This Blogs Purpose
The goal of this blog is to post at least once a month — a schedule I believe is achievable for someone like me, who tends to get lost in numerous projects and can feel overwhelmed at times.
When it comes to fragrance-related issues, I feel it is something that is not discussed enough. As someone who has lived a very different lifestyle from most, I find myself frustrated with the outside world — not just in places like malls, movie theaters, and restaurants, but even on simple walks outside my own home.
So many times I have set out for a walk, only to be bombarded by laundry soap, scent pod boosters, or other laundry product pollution that fills my lungs the moment I step outside. It is increasingly infuriating.
I wish there were a way to make people truly understand what it is like to become sick from fragrances. Not that I want anyone to suffer physically, but I do want people to understand the severity of it.
Something as simple as stepping outside for a walk and hoping for fresh air — yet the air is rarely ever fresh. The days I look forward to most are the ones when it rains. I can open all of my windows and let that clean, rain-washed air fill my home. Those moments feel few and far between, because rain is not frequent here, and when it does come, it usually brings a thunderstorm with it. But that cool air drifting in through the windows — that smell, like the Earth is purifying itself from us and our stink as humans — I find it deeply refreshing. In those moments, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, with air that is not polluted by neighbors or other environmental factors.
I am sure there is some fragrance company out there that makes a rain-scented product, but the reality is that synthetic fragrances never match the real thing. My favourite scents, now that I live fragrance-free, are coffee and popcorn. When I brew a fresh cup of coffee in the morning, the smell fills my entire space and I love it. Popcorn is another favourite — though I have not made it since I moved.
One of the things I wish people understood is the emotional toll that a disease like MCAS — Mast Cell Activation Syndrome — or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, or any condition that makes you allergic to life, takes on the human psyche. If I were anyone else, without the background and resilience I have built, I would find it very hard to want to keep moving forward. And at times, I do struggle with that — which is not something I am proud to admit, but it is the reality. When you feel like you do not matter, you begin to feel like you should disappear.
Instead of disappearing, I aim to make a difference — to create change and bring awareness to a situation that is so often met with pushback. I am deeply interested in the science behind fragrance, its negative impact on people’s health, and daily lives.
What many people do not know about fragrance intolerance is that it goes far beyond headaches. It can also cause joint inflammation — and for me, that means inflammation in my jaw, which makes it extremely difficult to eat. This leads to weight loss, because I am unable to chew and enjoy food at any meaningful level. That is just one of the many symptoms my conditions cause. Awareness is essential to this conversation, but so is real change within society. If we continue without meaningful accommodation for fragrance intolerance, people like me are effectively shut out of the job market, unless a workplace happens to be entirely fragrance-free. I want to be part of the solution, not add to the already chemically fragrant world.
Why masking Helps
As an immunocompromised patient, I have worn a mask for more years than I can count. Leaving the house is something that strikes deep seated fear within me. I fear getting things like Covid19, the flu, and even a common cold. When your body does not fight off illness like everyone else, it makes it challenging to try to navigate the world outside my door.
When I first started masking, I was met with some odd comments from people while I was trying to spend time with them. People wanted to see my face while we spent time together, and eventually, I got strong enough to tell them no and that it was unsafe for me to do so.
Beyond illnesses, I also risk severe allergic responses to fragrances and scented products, due to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), a rare condition I live with, even if others doubt it. My commitment to personal safety shapes my life, regardless of outside opinions.
I do everything in life inside my bubble, and when I have to leave, I wear a mask. Masking has helped me avoid colds, flu, and Covid-19. Since 2020, I have been free of respiratory infections, thanks to the diligence I take to keep myself safe.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is vital to my health, since I can’t tell if others are sick or wearing fragrances. Protecting my health is non-negotiable. To create a more accessible and accommodating society by 2040, we must engage in honest conversations about both visible and invisible illnesses.
By using PPE, I have protected myself and improved my quality of life. I had been masking long before COVID-19, and I will continue to mask now because it helps me live a better life.
Small, consistent efforts can foster change. As Audrey Hepburn said, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m Possible.’” Together, we can realize this vision for accessibility.
Canary Air Blog 