system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
Why is it that an overpowering smell or mixture of smells make it harder to breathe?

I'm not sure if it's just me but when I walk into a store like Yankee Candle or any other store with an overpowering smell, it becomes difficult for me to breathe. I've always wondered what the reason for this was because all it is is air with an aroma I'd assume.

Edit: Thanks for all the answers guys. I'm still fairly new to reddit but I knew I could count on you guys for some good input.
gpt
As mentioned previously, asthma may be a possibility.  However, our bodies have nociceptors (receptors for "noxious" substances) that can be tricked by innocuous stimuli.  We squint reflexively in sunlight, we recoil from tickles, and when we encounter certain smells, our airways constrict, complicating breathing.