I'm a closeted cavewoman because why does smelling like someone else bother me so much? 😭 : adhdwomen

I cannot express how much it bothers me when someone else's cologne or perfume rubs off on me in a hug or something, some scents bother me so much more than others but I simply HAVE TO wash whoever's scent is on me and replace it with my perfume and body lotion etc. Like I NEED to have control of my own scentscape at all times. If I'm at a hotel I need change my pillow case and use my linen spray. Am I part canine?? 😂😂 like I feel a strong need to scent mark my territory and to keep my own scent. It'll literally freak me out if I don't. I adore my dad but hugs from him rubs his cologne and aftershave off on me, even though his cologne is fabulous and I actually think it smells great, I HATE IT when it's on me, I start to feel like I'm lost at sea or something lmao like where am I?? And this morning I was over my mom's place and playing with her perfume and I spritzed her signature perfume on my wrist….. I do not know wtf possessed me to do so, but I immediately had to scrub it off me. I mean it's literally my mom in a bottle and is the most comforting scent but I COULD NOT bear it physically on me!! 💀 is this an AuDHD thing or am I just a wild animal? 😭

Me too! Though I only noticed it recently. I love smelling other people's scents. It's one of the things I love about theme parks, bizarrely; I notice all sorts of perfumes and aftershaves as we walk around. But we were at a couple of funerals recently where there was a lot of hugging, and I came home feeling quite uncomfortable with the smells that had attached themselves to me.

I audibly gasped/jaw dropped at reading your comment! I am completely shocked that someone could actually enjoy smelling other people's smells! 😅 Smelling other people even just briefly is so uncomfortable to me that my face contorts and my brain scrambles. Sometimes I even gag. Seems like literally everyone wears perfume and scented lotions these days too so you can't walk anywhere or buy a cup of coffee without getting scented on 😫

I can't stand my house smelling like food or other people or things I don't like. I'm constantly burning candles, incense, opening windows. I hate smells that get onto your clothes (mostly cooking) and hair. I will wear a beanie to open the oven door to avoid getting the smell in my hair…

I thought I was weird for ages but now I'm trying to just live with it. Bad smells like musty clothes in public (if I walk past someone or sit next to them in public transport) realllllly bother me.

It's a bit tiring but yeah…

Lol same here. Being part canine never occurred to me, but my dogs have been my bffs/family forever so maybe?😄 🐕

Occasionally it's not just from touch, but even odors in the air that are intolerable if they cling to me. Years ago, small doses of "retail therapy" used to be enjoyable until so many stores had migraine-inducing fragrances that I'd have to leave almost immediately. But saddest of all was a spouse whose attention to armpit hygiene was sometimes iffy, making hugs/cuddles unpleasant or downright impossible (yay passive-aggressive avoidance).😭