Subud House Fragrance Free

Dear Subud Members,

Several women are experiencing difficulty breathing in the Women’s Latihan Hall (the Chapel) due to chemical sensitivity. See the letter below. It would be wise to reconsider all use of chemical perfumes and colognes when visiting the Subud House.

Ladies, there was an incident last Sunday where one of our members was impacted by another members fragrance,  she had a hard time breathing and had to leave early even though she opened several windows
And the fans were turned on.  After latihan she explained how she is very allergic to scents.
I don’t know if I need “permission” to do so but I intend to bring signage next Sunday to post which will say something like:  women’s latihan hall is a fragrance free zone as it has come to our attention several of our members
Have allergies to certain scents.
Thank you for your understanding.
Women helpers
Ok with everyone?
* * *
WebMDFrom WebMD:

Fragrances and Our World continued…

“From hair shampoos to carpet shampoos, from laundry detergent to shower gels, from home sprays to hair sprays to moisturizers, cosmetic, and personal care items, the scent industry has literally exploded. And for many people, it’s a real sensory overload,” says Pamela Dalton, PhD, MPH, an olfactory researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.

We do have some control over what we allow into our homes and other personal spaces — we can toss that magazine with the inserts or switch shampoo — but it can really become an issue when our senses are assaulted in common areas, such as the workplace or a college classroom, places where we have to be.

“Being forced to breathe in others’ fragrance choices is a lot like being forced to breathe in secondhand smoke,” Dalton tells WebMD. “It’s a loss of control over your personal environment, and for some it can have serious personal health consequences.”

And that is precisely the logic behind several recent legal actions aimed at cleaning up our personal air space.

  • In July 2007, a government worker from Detroit sued her employers under the Americans With Disabilities Act for what her lawsuit claims is “fragrance toxicity” in the workplace. Her claim: Exposures to fragrances also means increased exposure to chemical neurotoxins that adversely impact brain function. The suit is pending.
  • In the fall of 2007, a group of students from California State University, Stanislaus, became so concerned about these same chemical exposures they asked campus officials to institute a fragrance-free policy. Their request cited headaches, nausea, and inability to concentrate, all caused by overpowering fragrance use among some students and faculty. The students are waiting for the administration’s decision.
  • Workers in the Portland, Ore., Bureau of Emergency Communications were recently banned from wearing fragrances under what has become one of the nation’s first government workplace “fragrance-free” policies. Portland State University followed suit, and now similar programs are in place at Cecil College in Maryland.