Smell-bad paranoia or...Shower #27 is Now Ready

Dave Muskera, M.A.
This is mostly a plea to those of you who have forgotten the value of taking a bath, using deodorant and wearing clean clothing; a plea to those who have bought into the idea that drenching yourself with gallons of variously scented perfumes, colognes and body splashes somehow makes you more alluring and acceptable in public. The plea is for you to please stop and think about other people´s noses before you go swimming in a pool of perfume. There are many who cross your path that have their nostrils and eyes overwhelmed with the acrid odors of whatever-the-heck-it-is that you think make you smell wonderful.

I´m probably a bit more sensitive to smells than some but I know I´m not the only one. A few nights ago, a freind and I attended a concert in town. After finding our seats, we were almost immediately enveloped in a perfume cloud so strong that by intermission, our eyes were burning and we were both nauseous. Someone seated directly in front of us was one of those who believe, when it comes to perfumes, more is better. At intermission we beat a hasty retreat to the men´s room where a cold water flush helped reduce the stinging in our eyes. We found other seats for the last part of the show. Perfumes were still noticeable but at least our eyes had stopped burning.

It seems increasingly frequent that an evening out to a movie, dinner or to a play is spoiled - or nearly so - by sitting near someone who has doused themselves with perfume or colognes. Men and women seem equally guilty. Worse yet, is to be in a crowd of multiple and conflicting odors. Often, people seem to be competing in the "smell of the month" club. Sometimes, even the person at a checkout is wearing such a massive overdose of perfume that by the time I get out of the store, my stomach is turning.


I know there is a lot of variability in how people detect and evaluate odors. What I find pleasant may not strike another person as positively. The opposite is also true. However, the perfume and cologne marketing industry has had such a smashing success at inducing body-breath-smell-anxiety that people have become fearful and even paranoid about not smelling good. They then buy millions of dollars worth of products produced by the smell-good industry in an attempt to treat their anxiety. Believing the theory that more is better, they douse themselves with copious amounts of whatever is contained in their little bottles that come labeled with exotic and promising sounding names.

To those who fit this description, again I send out a plea for myself and all others who suffer nasal burnout in public. Before going out for an evening on the town, to dinner or to a movie, please stop and consider that taking a bath with a bar of soap and lots of water, using a deodorant and wearing fresh clothing is as much as anyone needs do to insure they are not smell-offensive to others. If you wear perfumes and colognes for the benefit of others around you, please consider that a greater benefit may come by leaving the bottles in your collection tightly capped.

If it´s just you and one or two others that like the odor of your latest purchase of smell-good formula, then please douse and sniff away at home in a room with some duct tape and plastic at the windows and doors. Thanks in advance.
Print Email
Bookmark and Share

Dave Muskera, M.A.

After more than 40 years of clinical work, teaching and administration as a psychologist, I am now semi-retired. In addition to private practice and work in various mental health settings, I also taught undergraduate psychology courses full-time for five years then later specialized in psychological diagnostic services and worked extensively in the Disabilities field.

I live with my cat "Tazzy" in a gracefully aged old inner-city brick house in a small university town on the Ohio River (home of Marshall University). I also keep a get-a-way cabin on 20 very private acres about an hour into the country of nearby eastern Kentucky. As often as possible, I escape there to write (in winter) or just relax and play.

I pen mostly political,religious and social opinion commentary often with a dash of humor and satire. I also enjoy news analysis. When writing about gay related topics, I bring to bear not only my experiences as an out gay man for the past 20 years, but also that of having been long-time married in another universe. I have two adult children and a granddaughter. We are all close. My ex-wife, a gracious good lady, remains a very dear and trusted friend. The same is true of my ex-partner of 12 years. Though we separated in 2008, we also remain good friends.

In 2008, my family grieved at the tragic loss of Jon-Michael, my 8 month old grandson who died in Feb. that year of a rare form of brain tumor (ATRT). Two of my articles are about this terrible event. Still, out of this glooming sadness came a re-bonding between me and my only son. During this tragic family journey, we rediscovered our meaning to each other.

In October of 2010, my book "Babe In the Ironwoods-The Adventures and Misadventures of an Ex-Married Gay Psychologist"(a ten year+ project)was published. It is available as an eBook on Amazon.com. I call it a "memoir of sorts" because it recounts the years of my "coming out" and, as well, attempts to shed light on the myths and misunderstandings held by so many good and decent people regarding homosexuality and contemporary gay issues. For 2011, I plan on eBook publishing several collections of my most popular articles from here on the American Chronicle.

Email with your questions/comments - (good or not so good). I love hearing from people all over the world. IŽll try to answer all inquiries.

Got Debt?  Get Debt Wise.