Wife experiences migraines from husband's sentimental cologne, so she throws it in the trash after he purposely reapplied it during an escalating argument, husband leaves to sleep at parents' house: 'I should be able to wear what I want'

Author image for Emma Saven
Emma Saven
Sep 19, 2025 5:00 PM EDT

That's one way to get your husband or wife to stay away from you… using their allergies against them. That seems a bit harsh, we're not going to lie! This wife has expressed her concerns regarding her husband's favorite (and most sentimental) cologne, as it triggers terrible migraines for her. So, he stopped using it for a while: no problems, no questions asked. However, recently he's started to re-wear it again, and after a week of migraines, his wife politely requested he switch to another yummy cologne.

Things escalated quickly, which seemed to be a rare occurrence for this couple. During the argument, he spitefully reapplied the cologne, with the goal of either a.) upsetting her further or b.) keeping her away from him while he cooled off…but we're going to go with c.) all of the above. Wow, imagine having your partner use your allergies against you. Not the most romantic thing we've seen today… and definitely not the healthiest either. It's actually, to put it simply, toxic af. The fight didn't subside either, as he decided to pack a bag and stay over at his parents' house for the night…

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement

  • There must be something deeper going on here? Surely, your partner would not want to intentionally trigger your headaches. However, there is no excuse for putting someone you love at risk, all to receive a few compliments from strangers passing by…not even one hundred ‘you smell great’s’ would ever make us want to cause strain on our partners, let alone purposely… 

  • 01
    Woman having a migraine
    via peopleimages-yuriarcurs

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    AITA for throwing out my husbands cologne that gives me a migraine?

    My husband (35M) wears the same cologne that his Grandad wore and it is really sentimental to him and his 'signature scent', please note it is not the exact bottle his Grandad wore it's a rebought version of it.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 03
    I (27F) am really sensitive to smells and a lot of perfumes and colognes give me headaches ranging from just a bad headache to full blown migraines.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 04
    We have been together for five years and when my husband found out about my sensitivity to certain scents he stopped wearing it around me and only wore it to work and events that I I am not at and we found another cologne for him to wear that doesn't trigger my migraines.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 05
    Lately he has started to wear his old one again, and I have had three migraines in the past month.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 06
    I have tried talking to him about it but he essentialy said that he should be able to wear what he wants and if it bothers me I should go and get myself tested because everyone else likes the scent and theres medication and things I can take.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 07
    I have been to the doctor about my migraines in the past and had medications and such but they didn't do a whole lot to take away any actual pain so I just don't bother with it.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 08
    Man putting cologne on his wrists
    via gettyimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    Last night we had an argument about the cologne, which ended with him walking away and putting on more cologne, I think to keep me away from him, which it did because I quarantined myself in a separate room with the windows open and fans on to try and not trigger my migained.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 10
    And here is where I think I could be the a h le, this morning I was so mad that I went and grabbed his cologne bottle and threw it in the bin and placed the dogs on top of it so he wouldn't save it.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 11
    When my husband came home and noticed he was really mad and yelled at me and left the house to stay at his parents for the night.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 12
    The thing is I don't actually feel bad, if he hadn't put it on right after our fight last night I probably would feel bad, but because I feel like he used it as a weapon I don't feel bad.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 13
    AITA?
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 14
    Man packing clothing into a carry-on suitcase
    via gettysignature

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 15
    Ready-Photo-1375 Him doing it on purpose now after years make me wonder what changed. What happened to him that all of a sudden he thinks it's ok to make you sick and you have to deal with it? Is there a woman complimenting him? NTA. But he certainly is. Do your research and find out why. Because you can't be in a house around a perdon that is making you so sick you can't function or be near him.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 16
    JustAslCanBeSoCruel NTA If him being able to wear cologne is more important to him than his wife having terrible migraines, then this marriage is over. You can't make him like or love you enough to not want you to be in pain.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 17
    ChubbyCat-TR NTA. But honestly—are you aware that your husband seems to hate you? Because there's no product in this world I wouldn't give up if it were harming my husband's health. Makeup, perfume, hair stuff—it's all replaceable. A healthy partner isn't. That's what love and care look like.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 18
    Pretend_Childhood481 You need to throw the man out with the cologne
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 19
    SociallyUnconscious NTA but there is something other than cologne going on here.
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 20
    Neither_Match_1906 You definitely shouldn't have thrown it out like that but I understand why you're so mad. I get migraines too and know how insufferable they are. The fact that your husband is not willing to just not wear this cologne around you to spare you these migraines speaks volumes about him. Does he know how much pain your in and does he ever help you out at all?
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 21
    KingsRansom79 He's telling you he cares more about other people's compliments than your health. It's time for some couples therapy and to rethink the future of this relationship. NTA
    via ThrowRA-987432
  • 22
    Safe_Wedding_2439 Come on, it was immature and you know it. BUT he knew about your migraines and you guys came to an agreement only for him to start wearing it around you again even knowing what it does. ESH
    via C
  • 23
    tnscatterbrain Ok, I get your frustration but throwing it out doesn't address the real issue here. You can't throw out his belongings, but more importantly, he doesn't care that he's giving you migraines. He's picking perfume over you.
    via C

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

marriage smell sensitive drama spray allergies cologne parents-house relationship-drama askreddit reddit story compliments tension intentional migraine couples argument love
Scroll Down For The Next Article