Guilt about car scent

Okay so I know it sounds dumb but anybody with ocd might understand the feeling of small decisions feeling like life or death. So I went to bath and body works and bought three scent refills for my car freshener, but the one I chose kinda sucks and the smell makes me feel anxious and weird like it doesn’t reflect who I really am, so idk if I should take it out and buy a new one or just keep the scent and feel really weird about it and overanalyze it everytime I get into my car. The other two scents are specifically for later fall so I can’t use them yet. I know it sounds like I’m being so overdramatic but the fact that this scent will forever be a theme and memorial of this era of my life is really weighing on me. I feel like I need to choose the perfect scent to be the theme for these next few months or else I’m gonna regret it and feel guilty

Violeturviolet

Date posted: 17h

I feel this way about a lot of things. Food, clothes, music, even the body wash I use. What I've realized is that there are no such thing as perfect conditions for whichever season of life we are in. Life will continue to take shape and unfold regardless. Perhaps someone will get in your car and hate that scent, perhaps someone will love it, you can't know that. If you genuinely dislike it though I would take it out and just not have a car scent for a little while. You can even save it in a Ziploc bag and gift it to someone else that might like it. Or perhaps take it to bath and body for an exchange? They're usually great about returns/exchanges. I used to work there and we would take stuff back from the early 2000's. No joke. You could also use that scent refill as an exposure! Use response prevention messaging while you drive around. "Maybe this scent reflects who I am, maybe it doesn't". Sit with the discomfort and see what feelings come up without trying to change the scent or take it out completely. Obviously you don't have to do any of these things these are just some suggestions. And no matter what, you've got this! And pretty soon it'll be fall and you'll be able to use the scents that you know you like!

ryliev

Date posted: 17h

@Violeturviolet This reply is soooooo so helpful, seriously. Thank you so much!!

Violeturviolet

Date posted: 17h

@ryliev I'm glad I could be of some help. We're all in this together. I'm glad that you shared this post because it made me feel less alone in these feelings too 💜

designer_girl✨

Date posted: 16h

This makes complete sense and you’re def not alone! I had a really BAD ocd spiral hit me before I went on vacation last year (I kept obsessing over if I really wanted to bring my perfume or if it was some compulsion to secretly be like my friend at the time bcuz I knew she would wear a signature scent and I spiraled about my identity and basically felt miserable for the days we were there) I’m sorry you had this happen to you! 🫂

ryliev

Date posted: 15h

@designer_girl✨ Thank you for your reply!!! I feel much less alone in my situation now after heating about yours. I never knew other people really went through this like I do.

designer_girl✨

Date posted: 15h

@ryliev You’re so welcome!! You are not alone in this. It sucks but I’m really grateful for this community! Yall get me lol ✨

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