ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Perfume intolerance

Okay kiddo, so some people have trouble with certain smells, like when you smell flowers or perfume. They might get a headache or feel sick. This is called perfume intolerance. It's like when you eat something that makes your tummy hurt, but instead of your tummy, it's your nose that gets upset.

When we smell things, tiny particles called molecules go up our nose and into our brain. Sometimes, these molecules can be too much for our noses to handle. People with perfume intolerance might have a more sensitive nose than others, or they might have a bad reaction to the specific molecules in certain perfumes.

It's okay to not like certain smells and it's important to tell people if a smell makes you feel sick. That way, they can try to avoid wearing that perfume around you. And remember, just because you don't like a smell doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. We all have different noses and that's okay!