So, I have a single next year that is attached to a common living area and three other singles. I was thinking that it’d be nice to get an air freshener, one of the plug in ones from Bath and Body Works or something, just to make my room smell nice so it’d be nicer to stay in. However, I was worried that it might be rude if the smell gets into the common area? I’d probably use a very sweet smell, since I like ones that smell like fruits or sweets and sometimes florals. I’d hate to irritate someone if they didn’t like the smell or if scents gave them headaches, and I have no clue if you’d be able to smell it from outside of the room.
Maybe just give your roommates a heads-up when you get there–“If this air freshener bothers you, let me know and I’ll look into getting a better one”
I agree with bodangles. Just give them a heads up. From experience the smell generally doesn’t escape into the common area unless the freshener is extremely strong. Like, inside your room the scent would probably be giving you a headache. I’ve had candles and air freshener in my room and i the bathrooms. In the past, I asked if my roommate would mind and they never did.
I have a problem with smells/perfumes therefore it would bother me/give me a headache. Definitely ask.
When I lived in the dorms, there was one girl in my friend’s suite who had an air freshener in her room. You couldn’t smell it in the other girls’ rooms, but you could definitely smell it in the hallway when you walked past her room (even when the door was closed). My friend would always hold her breath when she walked past the girl’s room. I think it’s worth letting your other roommates know that if it bothers them to just let you know and you’ll get a different one (or not have one at all).
If any of your roommates are asthmatic, this could cause a asthma attack. Definitely talk with your roommates. Some people are very sensitive to scents.
Okay, thank you everyone! I will definitely talk to all of my suitemates before getting it to make sure it’s okay.
Just the fact that you’re asking here, suggests that you are an inherently considerate person.
Ah, well to be honest, I only asked because of the smells I like. If I was just going to get one that smells like the ocean or clean laundry or whatever, I wouldn’t have asked. I didn’t think about asthma.
I don’t think its rude. Many people use air fresheners.
The plug in kind are generally okay with most people if you ask first. It can be headache inducing, but generally not dangerous. However, be super careful with aerosols and scent sprays (Ferbreeze is one example) as people with reactive airways (asthma, allergies) can get really sick from those.
To echo others, just give people a head’s up. In general, it’s not going to be a problem. There are some people that are really allergic though. (I have to pull out pretty much all smelly stuff when my mom visits because she’s super allergic.)
I agree – I’d really wait until you’ve had a chance to speak with your roommate. I know tons of people who can’t be exposed to scents (myself included) and you’d hate to waste money, I think.
I’d phrase it more of a “are you okay with scents” rather than “I’m planning on getting” because personally, I feel a bit guilty when people can’t use scent around me but I’d feel less so if I felt it was more of an inquiry and less that I was foiling their plans.