Comments on: Perfume is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Art World

By: guerlaingirl

guerlaingirl — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:52:40 +0000

All matter has a chemical composition. To avoid “chemicals” is baseless. All-natural is not non-toxic; stinging nettles and poison ivy come to mind. Toxicity is bio-individually based, e.g. peanut butter is highly dangerous to some & daily consumed by others. Of course, there are some very common chemicals that are toxic to a high number of people; ammonia comes to mind. I deeply sympathize with the people who have chemical sensitivities — it does make daily life a horror show of obstacles. We need to find a middle ground in recognizing the freedoms of the many and of the few. The issue here is that perfume is considered by some to be a superfluous & possibly dangerous luxury and by others to be a deeply meaningful artistic form of self-expression. So it is hard to find that middle ground.

By: Sharon W.

Sharon W. — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:51:18 +0000

Angela,
I agree with you on several points. First, you are lucky not to have adverse reactions to perfume, yes. And second, I agree that you would most certainly hate it if you became chemically injured, and perfume was no longer was enjoyable, but sickening (literally).
I used to be lucky, like you. Then I suffered several months of carbon monoxide poisoning, and it damaged my immune and central nervous system, causing multiple chemical sensitivity. One of the worst triggers for me is perfume.
You are also right that probably most people who refer to a “perfume allergy” do not in fact have an allergy. Usually an adverse reaction to perfume doesn’t cause an allergic reaction — that could be controlled with an antihistamine. Instead, the exposure causes a physiological response akin to being poisoned. Exposure to perfume causes me migraines, vomiting, trouble breathing, nausea, dizziness, cognitive impairment, and other debilitating symptoms. Some of the symptoms happen immediately upon exposure, and others occur as delayed reactions for days, weeks, or months after.
I could certainly never go into a Hilton or Marriott — not without being carried out on a stretcher. I would be made ill by just about every furnishing in the place and every fume coming off every person.
To go anywhere, such as my doctor’s office or the health food store, I must use oxygen and a filter mask.
Obviously since you blog about perfume — in a positive way — you and your readers will not “get” me, much as klytaemnestra feels many people do not “get” her. The difference between us is that you and she choose to expose yourself to the chemicals in perfume, and just as I had no choice in being chemically injured, I also don’t have the choice of breathing or not on the rare occasions I leave my home.
I ask you and your readers to please give some thought as to the effects your choices have on others. And the choices they might have on you, some day, if you end up being unlucky.
You can read more about MCS on a special page of my blog devoted to it: http://aftergadget.wordpress.com/about/about-sharons-disabilities/how-mcs-affects-sharon/
Peace.

By: Willow25

Willow25 — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 13:54:19 +0000

Hi Allly:
I only wish I knew less about this. Unfortunately I know far too much … I hope you guys never have to find out the hard way.

By: Qwendy

Qwendy — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:33:41 +0000

So true, but we’d like to see more of you! XOXO

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:13:31 +0000

Joe, I’m glad you enjoyed reading the post. I’m pretty optimistic, too, about perfume gaining respect. It will be so interesting to see how things are in five and ten years.

By: Angela

Angela — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:11:59 +0000

You’re very persuasive! I think the arrangement I have now, though is perfect: Robin does all the hard stuff, and I have to do is crank out a post once a week.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:47:22 +0000

Me, too. I DO use these chemicals around my children everyday. In fact, one of my children made off with a very nice stash of my toxic chemicals when she was home for the holidays.

By: Julia

Julia — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:32:03 +0000

Awesome. Send me your yarn wish list and I will see what I can do. If you can do sweaters and short rows, you can do anything.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:53:23 +0000

Angela: I really enjoyed finally reading this piece and all the comments in full last night. Very thoughtful and so true. I am optimistic that people will be appreciating “olfactory art” more and more as time goes on.

By: Ally

Ally — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:45:27 +0000

It seems like you don’t even know the meaning of the term “toxic chemicals”. Next time do yourself a favour and at least google something you’re unfamiliar with before leaving completely nonsensical comments like this one.