For sophomore Olivia Nycz, going to the locker room is a harrowing experience. A few minutes in the room leaves her arms covered in bright red rashes and her breathing shallow. The culprit: people spraying perfume.

Nycz is not the only one. For several students, perfume is as deadly as poison. Although it makes students smell good after a day of gym class, it can be dangerous for the individuals who have allergic reactions. Individuals who are affected are always on edge as to when the next spray will affect them.

“Perfume causes me to break out, and in severe cases, can prevent me from breathing. There are a lot of people who are not mindful of what they spray,” said Nycz.

From boys spraying Axe to girls spraying perfume, the air gets congested with products that cause reactions in certain individuals on a daily basis. There is no clear explanation as to why perfume causes these reactions in some people and not others. However, it is common to see those with asthma or skin allergies reacting negatively toward the irritant.

In closed off areas such as buses, classrooms, and gyms, the air is recycled. This means that the same air flows through the vents over and over again. With this system in place, it makes it harder for individuals who cannot breathe well with strong fragrances.

Perfume can also affect teachers. A spray of perfume during class can cause headaches. This leads to the student’s or teacher’s to become disoriented for those few precious moments, wasting valuable class time.

“Perfume causes cold-like symptoms and, in worst cases, my throat starts closing. I would like the rule to be enforced because it affects my people, including myself,” said teacher Marta Irlinger.

That is not to say that perfume cannot be used at all. Areas with open air can be great places to use them because the air is not recycled like it is indoors. The natural air can give everyone a safe place to breathe and spray their perfume.

Establishing these rules helps create an environment friendly to those with these allergies. Many teachers and bus drivers, including driver Kathy Slater, have strict rules about perfume which help keep the air clean for students.

“I implement this rule on my bus for the safety of the students as well as myself. A sudden reaction could cause me to lose focus. Even though perfume doesn’t affect me personally, I wanted to make sure that the kids can remain in that peaceful setting,” said Slater.

Being mindful is a key step in understanding someone else’s point of view. Exercising caution when using perfume can ensure the safety of everyone in the area.