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A MyMigraineTeam Member asked a question 💭
Indianapolis, IN

Mine are weed killers and fertilizers, Fabreeze anything, petroleum hot tar, cologne and even deodorant (especially strong scented men's deo., cigar 🤢cigarette smoke, mowing of lawns. Scented candles and room deodorizers.i find I am becoming more sensitive as I get older 😕. Mold, bonfires, fireplaces, cleaning supplies, even dust. Anyone relate?

October 3, 2017
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Answer Summary

Members bonded over the question of scent triggers for migraines, with an overwhelming number identifying strong perfumes and colognes,... Read more

Members bonded over the question of scent triggers for migraines, with an overwhelming number identifying strong perfumes and colognes, cigarette smoke, cleaning products like bleach and Pine Sol, and petroleum-based smells like gasoline and hot tar as the most common culprits. Several members also shared that artificial fragrances in candles, laundry detergents, and room sprays were major offenders, and many noted they avoid entire store aisles because of the smell. A recurring theme was the added frustration of unsupportive family members who struggle to understand scent sensitivity, alongside hope from treatments like Nurtec and Aimovig that have helped reduce overall migraine frequency.

A MyMigraineTeam Member

Gasoline and petroleum products. Burning leaves or wood are the worst. Strong perfumes or aftershave. I can't tell the difference between some of the expensive perfumes and bug spray, and that can be a trigger, too.

May 27, 2021
A MyMigraineTeam Member

Bleach and any cologne or perfume that has a musky smell. Also those that seem to wear half the bottle of whatever their wearing. Ugh!

October 3, 2017
A MyMigraineTeam Member

I have to Avoid the artificial flower aisle in stores because that smell means Instant Migraine...also if I come in contact with someone wearing half a bottle of Cologne/Perfume or using bug sprays, especially wasp/hornet killer also Triggers Mee Big Time... but 9 times outta 10 I normally Wake-up with a Migraine either due to something I ate the previous day or the Barometric Pressure changes and the weather. Soo I have to watch what I eat and I Always check the list of ingredients on All Foods...it seems like MSG and aspartame are in Everything now-a-days!!!

July 29, 2021
A MyMigraineTeam Member

Lavender, peppermint, vanilla...insanely strong florals- you know... every single other persons favorites 🙄
Hickory wood
I can do spearmint the best, lime, rose, clary sage, patchouli re: essential oils I keep on a scarf with some on it whenever I leave the house

November 23, 2017
A MyMigraineTeam Member

That's terrible. But you have to stand up for yourself. I almost had to leave the waiting room at my dentist's office last night. There was a woman in there who had some kind of perfume on and after 10-15 of waiting, I started feeling nauseous and getting a headache. I was seriously going to reschedule and then they called me and the whole episode abated. I don't know when it happened, but at some point in my life, I became chemically sensitive. I think around the time I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

November 28, 2023

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