Hey guys!
I would like to ask your opinion about this letter(from our neighbor). My partner and I have been living in this apartment for a year and a half. My partner and I also smoke cigarettes outside(normal and IQOS) on the terrace, sometimes im smoking iqos inside. we did not know that our upstairs neighbor was so sick and had such problems. however, I don't understand what smells can be a problem with an open window? I usually cook, of course I open the window, there is one electric air freshner in the apartment. What exactly is the problem here? what would you do in our place?
by Active-Heron-5487
6 comments
his talk about raumluft duftstoffe lets me think he is talking about your electric air freshner. Is your terrace under his window?
The easiest thing would probably to go talk to your neighbor directly what affects them and what is okay. From what I gather, it’s mostly artificial fragrances, so the use of spices in the kitchen should be fine, but to make sure, just ask them. Maybe there are even natural oils you can use in your air freshener instead that don’t affect them.
[MCS](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_chemical_sensitivity) is not recognised as an illness. But just to be nice, you could avoid opening set windows. You could also go to the neighbour and ask them what they want you to do exactly. For smoking, for example, there are rules on how much you are allowed to smoke if it’s disturbing your neighbours.
Someone is seriously oversharing, but if they are that oversensitive/allergic to some artificial smells, it would be the neighborly thing to not expose them as much.
Check where their window is and if you are using strong perfumes in the room(s) below, or vape there, either stop doing it (no idea about an electric air freshener, shouldn’t that clean the air instead of adding stuff (other than maybe water) to it?), or if you cannot, talk to your neighbor about alternatives or agree on a window-open-schedule between you. The letter writer sounds as if they would be OK with more natural smells, that might be a compromise. Cooking is likely not a problem, but if you dry the washing in the room and you are using fabric softeners or stronly perfumed detergent, it might be.
And I’d suggest not talking to them in person unless you are downwind of them on a very windy day.
MCS isn’t even a real illness…if anything it’s a collection of different symptoms…but even that is not sure. So I would say to them u changed your behavior even though u didn’t and see what happens.
remove the air freshener, which seems to be the main issue
you will also be doing your own health a big favour because those things are packed full of VOCs that are not good for your health at all