Manitoba students to get restrictions on body sprays, scented products

If you're planning to set foot in any Brandon, Man., school, you're going to want to ax the body spray.

The Brandon School Division has voted unanimously to push ahead with a policy motion that would restrict the use of scented products in its schools, CTV News reports.

Things like scented deodorant, shampoo, soaps and perfumes would be at the very least restricted under the proposed policy, joining peanuts and smart phones among the things not welcome in classrooms.

Division chairman Mark Sefton said the move comes amid complaints the presence of scented products, sometimes overwhelming, is affecting concentration.

“If you walk through the cloud and all of a sudden it’s ‘where did all the oxygen go,’ it means that the scenting is getting in the way of students learning,” Sefton told CTV News.

It's not clear whether the board will implement a complete ban.

The Brandon Sun said school officials will consult with parents and students on how to implement a policy to deal with products that produce scents strong enough to be perceived by others. Trustees hope to have it in place early in the new year.

Brandon would join many other school districts in Canada that are either considering or have imposed scent restrictions.

[ Related: Axe body spray triggers severe allergic reaction, prompts Pennsylvania school ban ]

The Halifax Regional School Board, for instance, has a scent-free policy for more than a decade and even before that, most schools in the district had voluntary scent-free programs.

Schools in Newfoundland and Labrador, such as Pearce Junior High on the Burin Peninsula, bar scented products to protect staff and students with allergies or environmental sensitivities. Flouting the policy can result in suspension.

The Toronto District School Board has a scented-product awareness program aimed at encouraging a reduction in their use.

Some critics question the need for making schools and workplaces scent neutral.

"The science supporting such policies is fuzzy and inconclusive," says a 2011 article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. "While scents can trigger both physiological and psychological symptoms in some individuals, there is no reliable diagnostic test for fragrance allergies."

Then there's the issue of compliance.

A flap over a Halifax high school student's unrepentant use of scented hair gel and deodorant in 2000 escalated to the point a teacher tried to lay criminal assault charges, claiming the smells made her violently ill, according to the Christian Science Monitor. In the end, the kid was suspended from school for two days.

Something called the Scented Products Education and Information Association of Canada said the case shows how difficult it can be to enforce scent-free policies, especially given the inconclusive nature of scent's health effects.

"It is very important not to confuse dislikes with diseases," the association, which is backed by industry making and selling scented products, argues. "Everyone has dislikes and people can have strong reactions - even physical reactions - to things they dislike. This does not mean they have a disease.

"Our society believes that the rights of individuals should only be restricted when clearly necessary for public health reasons.

"This is not the case with scented products. Individuals who believe they suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or allergies to scents should be encouraged to visit their medical practitioner for a complete diagnosis."

The makers of Axe Body Sprays, favoured by teenage boys who buy into the commercials that pitch it as a babe magnet, say they recognize some people are adversely affected by scented products.

“The issue of scents and a person’s odour is extremely subjective and virtually impossible to enforce," spokeswoman Sara Docent said in a statement reported by CTV News. "Many products contain fragrance and it is important for everyone to exercise care around those with sensitivities."

[ Related: Dog trained to detect nuts is life-saver for allergy sufferer ]

Back in Brandon, some students aren't crazy about the idea of not being able to use body sprays.

“If you have really bad body odour, that’s kind of a key thing to wear,” one student told CTV News.

(How about taking a daily shower? Just asking.)

Another student smells a potential rebellion.

“I think it’s pretty pointless because even if they do do it, everyone is just going to wear it anyway,” another student told CTV News.

“What are they going to do? Smell every person and see if they’re wearing body sprays or not?"