss? Do you smell things that other people don’t?
In this episode, I talk about HSPs’ sensitivity to odors as well as the ones I love and detest.

[@amasion2882]

I’m highly sensitive to smells. Stressful both emotionally and physically. When something or someone smells good-or just neutral-it’s a blessing to me. Most people smell bad. Not necessarily unhygienic. Just the combination of personal odors blended with fragranced products, foods eaten, etc. Effect on me ranges from nuisance/distraction to agonizing. I’ve experienced nausea and drooling, retching, respiratory symptoms, and blinding headaches. In more severe cases I’ve suffered faintness and seizure type events (can’t confirm with doctors since I’m uninsured.) The emotional impact is horrible. Sometimes I start crying when people get too close to me because they’re so disgusting. I’ve also been in situations where “concerned” family and friends and even some co-workers have tried to “desensitize” by forcing me to endure prolonged contact or closeness with people who smell bad. All this “unlicensed treatment” has done is left me sick, anxious, and highly resentful. If I live 100 years I will never forget how I’ve been treated. The “treatment” doesn’t help and I loathe the people involved.

[@Yogiu-j7t]

I can relate to this 100% . Thank you for sharing . You are not alone ❤️

[@beatajenice]

Every word speaks to me! stinky old lady perfume induces crippling migranes, a tiny little flower is heavenly! Thank you for making this episode!

[@GettnBooted]

as an hsp I put on a very nice neutral cologne that ( still in spite of the fact that I'm nearly an old lady too lol ) smells very good on me...so good that people track me down and ask me what im wearing...it's a rare scent so I don't blab that name it's hard enuff to find on am uh zon now lol and I put it down my shirt only ( since it's so rare ) & I take a deep sniff to breathe in when I come across something unpleasant or stank. it's my own lil good smelly world. gb

[@How.To.Get.Saved.]

Dryer sheets make me crazy! Living in an area of 100s of condos, everyone uses dryer sheets. One of my favorite simple pleasures is keeping doors and window open, and having fresh air. So dryer sheets are ruining one of life's pleasures. I also can't stand the smell of food cooking. I like cookies, but I can't stand the smell, until they've been refrigerated. Thanksgiving is the worst. Thanks for this video. I truly identify with you.

[@deslozada]

I have an awesomely strong sense of smell too! I actually have a habit of sniffing things, like food before I eat it (my family makes fun of me for this). I find that smelling something tells me a lot of what's in the food, what spices are in it, and/or if I'll like it in general (And it's usually accurate!) I also can stand in the candle aisle in the store and start smelling everything. As for favorite scents, I LOVE lavender and different teas, lemon, limes, oranges, berries, floral/fruity (light) perfumes... the list can go on and on, really. I agree with how a scent can evoke a memory. aaand.. the "freezer" garbage idea you mentioned is genius! Thank you!

[@HighlySensitivePerson]

Desiree Lozada Thanks for your comment, I'm glad you liked the episode! Does your family/friend ever call you a bloodhound?! I've heard some people say they get that reaction when they have a strong sense of smell. :)

[@deslozada]

A Highly Sensitive Person's Life I haven't heard that one before.. Bloodhound is a good way to put it though. Though my family has compared me to our dog (a goldendoodle), who smells everything also. I'll keep bloodhound in mind!

[@Rollwithit699]

Deodorants, perfumes or perfumed lotions and body washes, Jasmine bushes, certain trees, bathroom sprays, etc., all cause severe and immediate migraines. Same thing with bright or flashing lights, too hot, too cold, sounds that are high pitched or repetitive like dogs barking, car alarms, crying or screaming children, overhead intercoms in stores, etc., all actually hurt my ears and make me want to leave fast. I have a pounding heart for an hour or so after being startled. My neurologist diagnosed me with " central sensitization syndrome" which means my central nervous system is always on high alert caused by chronic severe anxiety, fear, and lack of feeling of safety (abuse) as a young child and continuing for many years. No cure so far. I live in avoidance mode. Anyone else heard of this?

[@RosieTshair]

I can't believe how nearly everything you said is the same for me:-) I am the same especially bad smells or rotting, going off food is the worst. I had enough this morning as my husband buys smelly cheese's he and my son love them, I've finally realised it's the cheese it permeates the whole house and I kept thinking it must be the cheese for years, I realise it's affect for me is depression and anxiety, weird but true I only realised this morning as I was fine before the smell. It's been in the house for a few days and I've been feeling so depressed and anxious today i had enough. I did searches online to see if there was an illness or condition and found out it's called hyperosmia. I can't believe the relief I felt listening to your podcast! I'm not crazy after all as no-one in my family smells anything I am always shocked as it's so strong smelling, no-one smells the camembert! It's soooo bad. I can't wait until they've eaten it, it's torture for me, even enclosing it in a sealed food bag doesn't help. Thank you for sharing this info I'm not alone after all.🌹

[@susanbickersteth2526]

I am very sensitive to things that smell like exhaust or gas. Also I will track down smells obsessively. So glad I am not alone.

[@crystaljean522]

Lol! I'm a detective for bad smells too! Rotting potatoes is the worst discovery, or maybe rotting beans! Yyyyuuuuucck! Fried and scrambled eggs, brewing coffee, cooking bacon, cigarette smoke and how it really sticks to some people, synthetic fragrances, vehicle exhaust(especially diesel from large trucks), bad breathe, the smell of an infection. Too many that make be happy to name but here's a few, vanilla, orange, tangerine, pink grapefruit, cinnamon, chai tea spices, eucalyptus, raspberries, chocolate, geraniums, lilac blooms, roses(pretty much all sweet smelling flowers), fresh cut grass, the freshness of the air after a heavy rain or storm, babies, so many more! 💖

[@teresalutz6070]

I always thought I was just weird!!! Old lady perfume makes me so sick and gives me headaches so does laundry soap with scents!! I can smell things before anyone else and I have to get rid of it!! The smell of Lilacs makes me so so happy. Glad to know I'm not weird!!!

[@oar-N-oasis]

This is happening to me, thanks much, I'm not alone.

[@WingedMatchbox]

Orange Blossom is my favorite also

[@WingedMatchbox]

I am always determined to find a bad smell in our house. It drives my husband nuts!

[@mayaportland8805]

+hallecats Same here. I often joke that I must have been a dog in a past life lol

[@dorylotivio8835]

Lol me too...

[@a91170]

But what can you do to prevent nausea/migraines in the workplace? People "bathe" in perfumes. I love eggplants in every form they come in dishes, but I literally get sick when I smell them being smoked. Hate strong, sweet or salty perfumes, musky smells and those like baby talcum powder. hate grinded coffee, vanilla coffee, any coffee. cut grass. cigarettes and pipes, gas stations. L♥ve fresh bread; rain - how everything smells after it rained, a man's neck; new books (yes, I'm a book sniffer - won't buy those who smell like cheese); my cats' bellies.

[@TMcB23]

This is so incredibly relatable! The worst thing for me is that I’m paranoid about fire so any like like the smell of burning makes me panic and go over the whole house finding the source of the smell... it’s usually someone having a bonfire next door or something 😂

[@mayaportland8805]

Smells yeah but noise too, omg, noise! In special car's noise not allowing me to enjoy nature's sounds kills me little every day.

[@user-oz8pq9vm1k]

I feel like my soul is being ripped apart whenever sounds and smell overwhelm me. My family is weirded out to me because I can't eat or enjoy things that are usually deemed as normal. ＴＷＴ

[@ze_us9247]

Omg i can relate to this so much!! I can sometimes smell a hint of someone's perfume even before entering a room. A bit weird, but i can also sometimes smell someone's period blood even before them noticing that its their time of the month. And i seriouslyyy cannot stand the smell of dog's poop. Even if i dont see it, i can smell it if its in my vicinity....i would totally go mad because of the smell. But i loveee perfumes❤ i would notice immediately if someone changed their perfumes and i would just hug and cling on to them because i love their smell😂😂😂😂

[@GoldenGoldman]

Good job, thank you

[@lionrence]

When I come back from my mom's (she's a smoker) I have to throw all my clothes in thr laundry, take a shower and wash my hair. I Hate the smell of smoke on me ugh. Strong perfumes trigger an intense reaction from me too. I can't even go inside a Lush store I will freak and run out lol. My favorite smells are mostly nature smells, like rain, flowers and I like smelling my cats lol

[@w1975b]

I've recently started cooking more chicken, and also started putting the empty containers in the freezer to prevent stench! it works

[@zachs652]

Personally, im a guy that is hyper sensitive to smells. Bad smells bother me a lot. I can't concentrate, it burns my nose and dries out my mouth. It sucks, but i guess i just have to deal with it.

[@hera7884]

After I quit smoking cigarettes I could smell everything much much more. I thought it was cool until I started smelling bad things. I live in Colorado, something out there in the wilderness is always rotting, it’s the circle of life, but the circle sure smells horrid at times! Right now I can smell something going bad and I can’t find it, so I wanted to look up my Curse.

[@Cosmo26271]

I can totally relate! I work in retail and I can smell if customers haven’t washed their hair 🤮 I also get nauseous from smelly food like Parmesan or Alfredo

[@w1975b]

I'm sensitive to smells, and recently a doctor told me she thinks I'm having atypical migraines (no aura first) with symptoms of numbness and inability to think of words, speak. It's very scary and has happened 3 times now. I thought they were TIA strokes but there was never any evidence of burst blood vessels on the MRI, CT scans. Headaches and migraines can be linked with magnesium deficiency, according to Dr. Carolyn Dean. One of the times I was in the hospital for what they thought was TIA stroke, they diagnosed me with magnesium deficiency and gave me some magnesium pills. Some of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency are nausea, vomiting, numbness and tingling. All kind of goes together. Hopefully this info will help someone.

[@wilmienlikwa2070]

The smell and texture of raw eggs disgust me senseless, it gets me everytime. If I get some raw egg on my hands, the sensation is so overwhelming that I have to wash my hands and thoroughly towel dry them to get rid of the icky texture(the memory of it🤣) before continuing to do whatever I was doing with the eggs. And the smell of jasmine. Especially the flowers when they're blooming. The scent is too overwhelming. And everytime someone in my close proximity wears a perfume/lotion that has jasmine in it or drinks jasmine tea, I get chills down my spine bc of that smell. I also always remember the memory of the first time I ever smelled jasmine. I had a back and forth with my mom about the smell. I told her it nauseated me bc it's too overwhelming and she would argue that it smells nice and sweet 🤢🥴😷

[@SesRen]

Omg i relate to this so muchhh Whenever i walk into my house and smell something gross I HAVE to track it down and even when i give up (because my bf is sick of me obsessing) i keep thinking about it until i finally find it the next day or after a bout of cleaning lol

[@camilevi1756]

Low key I like those bad smells that smell good..!!!!!

[@w1975b]

Can't stand: clove, onions, cucumber (pickles are ok), watermelon, cantaloupe, some other common spices (cinnamon and ginger are ok), bleach, ammonia, cigarette smoke, perfumes, deodorants, detergents, pretty much all things with synthetic fragrance.

[@c.a.fontaine7047]

This reminds me, of how one time I found a dead mouse, because it smelled so bad, my mom didn't notice the smell until I asked "do you smell that?" She said yes then I said "it smells like a dead mouse" my mom agreed and I smelled the smell really strong near the dishwasher and couch, so I moved the dishwasher and I saw a dead mouse behind it and the couch.

[@judyburton7695]

I identify with this.

[@vinayakgovitrikar354]

Unfortunately my wife suffers from mouth odour .This made my sex life miserable .She visited dentist and got treated . But sometimes she forgets /does not get time for treatment. and I feel sorry to express my problem. My daughters do not feel the smell at all . I am sometimes blamed to smell non existing smell.

[@mikepurewal5816]

Flossing every night will help

[@jaylenfedderman4846]

When ever is smell anything I throw up no matter what no matter where I am and I can't do anything about it except be embarrassed ( the one holding my breath passing anything to sweet or to smelly)

[@britneybaby636]

J Fed ohh no I hope you get some treatment.. I’m the same but only during a migraine attack

[@amasion2882]

I’m terrified of this eventually happening to me. I’ve suffered nausea and retching but not vomiting yet.

[@w1975b]

I'm sensitive to smells, and recently a doctor told me she thinks I'm having atypical migraines (no aura first) with symptoms of numbness and inability to think of words, speak. It's very scary and has happened 3 times now. I thought they were TIA strokes but there was never any evidence of burst blood vessels on the MRI, CT scans. Headaches and migraines can be linked with magnesium deficiency, according to Dr. Carolyn Dean. One of the times I was in the hospital for what they thought was TIA stroke, they diagnosed me with magnesium deficiency and gave me some magnesium pills. Some of the symptoms of magnesium deficiency are nausea, vomiting, numbness and tingling. All kind of goes together. Hopefully this info will help someone.

[@vickyskye8492]

This has to be a very difficult problem to have because it drives others nuts (like her hubby) bc most people would swear you are just exaggerating, Bc cant smell what you smell. I wonder if there is some kinda fix or cure for this. Sounds like this would be bothersome to have to endure heightened smells constantly.

[@Lovesloyalty1429]

I can't stand the smell of coffee, orange chicken, and manure. My favorite smells are Lemon, cheese, and flowers.

[@lylebleiler9066]

i recently cleaned my carpet and by mistake i first use arm and hammer baking soda with deodorant, big mistake my nose burns so bad and i smell everything super strong. my dial soap for shower and sweet smells that i don't know where it come from. i use double window fan to bring in fresh air and i can't stand them either. my nose burns bad and i get such strange smells. i checked out all i could on line but looks like i am screwed, maybe nose surgery is the only out but the doctors at the veterans will put everything off for months so i just suffer. my advise don't clean your carpet and beware of all household cleaners. so i know your feeling exactly i am sorry for you.

[@MrsLumiele]

I thought i have superpower with sensitive smells but it actually a curse. I dislike cigs smoke, onions, garlic, green onion, body odor, rose , orange and lemon for food (i feel like im eating dish soap), eucalyptus, curry. It makes me picky on eating especially for the strong smell foods, and sometimes i cant even stand being in a gym just because!!! It gives me migraine or nausea

[@w1975b]

I think natural honeysuckle would have to be my favorite smell.

[@maritzajuarez1012]

I'm 12 weeks pregnant and this pregnancy is very different from my first pregnancy, I can't stand the loud noises and I can smell everything very, very strong. I hope this goes away as soon as I turn 4 months pregnant.

[@HighlySensitivePerson]

good luck!! :)

[@colettemallory3813]

I can't stand fried eggs or going into specialty cheese stores. I also hate Old Spice. I actually used to reroute myself away from people wearing it. I hate smoke because I feel that it sort of sticks to you. Sometimes it is so strong I feel I can taste it.

[@HighlySensitivePerson]

ugh, I definitely hear you with fried eggs!!

[@w1975b]

100% on the old spice, nasty! also cigarette smoke. I really don't like any synthetic fragrances, I don't use scented stuff at all. Natural or nothing. Sucks that you have to make an effort to find things without fragrances, and ingredients such as preservatives, etc.

[@yourfuturedermatologist..8244]

I can *detect* the smell of a single cockroach from a distance even the surface it walked on, is there anyone like this ?

[@kat-pb6tr]

Same here

[@StrangeRealityVlog]

My husband suffers greatly when strong smell of anything.... I can't figure out what kind of food doesn't smell... no lemons, limes, orange, salad dressing, vinegar, eggs, toast, tomatoes, English muffins, blueberry pancakes, bbq sauce, ketchup, mustard, and many more... Please Help. The only think I found is plain potato chips and I want to eat healthy !!! I love fruits and vegetables. ! !!

[@mikepurewal5816]

I suffer cause my nose is very sensitive to certain things. It burns my nose. I have not come accross any solutions, the only thing that works for me, is to intake air through my mouth. I can exhale either through the nose or mouth. During spring time when I walk around in the woods, I ware a SWIMMERS NOSE PEICE, to pinch my nose, as long as air doesn't go IN through my nose, it works for me. Good luck.

[@morganmiller41]

I can't stand perfume but Oranges are my kyrptonite. I know I'm not allergic since I can drink orange juice and be fine but when an orange is open I get sick, I get a headache, and then unable to breathe.

[@HighlySensitivePerson]

Wow! It's amazing how different we can all be. :)

[@terryholden8900]

My gf can't get the smell of exhaust fumes out of her throat and nose!!!