Smell
Smell sensitivity can be powerful and can trigger nausea, headaches, anxiety or avoidance.
Signs of smell sensitivity
Struggles with perfume, cleaning products, toilets, school canteens, cooking smells, petrol, smoke, deodorant, wet clothes, certain foods, shops, air fresheners, scented candles. May gag, cover nose, refuse rooms, feel sick, avoid people wearing perfume, refuse food because of smell or become distressed in toilets or canteens.
Smell support ideas
- Unscented products
- Ventilation
- Avoid air fresheners
- Let the child leave strong-smell areas
- Use familiar safe smells if calming
- Warn before strong smells
- Avoid heavily scented laundry products
- Allow packed lunches if canteen smells overwhelm
Smell sensory activities (for seekers)
Scent matching games, herbs and spices exploration, scented playdough, smelling flowers, baking activities, calm essential scents only if tolerated and safe.
Do
- Take smell sensitivity seriously
- Use unscented products
- Offer exits from strong-smell environments
- Notice toileting and canteen triggers
Don't
- Say "you're being dramatic"
- Spray perfume or deodorant near them
- Force them to eat near smells they cannot tolerate
- Use strong air fresheners in calm spaces