You could go to church in a war surplus gas mask
and that could get things going to be sure.

In our congregation, the concern about fragrances and scents was brought to the Session following a Christmas season when live greenery was used. The matter was discussed and the decision was made to be deliberate in informing people that perfumes and certain flowers can exclude people with allergies and sensitivities from worship.

The Session posted signs and brought the matter to the congregation's attention, the people who decorate made sure not to use live greenery and to limit flowers with powerful scents and three years later it is simply taken for granted. Fact is since our hospitals and schools are scent free, as are many work places, people seemed to understand the request.

In one church that I know of, there is an announcement in the bulletin every week asking all to refrain from wearing scented products so as to be inclusive.

If anyone is in the Niagara area, monthly scent free services are held, including one this weekend.
Here is the notice:

Just a reminder to pass along: there will be a scent-free service again this Sunday night at Carleton United 7:30 pm. The address is 527 Carlton St. Fellowship, hot chocolate and cookies to follow after the service.

that is Sunday January 7th

THis issue came up here last year. THe Board decided that rather than passing a "Scent-Free" policy (as they did with SMoking many years ago) they would make a request for people to avoid wearing scented products. I therefore made the announcement at the next Sunday service and a couple of nen-descript signs were posted.

At the next UCW meeting all hell broke loose. To say the least it was not well-received. But after some discussion I think some people began to see the reasoning. ANd I have heard nothing else positive or negative since the first month or so.

PErsonally scents in large spaces rarely bother me since I don't have an allergy. But I can barely walk through a make-up section of a department store. ANd candle stores cna be downright painful

Mind you the worst scent I have ever endured in a church building was EAster lilies. THey make me gag--and they always seem to release a puff of perfume just as I walk past...

Our small congregation came very close to being scent-free, but unfortuantely it didn't become a complete success - and unless there is complete co-operation those with sensitivities either suffer through asthma attacks or can no longer attend. Since then things have regressed and we're back to full throttle perfumes.

My best friend can no longer attend any regular church services, and it has been very sad to watch the process of loss on this person's part. There were many services from which this person had to leave, dangerously unable to breathe, but the congregation never witnessed how bad it got.

Our Presbytery has started a monthly scent-free service, the one that birthstone mentioned. It is the only place where the sufferers can safely worship in our commmunity. It would be really nice if the numbers were a bit better attendance- wise. You don't have to be a sufferer to attend these services, just loving enough to not wear scented poducts.

I don't think a segregated service is the best answer. The use of inexpensive "molecularly complex" chemicals to create pleasing scents is the real issue. Our bodies and lungs simply cannot break them down.

Those of you who are hurting over this have my compassion.

DelG

My wife is an asthmatic. I smell like a person. I do not smell like wildflowers or pine trees, lilacs or meadows. I have learned to like the smell of me without masking it with toxins and more chemicals that wash off, down the drain and into our waters. I help the wife breath, the environment, my body's exposure to chemicals and I smell pretty ok.

bsbymom - that seems like such a relatively simple thing for a congregation to do, to ensure that all people are welcomed. Imagine my perfume keeping somebody else from participating in the faith community - that's awful.

Thanks so much for bringing that up. I will actually bring that up with our Council members on Sunday. It hasn't come up as an issue, but that may be because people are suffering or staying away in silence.

Our Children's Worship & youth activities are all peanut-free zones; it is just sensitivity for the wellbeing of others. Seems a good fit for a church. D.

Have ya seen that add for (glade plug-ins I think) that is so dumb with all the people looking pleased and saying "nice!" when they smell the room they're in?

AHHH! What is wrong with a room not smelling like anything? What is wrong with not being sidetracked from your book, show, chat by a smell! How about baking some cookies instead?

Being "smelly" is becoming a multi-million dollar industry - do something smarter with your money!

Anyway, I just thought I'd throw that in

To: SirBeyond....

I'm assuming the gas mask idea was a joke....however in the case of many people the off-gasing of the rubber face-piece would set off an attack.
My friend actually has several face masks that are worn in public places as a safety measure - special charcoal filter fabrics....as well as an electronic air purifier worn around the neck. Even with these measures worshipping in normal circumstances is impossible (or shopping, or eating in restaurants, etc.).

Brainwave:
Some discussion has taken place that a local congregation might be adding a glassed-in enclosure, similar to a crying room that might be found at some RC churches....only this enclosre will be for those who have chemical sensitivities.
You know what? I think this is a good idea, except I think the offenders, the half dozen or so who stink to high heaven every Sunday should be placed on display in the fish tank instead.
Any thoughts??

Thanks everybody for your suggestions and ideas. I've noticed that everyone at the cake-party are coming smelling like themselves, and not musk, lavendar or pretty flowers. Thanks for that! If you haven't already had a piece of cake, please by all means join us at the "Social club". I'll be happy to serve you up a piece of wondercake made by the squirrels. It's mighty tasty and the beverages are refreshing!

Seriously though, thanks for your ideas about allergies. It can be a big problem in my life and seems to be getting worse instead of better. I find myself sometimes in situations where I am affected by these allergies and there's nothing I can do about it. (work, concerts, funerals......) Your suggestions were good. Thanks Diana for bringing it to your council. I'm sure there will be lots of folks whose quality of life (at least air quality) will improve because of your efforts.

Remove the stamens from highly scented flowers such as lilies. This will remove the peoblem and then the flowers can remain.

I am thrilled to see this discussion topic. I have joined the membership of the church homeless, as of 2006. I suffer from multiple chemical sensitities. A reaction most often results in a nasty asthma attack which may take hours or days to recover from. I have withdrawn from from almost any sort of church involvement: attending services, the choir, social functions, committees. It was great to see the the scent-free service advertised; I will be attending (as I have been since September 2006 when it first started).
There's a more involved picture that hasn't been touched upon. Let's take a look at the idea of 'fragrance-free'. Awesome if you can get 100% compliance; in other words, no fragranced products: perfume, body spray, aftershave, hairspray, hand creams, most if not all flowers, clothes detergents, fabric softeners, to start with. Add to that, the cigarrette residue carries by smokers whether they smoke outside, in their homes or their cars. Then there are the off-gassing chemicals resulting from new carpets including adhesives, apolestered chairs, new duct work, new flooring in general, caulking, paints, waxes, varnishes. And can't forget the floor and carpet cleaners, furniture polishes, window cleaners, air fresheners, and a big offender is Febreeze. And then there's the teaching materials: glossy paper, newsprint, magic markers, to name a few. Oh and heaven forbid, you need to use the washroom; fragranced liquid or solid handsoaps can be toxic.
Welcome to my world.
Then there's the church homeless aspect that needs to be addressed. I am thrilled about the once/month scent-free service. (Sunday evening) It's a safe place: all potential of greenery has been removed, the regular candles are replaced with pure beeswax ones (matches are not used - barbecue lighter works quickly). The sanctuary is aired between the morning and evening service. I know there are thoughts of new carpetting; a new home for the services will have to be found. Once/month has turned out to not be enough. To have a 'safe room' within a santuary for Sunday services is an idea. The materials used will have to be off-gassed well, a separate air-filtering system will need to be installed, along with a separate entrance and exit out of the building...and then there's the situation of a washroom (unless your service is guaranteed to be done within an hour..we can plan ahead) But, we as the church homeless, are already segregated, outcasts, forced out of our congregations, our churches. Puttng us in a 'glassed-in' box (with the thoughts that there will be more than one person in the box) could possibly create a craved-upon support group or it could accentuate the feeling of being segregated. True, let's try it and see what happens.
The church homeless are quite often people who have previously been very active within their church communities. And now that they are not attending on a regular basis, if at all, the loss of that community is profound, Lonliness, depression, sadness, at times anger, become common place. Yes, I'm dealing with feelings. But feelings do at times conflict with spirituality, with personal worship of God, with growth and maturity as a Christian. To find the strength and dedication to keep faith nutured is hard.
I could continue on this soapbox for quite some time but there's a supper to be made, a family to feed.
Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts.
What are yours?

I have a large number of allergies including some to things that are scented. What I've found is that people tend to react very well to specific instructions about exactly what the triggers are (e.g. scented Bounce, Adorn hairspray, spruce branches, wet fingernail polish...actual, concrete examples) as opposed to vaguely mentioning "fragrances" or "scents".

I think it's overkill to ask everyone to eliminate things that won't do us any good anyway. I admit I'm a bit of a skeptic about the whole "multiple chemical sensitivity" thing and the idea that everything in our world is toxic, though.

Whether you are a skeptic about the validity of Multiple Chemical Sensitivites (MCS) or not, let's focus on what can the churches/congregations do for those who are suffering from this disability or for those who are disabled with upper respiratory difficulties, allergies, etc and unable to attend to their spiritual needs in a community/church setting.
Look at education/increased awareness opportunities:
My home church almost reached the goal of being scent-free. It took a long time;many opportunities arose to educate the congregation about the effects of scents/fragrances both in general and specifically. Education and awareness was working - unfortunately as soon as it stopped, ........
Scent-free Services:
Having just attended one last night, I know that works. What would be even better is to have them more than once a month.
Other suggestions?

I came across this thread doing a search about something else, but figured it was worth bumping up, I hadn't seen it before!  I suffer from the same problem

Busymom, I'd like to know if anything has changed since you started this.

One thing I have seen in large churches is a scent-free area.  This probably isn't good enough for people with a severe problem, but it helps and is a good place to start I think.  I will wear scented products that don't bother me (lipglosses are the only thing that come to mind right now) and I would happily do without these to be in a scent-free area.

Please forgive me if this was mentioned somewhere in the discussion,  but, can we truly have a scent free environment?

I mean, ehem, perish the thought.... but Body Odor is a Scent. So I'm baffled as to how to have a truly scent free environment.

Again please do not bludgeon the baboon known as Wolfie if this was talked about in the thread earlier, I glanced through and didn't see it, so if I did miss it.. *Sorry my Bad*

*Peaceful Clothespins on the Nose Journey*

Wolfie

I think the problem is manufactures or perfume scents I don't know of anyone allergic to body odor.  I am extemally allergic to lilacs and most perfumes I tear up get red eyes and sneeze repeatedly.  Our minister is the same way only he gets befuddled I don't klnow if I mentioned this earlier but at one wedding there were flowers that he was allergic to and instead of using the word love he used the word lust. He didn't know he had done this but he was wondering why everyone was laughing. The bride told him what he had said at the reception

Our church is totally fragence free.

You have a good point there Wolfie.  There are other odours that can be troublesome!

For me, it tends to be fragrances that are flowery or musky.  I've noticed recently that even laundry detergent can trigger my asthma.  In a pinch I bought "Gain" instead of my regular laundry detergent and it was awful.  I washed my clothes twice to try and get rid of the smell and I can still smell it!  I also smell it on other people.

The truth of the matter is that the world cannot be scent free, nor should it.  People who like to wear perfume or have spring fresh clothes, have the right to do so.  I am just very very very happy that I live in a  time and place where I have a puffer that works for me right in my purse so the rescue can happen almost immediately. 

Busymom...

Yes, I like yourself believe, people should wear fragrances if they choose, Yet, and I mean no disrespect when I say this... Yet, Why is it, Beauty Salons, Boutiques, Spa's, Department Stores. Will offer a woman beauty tips and tricks and show them how to apply the foundation and highlights, to bring outwardly a beauty that is innerward.

Yet, not a single one of them gives a course in the use of Fragrances (perfumes).  I honestly don't believe some MEN and Women, have ever been taught when a touch is just right and a gallon is waaaaaaaaaay too much overkill.

I think it is a lost art that should be reserrected.

*Peaceful observations Journey*

Wolfie

It sounds like you're dodging the subject with your church.   They're supposed to be like your family, open and forgiving.  Tell the preacher to take 2 minutes to explain how important it is for you.   I don't think you will have anyone who will object once they know it is a real, medical concern. Post a scent free sign near the door, even if hand made.

Welcome to one of the worlds most under rated solutions to conflict. Simply bringing it up.  Mention it.  seriously.

Also, your wording makes me worry for you.   You really think asking this will 'stir up' troubles?    If so, you need more than just a scent free environment in your church.  God forbid someone farts in church or krinkles a candy wrapper!

This has been a hot topic for me too. I am sensitive to certain scents and have become a bit of a crank about them. It started when I lived in Toronto and had to be subjected to all the trendy perfumes on the subway........please, give me body odour instead! Bleck.....I mean it was bad enough people were in each other's personal spaces, now they are invading our INSIDE spaces! Anyway, I will admit my crankiness about perfumes.

My workplace became scent-free a couple of years ago. They painted the place and it was horrible. I had zero tolerance for perfumes during that time because my respiratory system was under attack from the paint and everything. One woman in the building had an asthma attack, and that it what triggered the change to scent-free. Still though, people get angry at this. They really have no clue about the suffering they are causing. In my case, it is usually just a headache, stuffy nose, watery eyes and some coughing or throat clearing. It is not a health risk. I have gently started an education campaign about the amount of chemicals in most perfumes, and about how much nicer the environment is without that crap.

Our church is not scent-free. We have done what others have and there is a notice in the bulletin asking people to refrain from wearing perfumes because there are people who are sensitive. We also have a note about peanuts for the kids who have severe peanut allergies, and bell peppers for the man who is allergic. Every now and again, there will be an announcement as a reminder.

Our hospital is finally scent-free. I had a neck x-ray a couple of years ago and the tech had perfume. She had to get up close and personal and so I had to smell her perfume. I was well that day, and it did not bother me. If I were in the hospital because I was sick, that would have been horrible. Healthcare workers should NEVER wear perfumes, especially when they have close contact with their customers.

Oh, and the downside of working in a scent-free building is that when someone comes in wearing perfume you can smell their path! Frankly too, if you need to wear perfume you only need enough for your beloved to smell. If I can smell it across the room it is too much.....I am not your beloved.

The scent free fight now reminds me of the smoke free fight 20-30 years ago.  Smokers couldn't believe that second hand smoke could make someone sick.  No, those of us who complained were troublemakers, whiners, hypochondriacs.  I remember once on a train:  the conductor asked a young woman to move to the msoking car.  On the way she deliberately blew smoke in the faces of several people who she thought might have complained.  I don't believe that she was trying to make anybody sick - just to annoy them as she felt they had annoyed her. 

Air we can breath is everybody's right.  Somebody's health is more important than the fact that somebody else likes perfume or think it makes them smell sexy.

Thanks for all of your ideas and support.

I find it interesting to be still discussing a topic that was initiated 2 years ago.  I find it a little sad that not much has improved in the two years.

I suppose I am not being assertive enough, as Actually suggests.  However, I find that it is not just perfume, but also deodorant, laundry detergent, hairspray, cleaners, flowers.....the list goes on.  My asthma can be triggered by any number of things.   I guess that's why I hesitate to narrow in on perfume only.  I went to a concert last night and had to leave due to an asthma attack.  I have no idea what triggered it.  Before intermission I was just fine, after intermission I began coughing and wheezing.  I was sitting beside the same people before and after the break.

Again, I am thrilled to be living at a time and in a place where we have medications that are effective.

Yes its good that we have medications that are effective, but should we have to take drugs to come to church?

You make a good point about it being more then perfums that has scents. Often Scent free posters at our church do not mention that. This needs to be part of the education process.

Someone earlier asked what can the church do?

I have a disability and it is important to me to remove barriers that people with other disabilities/illness etc face. It is often hard for me to find scent free deoderont, shampoo, soap etc. Often when I find a product it is packaged in a similar way to a scented producted and I end up buying the scented version by mistake. Add to this I have a low sense of smell and taste. So I will not notice or smell a scent and use the product anyways.

If pharmacies and groceries stores had a sectioton/shelf  for all their scent free products like they do for organic products. It would be easier for me to be scent free. I do not know who to ask to have the stores I shop at do this. 

Maybe someone could find out and compile the email addresses of the people at the major chains in charge of consumer relations or disability concerns. I would email them asking them to set up sections of scent free products, explaining why I would shop at their store if they did so, and explaining why.

We could also start a letter writing campaign and get our churches, unions and others (especially  national offices) to join in.

Alternately what I would find helpful is a system like they have for kosher food. If you look carefully there is a little symbol indicating a product has been certified kosher. A similar symbol could be use to certify that a product meets a certain scent free standard.

 BTW does anyone know of a good web site dealing with this issue. I would like to put a link to it on my web site http://www.accessiblechurch.ca/.

busymom, I had a flare-up of eczema a few years ago. I think it was set off by a few things, stress, some food, and laundry products. I have changed all my laundry products and most of the household cleaning products to things I can buy at our local health food store. I use unscented Seventh Generation laundry stuff, balls instead of fabric softener, and vinegar and water whenever I can. I bought a great shower cleaning product that is better than anything Mr Clean could do, and I do not get tired cleaning the shower......the scent and such of the other products must have had an effect on me. I have also done things like breathe deeply instead of getting stressed out, and take omega 3 supplements.

I did not used to be assertive. Now I find gentle ways to comment. For instance, if I know someone's perfume has set me off in a coughing fit, I will name it. I have noticed people are far more aware of their effect on me and do not wear that anymore, or they will warn me if they are. Our church choir has several people who prefer to sing in a scent-free environment and we commiserate when there are too many live plants in the front of the church. Talking about it can happen in a totally non-threatening way. As in the smoking issue, once it starts becoming more common, others who are even mildly bothered by perfume will start saying things, and hopefully there will be less scents.

Alex, I think you are on to something. Generally the term "fragrance free" is better than unscented. Sometimes unscented items have fragrance. Go figure.

Has anyone noticed how difficult it is to buy unscented items these days??? I have been using "Unscented" Secret for years. They have recently changed their formula and now it is scented and makes me itch.  I guess I am going to have to be smelly.

Thanks for your helpful suggestions.  Alex, I love your idea of having "scent free" sections in stores.  How wonderful that would be.   Not only would it make shopping more convenient for people like us, but by having a section drawing attention to scent-free products, other consumers would become more aware of these products and perhaps make a change.

One other thing that not only effects my lungs, but makes my blood boil is when you walk into a department store and you have to walk through the fragrance department to get to any other part of the store!!!!  I think that is nuts!!!  I noticed even Shoppers Drug Mart is set up that way now.  Craziness I tell you. I have to walk through the section of triggers/scents to get to the pharmacist so that he can refill my prescription for meds that I need because of my reaction to triggers/scents!!!! 

Northwind thanks for your suggestions.  I too have noticed a change in "Unscented Secret". 

Please tell me the name of your product for cleaning the shower.

Hi busymom, I use a product by Nature Clean. It is their Tub and Tile Cream Cleanser. You could make that yourself because it has things like water, sand baking soda.....but why, when there is a good premade product!

You can bypass the fragrances in our Shoppers by going in the out door. You have to open the automatic doors because you are going in backwards. You might be able to do that at other Shoppers too.

 I did some research for my web site and examined several resources that could be used to educate and explain the issue.

Althrough there are lots of resources on the net, I am looking for ones that simply explain the situation quickly, (especially those that can be printed one one page).

It also needs to explain how serious the barrier is for some people,  while also  showing how the disability exists at various levels, for different people.  

It also needs to be from an authoritive source. I found this resource from the Lung Association of New Brunswick.

No Scents Make Good Sense 15 to 20% of the population have conditions in which certain scents creates or increase the barriers they face to attending Church. This one page Brochure from the Lung Association quickly explains what is at stake. A good resource to have when informing people about the barriers created by use of scented products.

That is a good brochure Alex! I have seen similar from other lung association sites.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has guidelines for scentfree workplaces: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/scent_free.html It might have some ideas for other spots, like churches.

I was just trying to find some lists of chemicals in common perfumes and couldn't find anything. They are truly toxic and should be banned/

 Excerpts from No Scents Make Good Sense.

In Canada, 15 to 20% of the population have some kind of breathing problem, such as asthma. Asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and allergies which can all be adversely affected by the chemicals found in scented products. Scents,  perfumes and fragrances are being found in an ever widening variety of products, including personal care products, cosmetics, household cleaners, drugs, and even foods.

More than 80% of the chemical ingredients in these products have never been tested to see if they are poisonous to humans. Some have been tested only minimally. Out of the many chemicals, a few are considered hazardous waste by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Of the 4000 chemicals used to make fragrances, several hundred can be used to make one scented product. Many of these chemicals can cause health problems or even death.

Effects of Scented Products

The facts:

Scented products can make asthma, allergies and hay fever worse (15 to 25% of the population are affected).

Scented products can trigger migraines (17% of Canadians suffer from migraines).

Senate products can cause: sore throats, runny nose, sinus congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, inability to concentrate, fatigue, mental confusion, anger, irritability, seizures, nausea, muscle pain, anxiety, and anaphylaxis. 

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can lead to sudden death.

The research branch of the National Academy of Sciences estimates that 15% of the population experiences hypersensitivity to chemicals. Hypersensitivity is an overreaction by the body to something and its surroundings.

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of people who get sick when exposed to fragrances. Babies and children are more at risk, as are people trying to recover from illness.

There are two main ways in which perfumes and their chemicals can enter the body. One route is through direct contact with skin and the other is by breathing it in.

Imagine being someone with a body primed for problems, such as a person who suffers from asthma, and allergies or from MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity). For these people, their bodies react to one or more of the chemicals causing health problems.

In one study, 72% of people with asthma had negative reactions to perfume -- their breeding test dropped to half the normal rate.

Getting Rid of Perfumes, Scents and Fragrances

When choosing send free or fragrance free products. It is important to be an informed consumer. A product that is fragrance free is likely to be totally odorless. A product labeled send free could mean that no sense has been added to the chemicals already used to make it.

Presently the cosmetic industry uses the term quote fragrance free" and "unscented" virtually without restriction. Look at the label. If the word "fragrance" or "flavor" is in the list of ingredients, it is not fragrance free.

Don't be afraid to use your nose! Or ask the store clerks check it for you.

Perfume in the Workplace (just replace workplace term church, work with worship, coworker with fellow Christian)

Perfume can affect a person's ability to work. If a coworker or friend tells you that your perfume is making them ill, believe them and do not take personal offense. The reaction is not to you, personally, but you want more of the hundreds of chemicals that are present in the perfume.

Whether your perfume is expensive or inexpensive, the chemicals it contains may cause health problems for other people.

Steps to creating a sense free workplace:

Discuss the benefits of having to send free workplace with other workers.

Develop a workplace policy on the use of send free products.

Emphasize that is sent free policy is a health and safety issue for the workplace.

Display signs that welcome people to your send free workplace.

Thanks I have looked at it and will add this link to my web site www.accessiblechurch.ca

I don't have allergies like the kind you are describing but when I walk down the detergent isle, I sneeze for the rest of my shopping.

Hello - my name is Anne Bokma and I'm a freelance writer for the United Church Observer and I'm writing a feature for the magazine about United Church's going scent-free. I found this discussion thread and it's very interesting -- I'd love to do a brief telephone interview with you about your experience since you can no longer attend church because of fragrances -- obviously this has had a big impact on you. I can be reached at annebokma@cogeco.ca. Would you be available sometime this week for a phone interview -- I'd need about 15 minutes of your time. Youcould also call me at my home office at 905-540-4642 -- might be best to email me first so we can set up a time. Many thanks. I hope to hear from you! Cheers, Anne