Blog: This week I bring you news of the latest consumer guilt-trip about to hit our shores, writes Emma Suddaby.

I’m already ethically unfashionable, being a confirmed carnivore, and a persistent smoker who drives everywhere in my not-particularly-eco-efficient, automatic car – all on my own too, not even car-sharing.

But the western world’s latest fad is about to heap a whole load more eco-guilt upon my sinful head. Get ready for perfume wars, the newest taboo.

I have a relative in Canada who recently sent me her collection of perfume, explaining that in her circles, wearing scent has become the newest social taboo. She told me most of their restaurants have replaced the “no smoking” signs with “no perfume” versions.

So she said I might as well enjoy the parcel full of perfume while I could, because it wouldn’t be long before the scent detectives start pointing fingers over here too.

This time though, it’s not an environmental issue but a legal one and that could spell big money in the law courts and have us all dancing, pretty quickly to its tune.

It started, of course, in America, where Detroit city employee, Susan McBride, claimed a co-worker’s perfume and room deodoriser caused her to suffer migraines and in turn, sued the city, alleging that the scented workplace hindered her from working properly.

Impressively, not only did the courts agree with her, they awarded her a $100,000 settlement and Detroit city employees (and Detroit’s a big place) have now been warned not to wear, or use scented products at all.

From there, eau de panic spread throughout the US and on to Canada and, as is the way of these things, I predict the arrival of the perfume police, in a town near you, sometime soon . . . so get spritzing while you can!

It amazes me how selfish we’ve all become – and how cowed.

Because one person was bothered by the smell of another’s perfume, the whole world is expected to jump into line and ditch scented products entirely.

It reminds me of the conker ban, hysterically brought in after one child made a wrong move and got a conker in the eye. I’m sympathetic, but let’s not over-react. Especially when the hysterical ban had more to do with the potential court case than the weeping child.

So I’m afraid it won’t be long before we start hearing anti-perfume propaganda and another of life’s small pleasures is snatched away, leaving us all smelling, looking and acting, exactly the same.

Scary.

And there was me thinking we live in this super tolerant society, where politicians preach about the importance of equality and diversity day and night.

Well, I don’t know about you but I’m afraid the world will have to learn to tolerate my sweetly-scented self, because as far as perfume goes, this lady is not for turning.