Antonio Mcgowan
There have been several reports of women dying from inhaling poisonous perfume samples. One such incident involved seven women who died after inhaling perfume samples sent to them in the mail. This incident was widely shared across the United States, with speculation that ISIS or other terrorists might be behind the attacks. However, no verified evidence supports these claims, and they are often traced back to an email hoax or urban legend. In 2018, a British woman, Dawn Sturgess, died after applying what she believed to be perfume, which turned out to be a Soviet-era nerve agent.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Women dying from smelling perfume samples is an urban legend
This story is a combination of two older urban legends: the perfume robbers tale and the Klingerman virus scare. In the former, women in parking lots are lured into sniffing cheap perfume, causing them to lose consciousness and be robbed. The latter involves blue sponges mailed in envelopes marked "A gift for you from the Klingerman Foundation," which were said to contain a virus that caused 23 deaths. The perfume samples hoax incorporates the element of terrorism, with some versions claiming that ISIS or Middle Eastern terrorists were behind the attacks.
The story gained traction through forwarded emails and message boards, which included a signature block from an administrative assistant in the Harris County, Texas county attorney's office, lending it an air of authority. It also mentioned a warning from "Glen Eagles" or "Gleneagles Hospital," which added to its credibility. However, the hospital in Singapore issued a disclaimer stating that they had never admitted or treated any patients for such incidents and that the email did not originate from them.
Despite the widespread circulation of this hoax, there have never been any verified reports or specific details to back up the claims. No names, dates of death, or other identifying information have been provided, and no loved ones have come forward to the media. This particular urban legend preys on people's fears of deadly substances arriving by mail and the threat of terrorism, clouding their judgment and causing them to spread misinformation.
Perfume Atomizer Fix: Quick and Easy Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The legend originated in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks
The legend of women dying from smelling sample perfume can be traced back to 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks. It was claimed that seven women had died after inhaling a free perfume sample that was mailed to them, with the product being poisonous. This story, however, is untrue and has been debunked by sources such as Snopes.com. The earliest versions of this rumour surfaced in late 2001 and were primarily spread through forwarded emails and message boards. The story was fuelled by widespread reports about letters laced with anthrax in the days following the 9/11 attacks, which created nationwide panic.
The legend appears to be a combination of two older, unfounded stories: the perfume robbers tale and the Klingerman virus scare. In the perfume robbers tale, women in parking lots are lured into sniffing cheap perfume, causing them to lose consciousness and be robbed. The Klingerman virus scare involved blue, virus-laden sponges mailed in envelopes marked "A gift for you from the Klingerman Foundation", which resulted in 23 deaths. By combining these two stories and adding the element of terrorism, the legend of women dying from smelling sample perfume took on a new level of fear and credibility, especially in the context of the recent 9/11 attacks.
The story was also shared by people with signature blocks, such as an administrative assistant in the Harris County, Texas county attorney's office, giving it a sense of authority. Additionally, the mention of Gleneagles Hospital added a sense of legitimacy, even though the hospital had to post a disclaimer stating that they had never admitted or treated such patients. The hospital was based in Singapore, which further added to the confusion as most sharers did not know where or what Gleneagles Hospital was.
Despite the lack of evidence and verified accounts, the story resurfaced multiple times over the years, with people adding their own twists, such as speculation that ISIS might be responsible. This particular scare is an example of "scarelore" or "scare stories", which combine misinformation and information, preying on people's fears and anxieties. It is important to fact-check and verify information before sharing, especially in today's digital age where information spreads quickly and can cause widespread panic or confusion.
Coach Dreams Perfume: How Much Does it Cost?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The legend is a combination of two older urban legends
The legend of women dying from smelling sample perfume is a combination of two older urban legends. The first is the "perfume robbers" tale, in which women in parking lots are lured into sniffing cheap perfume, causing them to lose consciousness and be robbed. The second is the "Klingerman virus" scare, where blue sponges laced with a virus and mailed in envelopes marked "A gift for you from the Klingerman Foundation" resulted in 23 deaths.
The combination of these two legends resulted in the story of women dying from smelling sample perfume, with a new element of "terrorists" added to reflect contemporary fears. The story first emerged in 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks on the United States, and has resurfaced several times since then, spreading through email forwards, SMS, and social media platforms like Facebook.
The email forwards often claimed to be sent by a hospital, such as "Glen Eagles" or Gleneagles Hospital Limited in Singapore, warning that seven women had died after inhaling perfume samples sent to them via mail. However, these hospitals have issued disclaimers, stating that they have never treated such patients and that the emails did not originate from their institutions. Despite the lack of verified accounts, the story continues to spread and evolve, with new details added to reflect current events and concerns.
The legend of women dying from smelling sample perfume is a prime example of "scarelore," where misinformation and information are treated with equal weight, and rumors spread quickly, fueled by fear and the need to fill in the gaps during uncertain times. While it is important to be cautious, it is also crucial to verify information before spreading it further, to avoid causing unnecessary panic and giving credibility to unfounded stories.
Explore Castelbajac Perfume Shopping Options
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The legend was spread via email and SMS
In late 2001, a warning was widely circulated in the United States via email and SMS that seven women had died from inhaling poisonous perfume samples sent to them via mail. The warning, which was also shared via text messages and message boards, claimed that the women had been admitted and treated at Gleneagles Hospital. However, the hospital refuted the message, stating that they had never admitted or treated such patients and that the email did not originate from them. Despite this, the warning continued to spread, with people adding their own twists, such as speculation that ISIS or terrorists might be behind the attacks.
The perfume sample warning is considered a hoax or "scarelore," as there have never been any verified reports of women dying from sniffing perfume samples sent through the mail. The lack of specific product mentions, victim identifications, or obituaries further indicates that the warning is likely false. Additionally, the warning bears similarities to other unfounded urban legends, such as the perfume robbers tale and the Klingerman virus scare, which may have contributed to its creation and spread.
The warning played on people's fears of deadly substances arriving by mail in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks and the widespread reports of letters laced with anthrax. The combination of these factors likely contributed to the widespread sharing of the warning, as people sought to protect themselves and their loved ones from potential dangers.
While the warning about poisoned perfume samples was ultimately unfounded, it serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread, especially during times of uncertainty and fear. It also highlights the importance of verifying information from reliable sources before passing it on to others.
UK Discontinued Perfume: Where to Buy
You may want to see also
Explore related products
A similar incident occurred in 2018 with a nerve agent
There have been several instances of women dying or falling ill due to tainted perfume samples. One such incident involved an email hoax claiming that seven women died after inhaling poisonous perfume samples sent to them via mail. However, this claim was refuted by Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur, which stated that it had never admitted or treated such patients.
The nerve agent, Novichok, works by slowing the heart and restricting the airways, and it is one of the world's rarest nerve agents. It was developed in secret by the Soviet Union during the Cold War in the 1980s. The investigation into Sturgess' death led to a murder investigation into the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, who were found unconscious in Salisbury several months prior. Police believe they came into contact with Novichok via the door handle of Sergei Skripal's house.
These incidents highlight the potential dangers of tainted perfume samples and the deadly consequences they can have. While the email hoax claiming seven women died was refuted, it is important to remain vigilant and cautious when encountering unfamiliar substances.
Explore the Fragrance: Juicy Couture Perfume Pricing
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, this is a hoax. There have been rumours circulating since 2001 that seven women died from inhaling poisonous perfume samples sent to them via mail. However, there have been no verified reports of this incident.
The hoax is believed to have originated from a combination of two older urban legends: the perfume robbers tale and the Klingerman virus scare.
This is an urban legend about women in parking lots being lured into sniffing cheap perfume, causing them to lose consciousness and subsequently being robbed.
This is a story about blue, virus-laden sponges mailed in envelopes marked "A gift for you from the Klingerman Foundation", which supposedly caused 23 deaths.
In times of fear and uncertainty, people try to fill in the gaps of unknown information. As a result, misinformation spreads quickly, and warnings or rumours can provide a sense of control or understanding in dangerous times.
