I don't think they are so bad. I have a very tall 'hedge' of them along the back fence that the former owners planted. The pluses are that they grow in this limy, rocky, black clay 'soil' (where there is any), are evergreen, have no diseases, take the drought, have long lasting fragrant blooms in the spring that scent the whole yard, and their berries feed the flocks of cedar wax wings that come through in the fall. I know some people wouldn't call the bird thing a plus, but I enjoy seeing them.

So I'm happy with the old fashioned ligustrums, but perhaps someone else will suggest some alternatives. If I were planting a hedge now I would plant a variety of shrubs for a colorful tapestry effect.

Anytime they're in bloom and she gets a whiff, she starts sneezing like crazy.

I would go for a mixed hedge, with something like this ... A majority of sturdy, evergreen shrubs, and a few scattered among them that bloomed at different seasons of the year. For example, some forsythia, flowering quince, barberry, Osier dogwood, crepe myrtle, nandina, holly, maybe even a few big perennials like salvia and berry bushes. Depending on the kind of fence, you might try vines, too. Passion flower and AMERICAN wisteria (not chinese!!!) make good, relatively quick covers.