✨ Ahh-ahh… sniffles …oh, hey there! rubs nose Welcome to my little sneezy sanctuary, where the tickles are endless, the buildups are torturously slow, and the sneezes? Well… you’ll just have to stick around to find out. 🤧
This is an 18+ (30+) space dedicated to the wonderfully intoxicating world of sneezing—whether it’s a desperate, hitching buildup, a stubborn stuck sneeze, or a full-on, helpless fit. If that makes your heart race (or your breath hitch), you’re in the right place.
🔹 Who am I? Just a fellow sneeze enthusiast, keeping things anonymous but always up for a chat with like-minded people.
🔹 What to expect? A mix of fic, rambles, messy obsessions, and indulgent explorations of all things sneezy.
🔹 My writing? I love bringing sneezes to life through fiction—slow, torturous buildups, sneezes that just won’t come out, caretaking, denial, you name it.
🔹 Marvel fan? Oh, absolutely. Obsessed with Steve and Bucky, separately and together. If you’re into sneezy Avengers, you’re in for a treat.
🔹 Important note! Please do not reblog my posts to non-kink blogs. Let’s keep our cozy little corner sneeze-positive and safe for those who actually enjoy it.
🔹 If you’re here to bless, be blessed, or just revel in the ticklish goodness, then grab a tissue and stay a while. 😉
hello and welcome to a completely unscientific shitpost featuring a selected list of what I am deeming to be:
extremely snzfucker-coded plant species
aka plants from around the world that are either onto us (or one of us)
please do not reblog to non-snz blogs // Minors DNI (18+ blog)
Hi, I'm Leni and you may remember me from the post I wrote titled the snzfucker's guide to the snziest plants. I'm a plant ecologist and snzfucker (and generally just a huge nerd) and while this post will be based in facts, I'm about to be deeply unserious and mildly chaotic, so please enjoy. Or scroll on by if that's not your thing.
In this post you'll be introduced to:
Longleaf Pine (used to treat colds AND fight allergies - she's doing the most)
Pampas Grass (the feather duster of the plant kingdom with a kinky backstory)
Q-tip Tree (you'll understand why when you see it, I promise)
Handkerchief Tree (yes, that's the actual common name)
California Tree Poppy (aka the used Kleenex flower)
Let's dive in!
Longleaf Pine
Alright, first up we have Pinus palustris, commonly known as the Longleaf Pine that, by all appearances, seems to have evolved specifically for inducing. The dried leaves (needles) of this species have long been used for treating colds and other respiratory ailments, as they are high in Vitamin C and also acts as an expectorant (thinning mucous/clearing congestion). Dried leaves can be brewed into an herbal tea that is often mixed with peppermint and other beneficial, cold-soothing herbs.
Fun fact: Extracts of its pollen are widely used as the standard for pine allergy testing and immunotherapy in the United States. While many plants in the Pine family produce highly allergenic pollen, this particular species is less allergenic than its relatives, as its pollen is heavier and tends to drop to the ground instead of being light and easily airborne.
snzfucker rating: 10/10. This plant has it all, including cold + allergy lore + pine needles that are safe to induce with which truly just look like they've evolved specifically for that purpose. what? who said that?!??
Pampas Grass
Next up we have Cortaderia selloana or Pampas Grass. The resemblance to a feather duster is, well…do I even need to go on? Well, I'm going to go on an anyway. It's also an extremely allergenic, wind-pollinated grass. Ever seen comments of plants with people saying "haha wow even this photo made me sneeze"? Yeah, well, this plant is the perfect candidate for whatever...that is.
Fun fact: This widely cultivated and once popular garden plant was the subject of a kink-related urban legend dating back to the 1970s following claims that those who planted it in their front yards were identifying as a swinger household. As a result, its popularity plummeted - because people were afraid to plant it in their yards! Which, in my opinion, is good outcome, as this species is often highly invasive outside its native range (...I can neither confirm nor deny that this rumor was initially started by conservationists/ecologists).
snzfucker rating: 9/10. bonus points for being the feather duster of the plant kingdom + having kink lore + being extremely allergenic... but I've subtracted several points because, well, we hate invasive species in this house, folks.
Q-Tip Tree
Next on the list is Clerodendrum quadriloculare aka the Q-Tip Tree. I don’t think I have to elaborate on why this made the list. I think y'all should just look at the photo and nod along with me.
Fun fact: This species is a member of the mint (Lamiaceae) family, believe it or not! Many members of this plant family have invasive tendecies when introduced outside their native range. It's also known as the 'Starburst Bush' which is a pretty groovy name, in my opinion. Obviously, I'm going to stick with the alternative Q-Tip Tree.
snzfucker rating: 7/10. Its definitely got some "👀" qualities... if you know what I mean.
Handkerchief Tree
Yes, seriously. Davidia involucrata is known as the Handkerchief Tree because of its white bracts that flutter in the breeze like pinched handkerchiefs. Again...do I need to elaborate?
Fun fact: This plant takes up to 10 years to flower after planting! Well worth the wait, in my opinion. It's native to the woodlands of southern China and prefers... moist/wet conditions...😈 ...no, seriously, it does. I'm not just shit-posting here. Well I am, but...this is genuinely true.
snzfucker rating: 8.75/10. It's freakin' called the handkerchief tree, y'all. Spectacular. No notes.
California Tree Poppy
Last but not least we have Romneya coulteri aka the California Tree Poppy which bears such a remarkable resemblance to used tissues that folks will often post photos to gardening/flower-related Facebook groups asking others to help identify “this flower that looks like a bunched up Kleenex.”
Fun fact: This plant is native to California, and has the largest petal width of any wildflower in California! Plus, it smells very sweet - remarkably like apricots.
snzfucker rating: 8/10. Any plant that resembles a crumpled tissue is pretty darn snzfucker-coded if you ask me. Want to imagine your fav sneezing into a flower? This might be the ideal one!
🌾 🌼 🌲
I hope you enjoyed this silly little post. Feel free to reply/reblog with your thoughts/alternative ratings. I'll be back soon with another post about plants that have been used throughout history to treat colds and all the snience (snz science, hehe) behind it! 😊
Welcome! Your art absolutely rocks! I was wondering your opinion on M/arvel characters and perhaps more specifically my babygirl B/ucky B/arnes 🙂↕️ I think his nose is very nice and drawable
Hiiiii thank youuuu. I totally agree 👍 here is some Bucky snz! This was genuinely so fun but lowkey difficult. I struggled a bit with getting the likeness of him from the movies , but i think I’m happy with this. Tell me what you think!
Imagine hooking up with an attractive stranger - you're back at their place after a couple of hours of increasingly loaded conversation and there's no more beating around the bush. You're all over each other, and now they have you on your back on the couch whilst they hover over you. Their hand is down your pants and you can't believe how quickly your orgasm is approaching; they're good with their fingers. You expected to have to guide them at least a little, but no - they seem to be one step ahead of you when it comes to your pleasure.
Suddenly, they're lifting their head from where it's been nestled into your neck as they suck and nip at the skin there. You glance at them, taking in their expression of - dismay? Confusion? And then realisation hits you. Your whole body goes hot, and your genitals throb. Surely they aren't about to-
It happens so quickly - their hazy expression draws tight, face twisted in a near-snarl as they pitch downwards with an exceptionally violent and unrestrained sneeze. The spray catches the side of your face and the arm you had wrapped around them. They leant a little to the side, but not nearly enough to avoid dousing you. You gasp in shock, both at the sensation of the spray settling on your heated skin and the way the sneeze had been absolutely perfect. Just the right mix of vocal desperation and spraying wetness. Their unguarded expression before and during their sneeze was painfully erotic in its naked vulnerability. To top it all off, their hand is still stroking you with expert precision, having barely faltered as they convulsed. You feel your orgasm lurch even closer. And then they sneeze all over again.
It's another incredibly intense, open affair; the spray drenches your arm as they sneeze with what seems, and certainly sounds, like all of their might. The sheer force of the eruption shudders through not only them but you and the entire couch. They seem to have purged the tickle - you watch through unblinking eyes as their expression loosens and becomes one of self-indulgent satisfaction - basking in the aftermath of a truly relieving pair of sneezes. They lick their shiny lips clean and sniffle, then peer down at you in unabashed pleasure and mutter a shameless 'Bless me. Those felt fucking incredible.'
You cum instantly, writhing underneath them and groaning, their fingers moving gently with it and prolonging the release for you. When you finally sag back into the cushions, twitching and gasping, you see them staring at you inquisitively. They reach up with their free hand and sniffle, rubbing their itchy nose from side to side whilst they continue to watch you. Their nostrils flare and glisten with wetness; the motions of their efforts result in an audibly damp squishing sound. When you are unable to stifle another moan in response, your body shuddering with a couple of residual orgasmic spasms against their hand, their face splits into a grin.
You know they've got you all figured you out, and you want to be mortified at the degree of your transparency, but your body and mind are far too blissed out - and, like a benevolent sex god, their fingers are continuing to delicately stimulate you, promising many more orgasms to come. When they lean forward and rub their nose against your own, you exhale shakily. Then they tilt their mouth towards your ear, and say:
'I have the most aggravating tickle in my nose. I just want to sneeze. Will you help me?'
The irrepressible orgasm that rips through your body in response is the only answer they need; they laugh gently, working you through it. You're in for a long night.
I just want to be tied down and have you sneeze all over me
You poor thing, you’d have no way to stop the onslaught of sneezes that would come barreling out of my nose all over you.
We’d both be messes by the end of it, but at least my hands would be free to grab tissues while you’re tied up with no way to stop sneeze after sneeze from raining down on you <3
Have some sketches of @collectivelyallergic being so effortlessly indulgent and me being his fruity bunny—
These are all actual exchanges we've had over call from some time ago while he was playing 🥰
If you like my drawings, and are willing and able to do so, please consider pledging to my Patreon or donating through ko-fi ☕! You're not obliged to, but every bit helps to keep me living decently and I really do appreciate it!
when you're not that allergic to your cat 'cause he's hairless and gets bathed regularly but then you're taking cute pet photos and your boyfriend suggests swapping pets and oh MY GOD are you allergic to his
modern au h/ualian
xl: it would be so cute, here, hold him!
hc: ...okay gege but you are gonna have to take that photo fast
for when you need to put your OCs/favs in a Situation™
or if you're simply curious about the science behind why plants make us sneeze
please do not reblog to non-snz blogs // Minors DNI (18+ blog)
Hi! I'm Leni and I'm a plant ecologist and snzfucker (obviously). If you like to include accurate details in your snz fics but don't know where to start when it comes to all things hay fever and plant allergies (or if you're just curious for...reasons) then you've come to the right place! I've put together this mini guide to get you started. If you ever have any questions on any of the following, please feel free to reply to this post (or send me an ask if you prefer to be anonymous).
View/download this post in a Google Doc format (don't worry - viewing is 100% anonymous. You can see my username but I (and others who view the doc) can't see yours.
IN THIS GUIDE:
Mini crash course on plants, pollen + pollination
A selected list of the sneeziest plants, categorized by:
🌻 wildflowers + weeds
🌾 grasses
🌳 shrubs
🌲 trees
💐 cultivated flowers
💥 sternutatory plants
🏅special mentions
The Chhinkni Corner™ - how/why does it work? a deeper dive into plant snience (snz science...hehe)
Some fun plant + snz facts sprinkled throughout
Tools, references, and resources at the end
Feel free to skip directly to the parts that interest you. I won't be offended if you don't read it all!
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS BEFORE WE GET STARTED:
In an attempt to keep this as accessible as possible I am simplifying some concepts and skipping over some entirely. Otherwise there's just too much to get into!
This is by no means a complete list of species rather a selected assortment
I am not an immunologist, allergist, or palynologist (pollen scientist). I’m coming at this through the lens of a plant ecologist and snzfcker
While I did create one of the figures/images in this chart, the others I have 'borrowed' from elsewhere on the internet - normally I would include proper credits/citations but, uh, I don't really think we want the authors to accidentally end up here.
Many plants, including some referenced in this document and the included resources can be extremely toxic, dangerous – or even deadly – if used, consumed, or prepared incorrectly. Do not be silly in your pursuit of snz.
Let's dive in! (don't worry, there won't be a pop quiz)
Mini Crash Course on Plants + Pollen
What's the deal with plants? Like, where do I start if I know...nothing?
You can start right here!! Okay, so there are a lot (and I do mean a lot) of different ways we classify plants. For the purposes of this post, I'm going to to break down a few of the key ones in a way that (hopefully) isn't too overwhelming.
The Linnaean Classification system: This is the standard method of classifying all living organisms, using taxonomic binomial nomenclature (a formal, 2-part naming system in Latinized forms).
🌱 FUN FACT: Common names of plants often vary from region to region, culture to culture, and era to era. You can learn a lot from a plant's common name, and often a lot more from its binomial nomenclature. For example, the plant known as Common Sneezewort (Achillea ptarmica) derives its binomial species name (ptarmica) from the Greek word ptairo ("sneeze") which means "causes sneezing!" -- Thus, the plant's full scientific name translates to "Yarrow that causes sneezing." Pretty on[in?]-the-nose if you ask me.
Do all plants produce pollen?
Nope! Not all plants produce pollen. I've put together the following chart which helps break down how we further classify plants --specifically in the context of what plants produce pollen and how they are pollinated, which all leads us to understanding what makes them more/less allergenic and why...we'll get into shortly.
Why do plants produce pollen, and what exactly is pollination?
It's how plants get it on, bay-bee! 🐝 Pollination is how the male parts of a plant transfer genetic material to the female parts of the plant, allowing plants to produce seed and fruit, and ensure the genetic diversity of its species is maintained. Let's talk about it!
Reproductive Categories:
Both Angiosperms (flowering) and Gymnosperms (non-flowering) have male structures which produce pollen and female structures which develop seeds and fruit.
In Angiosperms, the part of a flower containing the male reproductive organs is called the stamen. At the tip of the stamen is the anther, which is where pollen is produced! The part of a flower containing the female reproductive organ is called the pistil, which contains the ovary. Once fertilized by pollen, this part develops into the mature fruit/seed.
Flowers (and cones) can be male, female, or bisexual -- and there are even more categories I'm not going to get into but...Nature is queer, y'all! And it's awesome.
Monoecious plants have both male and female unisexual flowers on the same plant, which means they are self-pollinating. Examples include: Birch, Oak, Spruce, and Pine trees; and vegetables like pumpkins, cucumbers, corn and tomatoes.
Dioecious plants have unisexual male and female parts on separate plants, and need to be cross pollinated in order to produce seed. Examples include: Juniper, Poplar, Maple, and Willow trees; and vegetables like asparagus and spinach.
🌱 FUN FACT: On monoecious conifer trees, female cones grow on the upper branches of the tree, where they can be fertilized by the pollen of male cones blown upwards from the wind.
Okay, so exactly how are plants pollinated?
Biotic Pollination (by animals - primarily insects, but also birds and small mammals). In exchange for pollination services, these plants provide animals with food (pollen is very high in protein and nutrients).
Abiotic Pollination (by natural phenomenons - like wind, rain, or water). These are strong, independent self-pollinating plants who don’t need no bugs.
What makes some plants more allergenic than others?
It all has to do with how they're pollinated!
Insect-pollinated plants generally tend to be the least allergenic, as the pollen grains are generally larger and stickier, allowing them to easily stick to insect bodies.
I mean, just look at these guys. They’re absolutely lost in the sauce:
Wind-pollinated plants, on the other hand, tend to be the most allergenic as their pollen grains are smaller and lighter. They also tend to produce a lot more of it in quantity, since their distribution method is a lot less targeted (they rely on the variable forces of wind and water vs relying on, say, a bee that is reliably going to fly from flower to flower).
Depending on the anatomical structure of a species’ flowers, it may be both animal and wind-pollinated. Privet, for example, is primarily insect-pollinated, but because it has anthers that protrude considerably from its flower (hubba hubba), its pollen can be distributed by the wind, as this article explains.
🌱 FUN FACT: Some bees have special structures known as pollen baskets (or corbiculae) to help them efficiently store and carry pollen!
How is allergy season defined?
The peak flowering/pollen times for plants varies by region, even if the same plant species grows across a wide geographical range. This is influenced largely by climate, and may vary slightly year-by-year. Ragweed, for example is abundant throughout all of central-eastern continental US, but pollen levels may peak at different times, depending on what state you're in (the state of allergic misery perhaps). For example, someone who usually prepares accordingly for ragweed season to hit them in mid-September where they live might be in for a bit of a surprise if they travel to another part of the country in mid-late August...!
What is hay fever, exactly? Is it the same as seasonal allergies?
Essentially, yes. Hay fever is actually bit of a misnomer, as it was originally believed that the scent of freshly-cut grass (later dried to be used as hay*) was triggering allergic symptoms. Grass pollen of course can be a major trigger for allergies, nowadays the term is used almost interchangeably with the more-accurately described allergic rhinitis.
*Consider also, if you really want to put your character in a Situation, the fact that dried hay often contains not only pollen, but mold spores and dust/dried plant particles...
Why does pollen make people sneeze?
In simple terms: pollen allergies are an immunological response to the proteins found in different types of pollen. This article, titled 'Allergies: The Radical Theory of Sneezing' goes into much further detail.
Also, um, hello?!!? That name???
🌱 FUN FACT: This paper is the first recorded medical description of 'hay fever.' In case you want to read it. For science, obviously.
A Selected List of the Sneeziest Plants
🌻 wildflowers + weeds
Asters, Daisies, Sunflowers (Members of the Asteraceae family) in general
Ragweed (members of the Ambrosia genus): specifically Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and Great Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)
Mugworts (members of the Artemisia genus) - particularly Common Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Pigweed (members of the Amaranthus genus)
Goosefoot (Chenopodium album)
💐 cultivated or cut flowers
Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) and its relatives in the same genus
Chrysanthemums or 'Mums' (members of the Chrysanthemum genus)
Asters, Daisies, Sunflowers (Members of the Asteraceae family), including:
Dahlias (members of the Dahlia genus)
Gerberas (members of the Gerbera genus)
🌾 grasses
Timothy grasses (members of the Phleum genus)
Sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)
Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon)
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
Ryegrass (members of the Lolium genus)
Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata)
Bahia grass (Paspalum notatum)
🌳 shrubs/small trees
Common Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)
Hazels (members of the Corylus genus)
Juniper (members of the Juniperus genus)
Cypress (members of the Cupressaceae family)
Privet (members of the Ligustrum genus)
🌲 trees
Alder (members of the Alnus genus)
Ash (members of the Fraxinus genus)
Beech (members of the Fagus genus)
Birch (members of the Betula genus)
Cedar (members of the Cedrus genus)
Elm (members of the Ulmus genus)
Hickory (members of the Carya genus)
Maple (members of the Acer genus)
Mulberry (members of the Morus genus)
Oak (members of the Quercus genus)
Olive (members of the Olea genus)
Sycamore (members of the Platanus genus)
Poplar (members of the Populus genus)
🌱 FUN FACT: People who are allergic to the pollen of one plant species are more likely to also be allergic to species in the same plant family. For example, those who are Ash tree pollen may also be allergic to the pollen of Olives and Lilacs, as all three are members of the Oleaceae family.
🏅special mentions (plants that may or may not necessarily be allergenic but still deserve to be mentioned)
Highly fragrant plants (known to or most likely to trigger scent reactions)
Lilies – particularly Asiatic hybrids such as Lilium orientalis (aka the Stargazer lily)
Hyacinths (members of the Hyacinthus genus)
Lilacs (members of the Syringa genus)
Wisteria (members of the Wisteria genus)
Lavender (members of the Lavandula genus)
Jasmine (members of the Jasminum genus)
Freesias (specifically the highly fragrant Antique White Freesia aka Freesia alba)
Viburnums (Specifically the Burkwood Viburnum aka Viburnum × burkwoodii)
Roses (members of the Rosa genus)*
*There are certain types of hybrid Roses that have been bred specifically for traits like fragrance (eg. the variety known as “Mme Isaac Pereire”) but honestly...most of my knowledge pertains to wild rose species and I'm not researching this topic any further because people who grow cultivated/hybrid roses can be Extremely Serious about it and I’m genuinely a little scared of them.
Small, fluffy seed heads (wind-distributed seeds that are very tiny and light and easy to breathe in...Do you see where i'm going with this? You see the vision?!)
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale):
Willowherbs (members of the Epilobium genus)
Cottongrasses (members of the Eriophorum genus)
Asters (members of the Aster genus)
Goldenrods (members of the Solidago genus)
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Hypoallergenic plants (these species tend to have thick/sticky pollen that does not become airborne, or needs to be intentionally disturbed by specialist polinators in order to disperse). A pollen allergy to any of the following plants would extremely unlikely, but an objectively hilarious affliction to give to a character.
Orchids (members of the Orchidaceae family)
Cactus (members of the Cactaceae family)
Irises, Crocuses, and Freesias (members of the Iridaceae family)
Columbines (members of the Aquilegia family)
🌱 FUN FACT: Many flowers have been cultivated (intentionally bred or hybridized to for specific traits) to produce less pollen. We call these varieties "cultivars." For allergy sufferers, hypoallergenic cultivars are great to grow in their garden (or to purchase at a florist). For pollinators who expend energy to search for a food source, it's not so great. It's even less great if these cultivars are native species which are subsequently planted or introduced into the wild, as it can compromise the genetic integrity of that species' wild populations, and negatively impact native pollinators.
💥 Sternutatory or Errhine plants
Sternutatory (adjective): Also sternutative. causing or tending to cause sneezing
Errhine (noun): a medicine to be snuffed up the nostrils to promote sneezing and increased discharges.
Important Disclaimer ⚠️ DO NOT TRY THESE AT HOME ( I cannot stress this enough). This is for information purposes only and should not be used as a how-to guide. Many plants, including some on this list and the resources at the end of this guide can be extremely toxic, dangerous – or even deadly – if used, consumed, or prepared incorrectly. Misidentification of plant species can also be deadly. Seriously, do not be silly in your pursuit of snz. Stick with chhinkni, folks.
Wait, so…plants can make you sneeze even without pollen?
Heck yeah, friends! We've all heard about pepper as a snz trigger, of course...Well, Black Pepper is just the common name for the plant also known as Piper nigrum. Peppercorns are its dried fruit, and it's what we grind up to get black pepper seasoning! And chhinkni? It's all plant parts! We'll get into that later, too.
Indigenous peoples around the world have been using plants medicinally for millennia. Traditionally, sternutatory (yes, that is the fancy scientific word for ‘sneeze-inducing’) plants were used to treat or cure the common cold, headaches, or in some cases as a stimulant.
Are you writing a fic with a character who is an herbalist, traditional medicine practitioner, healer, witch/wizard, etc? Perhaps they would be familiar with some of the following plants:
🌱 FUN FACT: Mugwort is considered one of the most important herbs ("the mother of herbs") in traditional medicine (and witchcraft, allegedly). It is both a sternutatory plant and a highly-allergenic plant. It sure would be a shame if your herbalist/healer/witchy character had to both grow/harvest it and prepare/pulverize it...
Okay, but how and why exactly do these plants make us sneeze?
Excellent question, so let's get into it! Come on over to...
The Chhinkni Corner
Ever wondered why Chhinkni works? Why it's so effective? What the ingredients are? Exactly how/why these ingredients make us sneeze? Let's dive into some plant + snz science (Snience)!
First, let's break down the ingredients of Chhinkni:
Well, we know from the list of (some of the known) sternutatory plants above that the root bark of Myrica species is sternutatory, so that makes sense! But what about the others on this list? Let's get back to that important question:
What about these specific plants/plant parts make us sneeze?
It all has to do with Transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels). TRP channels are primarily located on the plasma membrane of our cells. They detect environmental stimuli and translate this exposure into sensations of chemesthesis (irritation, burning, cooling, tingling) pressure, taste, and smell. There are six main categories of specialized TRP channels, which play different roles throughout our body. Here's a chart that helps visualize each category:
Woah, this is getting a little overwhelming. What the heck does this have to do with snz? Or plants?!
Everything, my friend! Everything! Many TRP channels are heavily expressed in the epithelial cells of nasal mucosa. Each TRP channel is activated by different things (with some overlaps) including different chemicals found in specific plant families. Let's look at some of these TRP channels (and what activates them) and things will start to make a lot more sense:
TRPV is activated by:
--- Capsaicin (found in Chili Pepper), Piperine (found in Black Pepper), Carvacrol (found in Bee Balm), Camphor (primarily found the Camphor tree, but also found in plants like Rosemary), Menthol, Cannabis, Incense, Ginger, Menthol (mint).
TRPA is activated by:
--- Mustards (mustard, radish, horseradish, wasabi), Cinnamaldehyde (cinnamon), Tobacco, Cannabis, Wintergreen oil (aka what gives mint candies/gum its flavor), Shogaols (found in Ginger and Sichuan peppers)
TRPM is activated by:
--- Eucalyptol (oils from Eucalyptus plants), Menthol (mints),
--- Cold temperatures
Hmm...does anything on this list sound familiar in a snz context??!?!?!?!
Wait, is this why things like pepper, cold temperatures, mint, spices, and strong smells make people sneeze?
It sure is! When certain TRP channels are activated, they send signals to your body that trigger protective reflexes (eg. sneezing and coughing) to get rid of the irritant. Everyone's cellular make-up is as unique as they are, and we all react and respond to external stimuli in different ways. Some people might only get a runny nose when exposed to cold temperatures, while for others it might trigger sneezing.
🌱 FUN FACT: There have been studies examining TRP channels in the nasal cavity and the role they might play in allergic rhinitis. There have also been studies on specific TRP receptors in the nasal mucosa comparing patients with and without allergenic rhinitis. There is even this study on the nasal effects of camphor, eucalyptus, and menthol!
Learning Tools and More Resources
See where plants grow on a map: Want to know where specific plants grow? Input the plant species (or the genus or family -- now that you know what that is!) into the search bar, and it will show you its global distribution range based on user-submitted data. You can also narrow results down to a specific area. Note: This data is compiled through user-submitted data and may be erroneous. For best results, filter search results using the “Research Grade Observation” option. While the results don’t provide insight on historical range, native vs. introduced species, it’s a great tool to get you started!
Pollen Allergen Tool: An interactive chart that shows common allergenic proteins and which plants produce pollens containing them.
Repeated Disclaimer ⚠️ The following resources are shared for information purposes only. Many plants, including some on these lists are extremely toxic, dangerous – or even deadly – if used, consumed, or prepared incorrectly.
Sternutatory Plants: A list of sternutatory plant species compiled by the USDA
Sternutatory Plants: A second list, compiled using various data sources.
This paper published in 2021 on the use of sternutatory plants in herbal medicine, TRP activity. and this banger of a quote:
"Sneezing had great significance and value throughout history; it exerted a strange fascination on humans"
I protest the use of past-tense, but alas. Folks, this paper is Snience (Snz Science) in action. If the following excerpt is any indication:
The End!!
THANK YOU for reading if you got this far, and congrats on making it to the end of this post! I hope you learned as much as you horned (if not more) and I hope this little guide can come in handy one way or another.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, if you ever have questions on any of these topics, please feel free to reply to this post (or send me an ask if you prefer to be anonymous) and I'll do my best to answer! 💚🌿
Hey, I hope you feel better soon! I really enjoyed your fic recs for the x files (and your fics obvi they're great!!!), and I was wondering how you find x files snz fics? I feel like it's so hard to search bc you have to put slashes in names and stuff so vanillas don't accidentally find our stuff. If you have any advice, or any more sneezy Scully recs, I would really appreicate it! If not, perfectly fine, just figured asking was worth a shot.
Thank you so much Anon!!! Feeling rough as heck but trying my best to sleep it off today. and thank you, i'm so glad you're enjoying the fics i've posted. Working on a few more right now actually 🤭
Oh man it's so hard to find good t/x/f snzfics, especially for S/cully! There's a slightly devastating lack of them out there is probably why I'm determined to change that 🤣 There are a few S/cully snzfics on the Blue Site, including this one which is just so delightful and this drabble thread I recently came across.
t/x/f probably has one of the biggest fanfic databases out there dating back to the 90s and there are quite a few sickfics of course. Most of them are M/ulder-centric (hey, no complaints here, this show was my bi-awakening 🤣) and written by vanillas though there are a few i've come across over the years where i've been like .....hmmmm....👀🤨 [like this fic: pt 1 / pt 2 - poor M/ulder!]
Here are a few S/cully-centric fics with snz (written, ostensibly, entirely by vanillas so of course important to respect that/keep in mind) that are really quite lovely that I've bookmarked over the years:
this one features a sick S/cully and M/ulder taking care of her
this one has a sick, stubborn S/cully and M/ulder getting her soup
another one (similar premise to the above)
and this one (similar vibes as the previous three)
this one is very sweet overall and features S/cully allergic to smoke!
this one has a lovely little section featuring a sick + snzy S/cully halfway through *tw for some descriptions of gore/discussion of an autopsy*
this one in which S/cully neglects a bad cold and ends up with pneumonia
Alsoooo Anon, I'm not sure if you've seen some of the bts/blooper clips featuring snz but... 😳🥵
If anyone has any fic recs/suggestions feel free to reply with 'em! <3
reblogging this with some more Scully-centric fic finds for ya, anon! I was sick over the holidays and had nothing better to do browse the web and then forgot i had started this in my drafts hehe <3
pls keep in mind that most of these were written (ostensibly) by vanillas and for the more recent tumblr links I would recommend bookmarking them on your browser rather than 'liking' the post to protect our community and respect non-kink spaces ofc 😚
another drabble thread on the blue site ft. some cute lil' S/cully snz scenes!!
this cute snzfic from the iconic TOS webpage (as far as I know there was never a part 2 posted)
this very NSFW fic 👀 includes a brief scene about ⅔ of the way through in which S/cully has an allergic reaction/snz fit during 🌶️ time 😵
this cute lil mini fic ft. a sneezy S/cully taking a bath (also a lil' spicy 👀)
another mini fic ft. S/cully having to sneeze at juuuust the wrong time
another eventually NSFW fic that starts out with a sick S/cully and M/ulder teasing her for being so petite that her sneezes rock her off her feet 😭
this also NSFW one (ft. lots of angst and jealousy) in which S/cully has an allergic reaction to cats [...if you've seen the last scene of S3E18 and know the allergy!lore around the episode itself you'll understand 🤭😳]
this cute lil S/cully sickfic featuring M/ulder being a cutie pie and yearning (as per usual)
this [recently written] precious sickfic where S/cully gets a cold on the road and denies it until she can’t anymore (featuring 11/10 level amounts of M/ulder yearning)
and another recently written sickfic ft. a sneezy S/cully and M/ulder being charmed by her snoring <3
Another reblog with more S/cully fics (with snz) I've found while scraping the depths of the internet in completely normal ways 😌
reminder: pls keep in mind that most of these were written (ostensibly) by vanillas and for the tumblr links I would recommend that you bookmark them on your device/browser instead of 'liking' the post to protect our community and respect non-kink spaces ofc 😚
this one has cute little section about halfway through in which S/cully is allergic to ragweed and M/ulder buys her allergy medication
this one where S/cully gets caught in the rain while already catching a cold and there's definitely some 👀 goin' on
this cute mini drabble in which S/cully is NOT sick. (spoiler: she is)
this fic where she has a bad cold/flu and M/ulder crosses some of her boundaries with how concerned he is (but she's not entirely unhappy about it)
Scenario idea: A sneezes so hard that their glasses slide a little down their nose. Their partner / friend B goes "Bless you!" while pushing A's glasses up their nose again.
Character A being so used to Character B’s many-in-a-row sneezing fits that anytime A is talking when B starts sneezing, A simply adjusts the cadence of their speech and wraps the words around/between each sneeze — seamlessly weaving in a periodic blessing here and there — so that B doesn’t miss anything A has to say.
Some possible dynamics to consider:
A does this specifically because they know B hates drawing attention to themselves when this happens
Despite A going out of their way to time their words between sneezes, B looks up at them once the fit is over and admits they didn’t hear a damn thing
At some point A has to say “Actually, I think I’m just going to wait to finish my thought” because the pace/intensity of the fit has suddenly picked up
A has the kink, and B doesn’t know — and poor A is trying very hard to act as if nothing is happening and nervously keeps talking full-speed-ahead, much to the quiet bafflement of distracted-but-amused B
imagine...you're tied to a chair with your arms behind your back...and (insert whoever you'd like here) is straddling you and knows they're about to have a sneezing fit. maybe it's allergies, maybe a cold, but they can just FEEL it coming. and instead of turning away or covering or apologizing or any of the usual "sorry my nose is out of control" things, they tease and playfully threaten you with it, saying things like "i don't know...i just can't seem to hold it back," "it's coming, whether you like it or not...and it's gonna be big--hhHEH- and messy- aahhHhehhh-"
and. they sneeze all over you, pretending they can't control it, but really they're purposefully trying to let every possible sneeze out, never holding back for a moment. into your chest, your neck, everything.
I know it's not Wednesday, but I'm doing a bonus WIP day because I wanna. 😆😏
This is from the second prompt fic-in-progress.
It was Valentine’s Day, a day that Professor Evelyn Reed had dreaded and loathed for decades. But this year she had been looking forward to it… at least until she started coming down with this horrible cold. Her relationship with Helen was still new enough that she was very nervous about letting her see her when she wasn’t at her best.
She sat in her office, before her first lecture of the day started, and reached for her phone, texting Helen who was still in New York. She would come by train later that day.
The text was brief and to the point:
E: I’m sick with a bad cold. If you want to postpone, that’s fine.
H: Evy, I’m already at the train station, the response arrived in just a few seconds.
A few seconds later a second message:
H: Wild horses couldn’t keep me from you.
Evelyn sent a curt response, knowing she came across as clipped, but Helen hadn’t seen her sick before and she didn’t want to put her off. Evelyn’s cold sneezes weren’t as loud or frequent as her allergy sneezes – she still hadn’t told Helen about her hayfever, still too scared Helen would do what her previous partners had – but they were… messy.
Not to mention colds are contagious.
E: A rhinovirus should. It’s not particularly romantic.
But Helen was still typing. Evelyn sighed. She thought it was beyond annoying when people didn't type everything they wanted to say into one message. Though, she had to admit, every time her phone lit up with a message from Helen, her heart made a little jolt in her chest. It was pleasant, and she supposed that took priority over her general annoyance with people who needed a new message for every sentence.
H: Besides, you can’t postpone Valentine’s Day.
H: It’s kind of a fixed date.
E: Be that as it may, I’m still sick and repulsive today.
H: I believe the first but not the second.
H: I’ll be there as we agreed.
H: And I’m going to take good care of you. 😉💕
E: I am a grown woman who has the common cold. Much as I appreciate the offer, I certainly don’t require a nurse.
H: I’ll be the judge of that.
H: 🖐🏻
H: 🎤
Omg this is gonna be such a fun ride, watching these two get to know each other. I love it already.
I'm re-reblogging and I got stuff to add. I'm that terrible person that presses enter with every line. But I love how badly Ev is down for Helen if she can ignore that so easily. Absolutely am gonna love Helen nursing this precious bean.
