Simple outings most of us take for granted can be intimidating for Sun City West residents with allergies to perfumes, chemicals and odors. Most of us don’t even think about chemical sensitivities when we spray on perfume or cologne, but for some residents this can be a severe problem, so the Rec Centers is asking the community to keep this in mind as they go about their activities and attend our events.
For some individuals, particularly those with asthma, exposure to even the smallest amounts of a chemical allergen can trigger an attack. These reactions are called Multiple Chemical Sensitivities or environmental sensitivities, and the severity of the symptoms can vary. Some people report mild irritation while others are incapacitated and must give up many activities of daily living, such as going to public places, in order to avoid exposure.
We ask our residents to use common sense so ALL our residents can enjoy their free time in our community. Be respectful of those around you and refrain from overdoing it with perfumes or cologne. Better yet, if you’re attending a crowded public event, consider forgoing scents altogether.
Thank you for bringing this up to the general public. My wife has severe reactions to fragrances and has had to be rushed to the ER when her airways closed. Air fresheners in restrooms and plug-in air fresheners are worse than perfumes and colognes because of the concentration. Thank you again for making this an item of importance in the community.
There is a seemingly endless list of items with horrible fragrances added, i.e., lotions, fabric softeners, soaps, shave cream, etc. If everyone would use fragrance-free items, this would help tremendously. BTW, moth balls and perfumes/aftershave is a deadly combination.
Thank you for addressing this vital issue. Most clubs we belong to have a “no fragrance policy”, which is most appreciated.
Thank you so much for posting this! It’s so hard for some people to understand that this really is a matter of life and breath…
I really appreciate this issue being brought to light. I was just in the grocery store the other day and a woman walked by me that had such strong perfume on I immediately got a sinus headache. My husband and I have had to change where we sit in the movie theatre because of someone with a strong perfume on. Less is more in my opinion when it comes to perfume.
Could you provide a number or percentage of residents here in Sun City West that suffer from fragrance sensitivities? It appears that the community (RCSCW) is taking an aggressive stand to advise the entire resident base to be aware of this situation and make personal changes to accommodate those affected individuals. Perhaps if the numbers or percentages were released, more residents would be likely to comply. Surely, RCSCW has some type of data available to make a request of the entire resident base to act in a desired fashion?
Good morning Frank. To be able to give you the percentage you’re asking for would involve a survey of 28,000 residents. We have received a considerable amount of input on this issue over the years – it’s a more informal number than a survey would provide. Since in many cases this is not a preference, but a (sometimes serious) health issue, we ask our citizenry for compassion for those affected. The main point we make is not to discontinue the use of fragrance completely, but to please do so sparingly.
What makes it hard to breathe is people with body odor, why don’t you tell everyone to please bathe.
Thank you for requesting that our residents reconsider their use of scented perfumes and lotions! It is extremely difficult for those of us who are allergic to these scents to attend committee, club, and social functions. Perfumes were developed back when people didn’t have the ability to bathe often so they were necessary to cover body odor and then society continued with the idea that men and women would be more attractive to one another if they wore a special scent. That is not the general social condition in our modern age but, the truth is, that many more people are sensitive or allergic to many more scents these days than in the past. Those of us with these sensitivities truly appreciate those of you who forego your desire to wear a scent. It truly helps us to be able to participate in our activities along with the rest of you. Thank you!
Thank you for bringing up this critical issue regarding fragrances. Even clubs that are fragrance free allow guests to come in with perfume and after shave. This problem is huge for some of us and certainly restricts where we can go and what clubs we can participate in. People that have never suffered with this problem have no idea how scary this is for those of us who are affected. My heart felt thank you to those who comply with the no fragrance policy.
Thank you for bringing this issue to light. I have fragrance sensitivity. I sometimes find it hard to ride in a golf cart with women who wear perfume or who use scented laundry products.