No No.5
Bond No.9, Mikael Kors, Aqua Di Gio, Calvin Klein Obsession, Versace Women; these are 5 of the bestselling scents of 2015. Perfume and Cologne have been documented since ancient civilizations, and in the 16th-19th centuries they were sometimes used as a sole source of hygiene. Unlike today, where we have drugstore perfume, in those times, only nobility could afford perfume or cologne.
The idea of perfume is a pleasant one: a light aroma to everyone which makes close contact with that person more comfortable. Perfumes have been known to be closely correlated with memory, and aroma therapy is increasingly successful.
Unfortunately, though the idea is one with good intent, it seems it can never be carried out harmoniously. In large institutions such as hospitals, schools, office buildings and stores, perfume can be a sensory overload when people tend to be crowded together. Many stores have signature scents that are worn as a symbol to others that they shop there; some examples would be Abercrombie, Hollister, and Aeropostale. These scents can be nice in moderation, but when every article of clothing in the store is scented, the collective of all these sources of fragrance can become almost a wall when one enters. By spraying every piece of clothing, these instalments have not taken into account that it may actually harm the customers, because perfumes are a major cause of headaches, and even stomach aches for some people. If even a small amount of perfume can have this effect, imagine staggering amounts like these.
Many institutions have now put into effect a “Scent Free” rule, effectively avoiding the possibility of causing the irritation of people in the vicinity. This is most popular in schools, due to the mass use of highly potent perfumes and body sprays, such as Axe or Bath and Body Works, that are being used by many students coming out of phys. ed classes. Because of the crowds in high schools and elementary schools, it doesn't take long for an entire segment of a hallway to smell like a stifling mix of these fragrances. Perfumes and colognes are not bad things; when a person has a clean or pleasant scent the people in their vicinity tend to act more kindly towards them, but balance is extremely important, especially in the case of scents.
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