My husband can no longer handle floral smells or strong smells including perfume, candles, incense, smoke, or strong smelling lotions. I have adapted and only wear perfume occasionally and only sparingly. I probably need to stop all together.
There are times when it seems like he can handle it better. Lately, it is like it’s getting worse for him. Not sure why. His reaction is not an allergic reaction. He doesn’t sneeze. He may cough at times. He will stop dead in his tracks, shake his head as if to clear it, and say, “ugh.” He will attempt to rub his nose to try to clear it. He will be able to function through it but it’s unpleasant. Times when it is worse are first thing in the morning, if he’s not expecting it, after or during a workout, soon after a nap, or just before bed.
Ways in which this has changed behavior for me and even others – I no longer wear perfume often. Honestly, not such a bad thing. It’s a luxury that saves me money. Perfume is expensive. My mom likes to burn incense in her home. She’s stopped though, or, at least when she knows John is coming over. John had a hard time being in her house the last time we were there because it was so intense for him. This has also happened to a friend of ours who lived with us for a year. She was unable to burn incense.
I felt bad the other day when we were driving together. I needed some lotion which I carry in my car because we live in a dry climate. I used some but realized too late that the lotion was a strong smelling lotion. We were confined in the small space of the car and I knew instantly it was overpowering. I apologized. This time, it didn’t seem to bother him as much, thankfully. I need to start buying non-scented lotions.
This sensitivity to smells is annoying but usually not really debilitating. I am grateful to my friends and family for changing their behavior to help John be more comfortable.
TBI Spouse (and Others) 
I think I’ve mentioned to you that I had a concussion when I was 20, when I was in a rollover car accident on Independence Pass (yikes!). This was before I finished college and went to graduate school. One lingering residual is that I am also hypersensitive to certain smells. Incense is one of the worst. I visit a friend in another state occasionally and she loves incense. I think she was taken aback when I asked her not to burn it while I was there. Other smells that can set me off are certain meats like liver and some of the smellier fish types. Also the smell of anything burning. It’s sort of an irrational “Aaargh” and it’s all I can do to not say something nasty. It’s very real and very unpleasant.
I don’t recall you mentioning that before. Sounds terrifying. Your reaction to some smells sounds just like his. It’s not something he can control well and it’s a instinctual dislike like spitting out food that’s gone bad.