Personal Narrative: I Need To Get Out Of Here Fast Food

Quite a few months back, I had the privilege of living with my fragrance twin and her family at their home. We have always teased each other that we were twins separated at birth. However, as it ended up a 4 month work stay, I found out that we were more fraternal twins than identical twins. Let me explain.

While someone with fragrance allergy/intolerance are affected by fragrance, how the symptoms and reactions manifest can be quit different. She may encounter, eyes and lips burning, rosacea, headaches, and the all around "I need to get out of here fast" mode, I may encounter migranes, nausea, dizziness, irritability, spitting up, and of course, the all around "I need to get out of here fast" mode. We both have found that coffee can counteract some of these symptoms as it can act as a natural antihistamine.

Case in point, we went to Food for Life, health food store, in the San Fernando Valley area near Los Angeles. At the entrance of the store were candles by the register. Upon entering, we were both "hit" by the odors. Why "health food" stores display odor offgassing merchandise at the entrance is a wonder to me, but that is a blog post for another time.

Food for Life sells loose herbs, which I like to purchase to make my own hair products. I was able to obtain most of what I needed, but the affect of the fragranced
It went to a point where I didn't know what to cook for myself as I didn't want to make her ill. I also have food allergies/sensitivities which make my eating choices limited. People with sensitivities to smells, odors, fragrance and the like, for safety, tend to be isolated. Least of all, with this sensitivity, being fully aware of the complexity of the situation, I did not want to be the person to make her ill. I know how it feels when people "don't get the issue" and are offended that it is their choice of product that we do not