Doublereed Archive - Posting 000058.txt from 2007/05

From: "Oboe Lips" <oboelips@-----.com>
Subj: [DR-L] Scents & perfumes--why they should be put on "hold"...
Date: Mon, 07 May 2007 17:16:04 -0400

Greetings!
My orchestra has a policy of "yes, deodorant", but "no colognes, perfumes"
for the reason that many of our musicians (including wind players who rely
on breath to create their performance) are asthmatics. For some of us, a
whiff of an odor that "triggers" us can actually ruin our day's breathing.
Some of this is due to severe asthma, some is due to "super-olfactory"
abilities (in the scientific sense).

Before my concert Sunday, I took a bit of time to identify some of the
smells I could smell:
Baby powder, valve oil, someone had indigestion, dryer sheet (likely the
residue on people's clothing), old paper, "personal products" (could have
been hair conditioner, etc.) and someone was wearing a band-aid that I
could smell. This is above and beyond the smells of a rainy day (dust,
rain, pollen, etc). When someone puts cologne into that mix (and for me,
because I smell the base as well as the scent)--it can really be pretty
nasty--the base smells alot like Raid bug spray. It can impact my ability
to breathe quite a bit. And, I'm not the only one in my orchestra, or even
the wind section that has this problem! So, be considerate--put a hold the
odoriferous items!
Oboefully,
Deb G.

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