Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Re: Multiple chemical sensitivity

[Racheli Gai (racheli]

Hi Becky,
Why are you assuming that you'd have to become an altogether fragrance 
free person?
It seems to me that at most you'd need to avoid using perfumes and such 
when you're
out in the community, but that doesn't mean that you can't use it for 
off site purposes,
or in  your own home, right?

As to your question:  I don't think most people, cohousing friendly or 
otherwise, take the idea
of fragrance-free environment in stride.  However, my suspicion is that 
there is quite a large
market out there of people who would embrace the concept at the outset, 
or who would be open
to education on the subject.

Best,
Racheli.  (I have what I consider to be a mild to moderate case of MCS).


On Jul 28, 2005, at 4:16 PM, Becky Weaver wrote:

> There was a little bit of feedback about fragrances & multiple 
> chemical sensitivity a few weeks ago. Our group, too (in site 
> feasibility) has been discussing the pros & cons of being a 
> fragrance-free community. For the folks in Oak Creek Commons - when 
> did you designate yourselves fragrance-free? How did that impact your 
> marketing attempts?
>
> What level of sensitivity do your community members have (mild - 
> moderate - severe)?
>
> Have other groups out there dealt with this issue? I feel stressed 
> about the options we appear to have - either refuse to accommodate an 
> individual's health needs, or alienate potential buyers by making 
> rules about personal hygiene.
>
> I'm personally having trouble with the notion of becoming a 
> fragrance-free person for the foreseeable future. Is this unusual? Do 
> most cohousing-friendly people take a fragrance-free policy in stride? 
> I'm trying to develop a sense of perspective.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Becky Weaver
> Central Austin Cohousing