Question:
I just finished reading a news brief about a woman in Calgary (Canada) who was kicked off a public transit bus because of her overpowering perfume!! Unfortunately, there was no mention of what the scent was but if I find out I will add it to this post. Apparently she is demanding a public apology, and may even sue. Yikes!

Answer:
I just read that article too. The "offending scent" was Very Irresistable by Givency. I ride the commuter train every morning to work and I sure hope this does not start a perfume free policy for public transit. I think this woman deserves an appology. The matter certainly could have been handled in a much more emphathetic way.

Answer:
I have noticed this trend.
As soon as people succeeded in stopping smokers from putting smoke into "their" air, they started trying to stop perfume-wearers from putting scent into "their" air.
I solved it by carrying a 1 ml vial with me to put little bits of perfume on me frequently all day and avoid dousing myself first thing in the morning in an attempt to make it last.
You know what? I think deodorant can be just as obnoxious on sweaty pits.
Why don't people complain about deodorant?

Answer:
Perhaps at this point I should be glad that I'm the sillage slayer!
And yes I agree about some body sprays - it's usually the men who overdo it. And Lynx - bleeech!

Answer:
If she were my neighbor I would definitely understand why they threw her off the bus- it would have been a matter of saving lives!! Some people just way overdo it. Though of course, I have no idea what happened in the case in the news.

Answer:
Originally Posted by Elf If she were my neighbor I would definitely understand why they threw her off the bus- it would have been a matter of saving lives!! Some people just way overdo it. Though of course, I have no idea what happened in the case in the news. She must have bathed in the stuff to be thrown off a bus like that. Although I do agree, some people overdo it. My ex sister-in-law (lovely woman), use to spray it on pretty thick, and would occasionally clear a room with her "signature scent" Obsession, so I can understand the busdrivers dilemma if this was the case. Pretty embarassing though!

Answer:
I was thinking self-conciously of my Samsara Creme Rituelle + SL Santal Blanc combo this morning. Scents are not made today to be worn the way they were at some points in the past. We didn't cram large amounts of people in small spaces, in very close proximity, for long periods of time. We also didn't work or study forced to be within 1-2 feet of others for long periods of time, where the physical environment doesn't provide proper ventilation or
The issue of second hand smoke in apartment buildings is currently in the papers here. I for one would jump at the chance to live in a smoke-free building. Or, like others suggest, a building where the building code prevented smoke from entering my flat. I can feel myself breathing in smoke, and occasionally get asthma, nausea, or wake up with my lungs feeling funky because of it - this from someone who had never experienced asthma for over 28 years, and then only downtown on the worst smog days.
When people are pushing themselves on to buses / streetcars / subway trains (some days I'm not up for the shove to get on, and I've watched 12 trains go by... not even at the peak of rush hour) fragrance is a problem.
Another thread mentioned nausea, and for anyone who has experienced morning sickness, or nausea due to illness, drug side effects, or withdrawal, s/he can probably vouch for strong scents being an issue. After one bad experience with Brisk Iced Tea and nausea 10 years ago, it still makes me queasy, even if I don't try to drink it (and I never have had more than a sip since then).
The city I grew up in did not allow animals (other than assistance animals), things like bicycles or open strollers, or food / beverages on public transit. The city I moved to for college only allowed drinks in proper travel cups. Pretty much anything goes here, other than smoking, which occasionally happens anyway.
While some of you may live and work in environment where scent can be louder, I think being considerate about your application goes a long way.
Many places in Canada have 'scent free' policies already, but I have yet to have anyone look at me funny or say anything - I am fairly discreet all the time, and especially so when I am going certain places... which include 'scent free' zones. I think the policies are partly in place so that severe cases can be addressed. Much like 'courtesy seating, maximum of 20 minutes per customer, minimum purchase may apply' signs in restaurants. I have only seen these enforced a couple of times - disruptive homeless people and some late-night loitering teenagers.
If there isn't a posted policy, you get problems like the guy who posted on here about meeting someone else in a bookstore cafe for a mini sniffa, spritzing multiple scents in a short period of time, and claiming discrimination based on sex (wouldn't happen to two women, but straight men wouldn't do that) when asked to leave.
Also... strangely and unfortunately, Delrae Bois de Paradis makes my throat close up even if applied lightly with a roll-on, and I have no known allergies.
As far as the bad body odour issue - yes, it is every bit as disruptive, but it isn't an act the way choosing how to apply your scent is, effective anti-perspirants have been linked to cancer, and sometimes bad breath or body odour is due to illness or medication and can't be helped, as a quick summary of the issues. My parents had to say something to an employee one time about body odour, and have kept the employee bathrooms stocked with deodorant since then and it seems to have been resolved. Hard situation though.
Ok, I said a lot... I love fragrance and also realise how much it can impact others. Plus I am sitting here during my office hours waiting for students to appear =)
Oh - and if anyone has any innovative ideas on how to address / deal with this, I would love to hear about them.

Answer:
In this case, I am on the bus driver's side, sorry, but this happened many times and that woman sounds like she's just sue happy. I always try to accomodate others. If they don't like what I am wearing, I won't wear it. I would feel hurt, but everyone has a right to their opinion. It is shared air.

Answer:
There was a lady where I used to work who wore a sweet, cloying, overpowering perfume every day (always the same one). After she retired, the room in which she worked still smelled of her. But I'd still rather have that than B.O. any day.
Clemmie

Answer:
Once I witnessed a young -- just past her teenage years -- woman being escorted out of the library where she was sitting using the computer and stinking to the high sky. It was some strong perfume, but her overdose was quite obvious. After the senior librarian politely told her that some other people were complaining about her smell and one older man was sneezing non-stop, the young lady tried to make it look like it was a racial issue and refused to leave. She was loud and her vocabulary was not very polite. A few minutes later two handsome cops arrived and escorted her out, and really I do not know what the whole thing ended up with. The smell itself was bad too, that's for sure!