The Impact of Strong Smells on Highly Sensitive People

Strong smells and highly sensitive people often don’t go well together; strong smells often feel like an onslaught to the senses. Particularly strong smells that are not natural. One notable example of this is chemical cleaning products and synthetic air fresheners. It’s the reason why I delved into the world of essential oils and started experimented with making my own household products. I can tell you this, once you’ve gone natural, you’ll never go back!

Strong Smells and Highly Sensitive People

Elaine Aron states that whilst HSP’s don’t have better developed senses, it often feels that way. Strong smells, for example, are overwhelming for a HSP, as are bright lights, and noisy environments.

Have you ever had someone walk by you with strong perfume on and actually felt nauseous because it is so overpowering? Do you recoil from the smell of cigarette smoke on your co-worker’s clothes? Are you the one who goes on a mission to find the source of a bad smell that no one else seems to be able to smell? If your nose is easily offended by strong smells then you are certainly not alone.

However, there is an upside to smell sensitivity – a scent that you experience as pleasant can have an incredibly positive effect on you! The scent of the blossoming magnolia trees  in spring, the refreshing scent of the air after a rain shower, the uplifting power of the scent of herbs on a kitchen windowsill.

Impact of Chemical Cleaning Products

I remember as clear as day being on a family holiday years ago when somebody used a bleach based product to clean the kitchen. I had an asthma attack. It was out of the blue and I had never had one before.

Not long after oven cleaner triggered another attack and I ended up with an inhaler.

I learnt that chemical household products and me don’t mix.

Going Natural

I started looking into more natural cleaning products and stuck with them. Consequently, I haven’t had an inhaler now for many years. I know what the trigger is and I stay away from those products.

About a year ago, I became intrigued by the use of essential oils. I had read so many positive stories about highly sensitives being calmed by oils used in a diffuser, or highly sensitive children (HSCs) really benefiting from a massage with lavender oil, or a bath, or a roller blend that helps an anxious child.

The more I read, the more I wanted to give essential oils a try.

I decided I wanted a more natural home environment for me and my kids.

Essential Oils

I invested in reading material (my favourite: The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Aromatic Oils In Aromatherapy, Herbalism, Health, and Well Being), and an online course.

To my delight I discovered that essential oils are so versatile. I learnt that I could also make household cleaning products and remedies myself – all with natural ingredients.

Products I now make myself are:

• shower gel
• shampoo
• fabric softener
• hand soap
• all purpose household cleaner
• glass and mirror cleaner
• spritzers
• insect repellent
• bite and sting spray
• inhalers for flu and colds
• roller blend for headaches and pre-menstrual symptoms
• after sun care
• mould spray for the bathroom
• air fresheners

The best thing is that the ingredients are simple, easy to get hold and the products are easy to put together. It takes me two minutes to make a new bottle of scented shower gel. And that’s a shower gel scented with my choice of essential oils, all of which smell amazing to me.

Yesterday my eldest asked me to make him a ‘sleep potion’ for the diffuser at bedtime.

As I said, once you go natural, you’ll never go back!

Over to You

Do you notice a correlation between strong smells and highly sensitive people? Do you yourself have strong reactions to strong smells? What positive effects does small have on you? Do you use essential oils in the home?