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My imagination?

(62 Posts)
Oldwoman70 Mon 18-Sept-17 11:08:09

A neighbour called in yesterday afternoon for coffee and a chat, she is a heavy smoker but didn't smoke whilst she was here. When I walked into the sitting room this morning I could smell cigarette smoke. I opened the windows, even vacuumed the chairs but I can still smell the smoke - is this my imagination or can odours transfer from someone's clothes to soft furnishings? As a non-smoker it is making me feel unwell to such an extent I may go out and buy some air fresher (something I never use normally).

quEEEniE Wed 20-Sept-17 15:20:00

I hate to admit to it but l dropped a new friend because after seeing her l would have a headache form the smell on her clothes. Sounds awful but l could not find the words to tell her so l avoid her.

travelsafar Wed 20-Sept-17 16:49:37

I remember one woman who i worked with that smoked.

I knew she was in the building before I even saw her as the smell of smoke and the perfume she wore to try and mask the smell was a lethal combination!!!

Marieeliz Wed 20-Sept-17 17:10:58

Years ago, when smoking was still allowed in Bingo Halls, I went a couple of times (I won the first two times and lost the third time so never went again). I had to hang my coat on the line outside as I came in because the smell was awful.

You will tell, by this, that I am not a natural gambler.

Marieeliz Wed 20-Sept-17 17:15:03

Also my next door neighbour smokes standing by her back door. Luckily her door is away from mine but the other neighbours door is next to hers. They have told me they can smell the smoke in their kitchen. The prevailing wind is in their direction also.

This person is a Nurse so how she manages when in work I don't know. She is a very heavy smoker.

stevej4491 Wed 20-Sept-17 18:56:45

A neighbour of my was a heavy smoker for many many years,butgave up involuntary two years ago,due to hospital stay.the house still smells of smoke to this day.

stevej4491 Wed 20-Sept-17 18:59:48

WW2 girl typical reaction from a smoker,sorry.

threexnanny Thu 21-Sept-17 10:23:25

I think some clothing / fabric holds the smoke more than others. Stuff that needs to be dry cleaned usually - like tweed jackets.
I didn't know that it could get into wood though until we inherited a piece of furniture which I couldn't have in the house until months of being in the garage with the door open as often as possible.
Also agree that some perfumes are as bad as smoking smells. Pungent, musky types, some room fresheners and oven cleaners. Some of these have literally taken my breath away and I am not asthmatic.

JackyB Thu 21-Sept-17 11:26:31

Both my parents smoked until well into their 70s. However, I can't remember any pervading smell around the house when I was little. Either cigarettes smell more these days, or those that have not been persuaded to give up smoking are the ones who smoke the really high-octane stinky ones. meaning that any smoking now give off more of that foul odour.

I've never touched a cigarette in my life.

FarNorth Thu 21-Sept-17 13:59:17

Maybe you were so used to it, you didn't notice, JackyB?

I've found the smell of cigarettes rolled from loose tobacco seems not to linger quite so much as the readymade kind.

Rosina Thu 21-Sept-17 16:11:10

We had a friendly acquaintance who smoked relentlessly, which was very difficult for everyone around her who didn't, but the worst thing was going out for a meal in her company. (This was in the days before the much needed ban on smoking in restaurants) I think she was aware that she smelled of tobacco in spite of being careful with hygiene, and before we sat down at the table she would douse herself with 'Poison' scent, which I hate - smells like a garden weed killer - so all her dining companions had the mixed delights of 'fag' smoke and overwhelming scent to add that certain something to the meal. We don't see her now .

Wheniwasyourage Thu 21-Sept-17 19:20:26

In the days before the smoking ban I used to find that if we went to a dance and people were smoking, I would often feel as if I had a hangover the next day even when I hadn't been drinking at all, which I thought was most unfair! I always felt that antismoking adverts should put more emphasis on the fact that smokers smell of smoke to non-smokers. JackyB, my father smoked when I was little, and i don't remember a pervasive smell either, but I assume that we must have been used to it, and of course, it was there in all public places then too.