i have been tempted to "over water" my balcony plants onto the incense burning below me...
i have smelly neighbours, i'm sure for them it's not smelly but for me the smell of incense sticks that they use for buddist worshipping is very strong and not a particulary easy smell to cope with. you can have other sticks that are sold in hippy stores that aren't that bad but the ones they use are particularly bad. being in switzerland, surely there is a rule somewhere, where they don't allow you to release such strong smells. When you walk in the whole apartment communal walk ways smell. I live above them and they burn it outside but somehow it still travels into the communal areas and on a sunny day like yesterday naturally it's nice to air the apartment and have the breeze come in but it was smelly breeze.
Good incense is very potent indeed, much like the way eau de parfuum vs eau de toilette and base natural oils vs diluted oils, they only need to be used in very small doses, if they are new to the game, ask them how much they are using. It might also be used to mask the smell of cooking, marijuana or granny rotting under the floorboards.
how often do they do it?
Not sure if its the taoists or buddhists, but they do burn incense sticks once or twice a day as part of their faith, though they dont last for more than 1-2 hours. Unless it goes on for majority of the day, you'd be hard pressed to tell them stop.
from my little window i can see below that they are offering little morsals and drinks to Budda and it's that smell of temples when you're in asia...
surely there must be a rule on no overpowering smells in apartments, it's jsut as annoying as loud music or showering too late at night...but it lingers for hours and hours and my apartment and clothes then stink like a temple.
Buy them a packet of your favourite brand. Use it as an ice breaker to meet them. If they are Buddhist, they will be very approachable and genuinely receptive to your concerns.
Maybe I am missing the point but from my understanding, buddhist incense offerings do not burn ALL day. Its just unfortunate that it has seeped into your apartment and prevented you from enjoying your fresh air yesterday.
As far as I can see, telling them to stop is like asking them not tp practice their faith the way they've always known how, and you'll just end up looking like the intolerant/ignorant arse of a neighbour. lose-lose situation. Either move, or suck it up by investing in more air fresheners.
But I think there is room for a bit of tolerance and understanding on both sides. If such a smell would be lasting for hours at a time and permeating my living space and my clothes I think that's grounds for at least a chat with them to let them know.
Maybe they don't realise the effect they are having on the OP's life. It would drive me nuts, too, to be smelling constantly of incense (my in-laws would think I'd taken up weed), plus strong smells like that normally bring on a headache for me.
Yes of course - which is exactly why I asked Dunroaming how long and often they burn the incense for. If it isnt the whole day, and only for a couple of hours (till the incense offerings burn out), they cant help the lingering smell. Its part and parcel of practising their faith. One of my grandmothers was a buddhist and she had to do offerings once a day.
My take on this as it's no worse than having neighbours who constantly smoke - and you can't do anything about that.
I agree with upthehatters and summerrain,
I realise the scent isn't fantastic for you, but how this will be resolved will depend entirely on your approach to the situation.
Simply telling them you don't like it and asking them to stop will only cause you a brand new world of pain.
The offerings suggest this is a religious issue and you are going to have to be a bit more delicate and understanding about it.
Buddhists would have to be the easiest going people on planet earth, so approaching them and discussing the issue shouldn't be that much of a problem.
Upthehatters suggestion of perhaps offering them a scent you do find pleasant does sound to be a fair compromise, but also engaging in an open discussion about the religion also seems fair.
Asking them to stop just in't cool though. It has a religious purpose. If it was just drug smoking hippy's you'd have a pretty strong case, so best to show a bit of respect here.
You may also find that (not that I know) the sticks could be cut in half to reduce the total volume of smoke you are exposed to...... but get the low down on the religion first to be polite.
(if only to get to know your neighbours a bit better).
Sadly in appartment life sometimes you just have to accept it. What might be acceptable to one person could be totally unpleasant to someone else.
I recall a recent thread on a smelly crab curry, others on cigar smoke - guess it depends how many are in your block and if anyone else is affected as to what action you can take.
ummm. i think i will see how it goes, I think normally I would be fine and not complain but since I am pregnant some smells just make me feel a little sick. I do have smokers next door too but they seem to not be so bad, i don't smell it. I think I might ask them if it's possible to use a different window as there are five choices and the one they have chosen is right in the middle of all the rooms either side and directly above the window i usually keep open as it's the kitchen. we'll see...got to try speak in french that's also a problem!!!
it did seem to linger for a good few hours and was particulary strong, not sure they would like the suggestion of cutting it in half, i think they do it once in morning and once in evening. Maybe i might get used to it....
I had Benedictine monks living downstairs. They asked me if I there was any possibility of them doing unaccompanied religious singing. I said "No chants".
Cheers,
Nick