Smells, how do you deal with them?

[RainbowEarthFaerie]

I need to know how to deal with smells when they are impossible to avoid.

My FIL just moved in with us last week. He is 86 years old, semi-incontinent and a chain smoker (outside thankfully). I take care of him and do his laundry and stuff. Being anywhere near him makes me gag! What can I do? DH just doesn't get it. He doesn't seem to understand that pregnant women can't deal with certain smells sometimes.

[nighten]

Find a smell you can tolerate, and keep a small container with you at all times if possible, and/or spray it on a hankerchief and keep it tucked up into your shirt sleeve or in a pocket.

It is especially helpful I think if it's an essential oil -- that way you can just put a few drops on a hankerchief or tissue. Aura Cacia makes a great roll-on lavender oil that is perfect for a pocket or purse. I'm fine with lavender right now (and orange and patchouli). There are other aromatherapy inhalers you can get -- check your local health food store.

You might also consider an essential oil-based air freshener. Keep a can of that at his house and spritz as needed. I've got a can of a Citrus/orange spray in the laundry room (where the cat box is), since I can't stand the smell of the catbox or the food, honestly. I spray a little bit of the citrus, and that helps a lot.

So sorry you're dealing with this.

[DreamsInDigital]

Lavender is my favorite scent when I'm pregnant. It's the only thing that makes me feel better when I'm queasy. I dab a drop of EO on my pulse points every morning.

[Nillarilla]

peppermint essential oil on the wrists and neck worked for me.

[tak]

Like the others said, essential oils help. Just put a couple drops on a hankie or even a piece of paper and keep with you. Plus you can tailor the oils to what you need -- citrus if you're tired, lavender if you're stressed etc.

If smells are really getting to me I take some Watkins medicated ointment and smear it under my nose. After a few minutes of intense menthol smell, every other smell seems to disappear (including the smell of feet, the current bane of my super-preggo-nose).

[mamamillet]

The smell of seafood is really really making me gag--which is not good cause I like seafood--its the only "meat" that I eat. Maybe it will go away. Smells are bothering much more with this pregnancy--I am going to try the EO on a hanky for tomorrow. Unfortunately I have to go into family's homes as part of my job and we all know that everyone's home has its own smell right...well I only like my smell right now--thats it!

[nighten]

Can also get a good air purifier (not one of those ionic ones -- they trigger migraines).

And I found this Aura Cacia blend today that's wonderful. It's called "Pep Talk" and smells so clean and fresh. Maybe try it?

http://www.auracacia.com/dspCmnPrd.p...r=Aura%20Cacia

Good luck. Since he's living with you, I'd invest in an air purifier for his room, honestly. And make him wear a flannel shirt or something over his regular clothes when he goes outside to smoke. Then the shirt hangs somewhere outside of your smell zone.

[mzfern]

Originally Posted by nighten

Can also get a good air purifier (not one of those ionic ones -- they trigger migraines).

And I found this Aura Cacia blend today that's wonderful. It's called "Pep Talk" and smells so clean and fresh. Maybe try it?

http://www.auracacia.com/dspCmnPrd.p...r=Aura%20Cacia

Good luck. Since he's living with you, I'd invest in an air purifier for his room, honestly. And make him wear a flanner shirt or something over his regular clothes when he goes outside to smoke. Then the shirt hangs somewhere outside of your smell zone.

Ditto about the air purifier. HEPA ones are a bit pricey but totally worth it.
For most icky smells (diaper wash day, dog poo, etc) I just breathe through my mouth. EOs on a cloth is a good idea

[RainbowEarthFaerie]

Originally Posted by mzfern

Ditto about the air purifier. HEPA ones are a bit pricey but totally worth it.
For most icky smells (diaper wash day, dog poo, etc) I just breathe through my mouth. EOs on a cloth is a good idea

Ew. As it is, I can "taste" his smells. I think breathing through my mouth would make it 50 times worse. :Puke

[mzfern]

Originally Posted by WhisperV

Ew. As it is, I can "taste" his smells. I think breathing through my mouth would make it 50 times worse. :Puke

Oh man, that's so nasty

[redclover]

after my first pregnancy (too late, of course!) somebody told me to carry a lemon around with me all the time and sniff it when i smelled something that make me gag. or when i felt that woozy feeling coming on...
believe it or not, it really works!
that with the combination of gin-gins (ginger candies) seems to help that gag reflex when something just suddenly sends me over the top...

[mzfern]

Originally Posted by redclover

after my first pregnancy (too late, of course!) somebody told me to carry a lemon around with me all the time and sniff it when i smelled something that make me gag. or when i felt that woozy feeling coming on...
believe it or not, it really works!
that with the combination of gin-gins (ginger candies) seems to help that gag reflex when something just suddenly sends me over the top...

I gin-gins