Mother of All Headaches

A few nights ago, I had what I consider the mother of all headaches- a migraine really!  I know this kind of headache and thankfully I do not get it often.  It is one which will not be cured even by the most potent pain killer nor by sleeping it off.  Its cause is environmental particularly that which I consider a volatile, airborne substance.  But what is weird is that the catalyst  is  actually pleasant for most.  Now what triggered it?

It was raining and my niece asked that she use my clothes dryer. She had already laundered her clothes but they do not have a dryer.   I had forgotten that she uses  fabric softener.  So from the time the dryer was turned on until about 8 hours after, my house was filled  with the overwhelming scent of what is suppose to be pleasant for most but was hell for me!  I AM ALLERGIC TO THE SCENT OF FABRIC CONDITIONER!  The headache started  with baby hurt, then it progressed to a juvenile pain until it developed into a full blown severe distention, dizziness and nausea!  I locked myself in the room hoping my olfactory system will not go on overdrive.  But my whole house had already been enveloped with the scent, or should I rather say stench!  I slept it off.  Woke up after 6 hours but the pain was still there.  It was because the molecules of the scent was still in the house.  I opened all doors, windows and I put vinegar in saucers all over.  Thankfully after a few more hours,  the stench was gone, and the headache was gone too.

Now what does fabric conditioner have that gives me such a reaction?  Another scent which gives me the same effect is Pleasures by Estee Lauder. 

Because my headache was a reaction to an environmental substance, if I took anti allergy meds at the onset of the headache, would it have not progressed?