Cologne As Hand Sanitizer: Effective Or Just A Myth?

The recent shortage of hand sanitizers due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led people to consider using cologne as a substitute. Commercial fragrances such as Eau de Colognes generally contain at least 70% alcohol, making them effective against bacteria. However, there are some concerns about using cologne as a hand sanitizer, including potential skin irritation and allergic reactions due to fragrance allergens and aromachemicals. It is also important to note that cologne is not tested as a hygiene product and is intended to be used in smaller amounts.

Eau de Cologne contains enough alcohol to be used as hand sanitiser

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitiser was in high demand. This led to a shortage of hand sanitiser and people looking for alternative solutions to keep their hands clean. Eau de Cologne, a type of perfume, contains a high percentage of alcohol, which is effective in killing many types of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. This makes it a possible substitute for hand sanitiser.

The Benefits of Using Eau de Cologne as Hand Sanitiser

Eau de Cologne typically contains 70-97% alcohol, which is within the range of 60-95% ethanol found in most hand sanitisers. This high alcohol content makes it effective in killing germs and stopping their transmission.

Precautions When Using Eau de Cologne as Hand Sanitiser

While Eau de Cologne can be used as a hand sanitiser, there are some precautions to consider. Firstly, fragrance oils in perfumes are not intended for leave-on products and are restricted in their use. Overuse of perfume on the hands may increase exposure to fragrance allergens, potentially causing skin irritation or allergic reactions.

Other Considerations

It is important to note that hand sanitiser is designed to be pleasant to use, safer, and kinder to the skin. Regular use of Eau de Cologne as hand sanitiser could damage the skin due to its high alcohol content. Additionally, the strong scent of perfume may be overpowering when used as a hand sanitiser.

Final Thoughts

While Eau de Cologne contains enough alcohol to be used as hand sanitiser, it is not recommended as a long-term substitute due to potential skin irritation and fragrance allergens. Hand sanitiser is specifically formulated to be safe and effective for hand sanitisation, so it is best to use it when possible.

Cologne is not intended to be used as a hand sanitiser

While cologne can be used as a hand sanitiser in theory, it is not intended to be used for this purpose.

Firstly, cologne is not a product designed for sanitisation. It is a fragrance cosmetic, intended to be dabbed or sprayed on pulse points and allowed to evaporate. When used as a hand sanitiser, cologne is rubbed into the hands and used on a much larger portion of skin. This means that fragrance oils, which are not intended to be used in large quantities, are being applied in much higher concentrations than they would be in normal use.

Secondly, cologne is not tested as a hygiene product. This means that using it as a hand sanitiser could be less effective than using a product designed for sanitisation. It also means that the manufacturer would not be liable for any adverse reactions experienced by the user.

Thirdly, the scent of cologne could be overpowering if used as a hand sanitiser. This could be unpleasant for the user and for those around them.

Finally, the use of cologne as a hand sanitiser could increase the user's exposure to fragrance allergens, which could cause skin irritation or allergic reactions.

For these reasons, cologne should not be used as a hand sanitiser, even though it may contain a high percentage of alcohol.

Cologne has not been safety tested for use as a hand sanitiser

While cologne can be used as hand sanitiser in theory, it is important to remember that cologne has not been safety tested for use as a hand sanitiser.

Cologne is not intended to be used as a leave-on product in large quantities. Fragrance oils are not meant to be used in large amounts on a large portion of skin. When used as a hand sanitiser, cologne will be rubbed into your hands in larger amounts than when used as a fragrance. This means that your exposure to fragrance allergens may increase, which could lead to skin irritation or allergic reactions.

Cologne is also not tested as a type of body cleansing or hygiene product. It is tested as a fragrance cosmetic. This means that if you were to use cologne as hand sanitiser and experience an adverse reaction, the manufacturer would not be liable as you would be using the product for a purpose other than that for which it was intended.

In addition, the high percentage of alcohol in cologne means that it will have a strong scent when used as hand sanitiser. This scent may be overpowering and unpleasant, especially as it will be applied directly to the hands rather than to pulse points.

Finally, cologne may contain fragrance oils and aromachemicals that are restricted in their use in perfumes. These restricted chemicals have not been safety tested for use as hand sanitisers, and could potentially be harmful when used in this way.

Cologne may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction

While cologne can be used as a hand sanitizer, it is not advisable as it may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction.

Colognes, perfumes, and other fragranced products are among the most common sources of fragrance allergies. These allergies are often caused by the various chemicals contained in these products, which can trigger an immune system response in the body. This response can lead to a range of symptoms, including itchiness, rashes, blisters, dry skin, and increased sensitivity to sunlight. In some cases, more severe reactions such as anaphylaxis may occur, requiring immediate medical attention.

The risk of skin irritation or an allergic reaction is heightened when using cologne as a hand sanitizer due to the increased frequency of application and the larger area of skin exposure. When used as a hand sanitizer, cologne is rubbed into the hands and comes into contact with a larger portion of the skin, as opposed to being dabbed or sprayed on pulse points. This increases the likelihood of a reaction, even in individuals who may not have previously experienced sensitivity to the fragrance.

Furthermore, the high concentration of fragrance in colognes can also contribute to skin irritation. Colognes typically contain 1-3% fragrance, which is higher than the recommended concentration of fragrance in hand sanitizers. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of fragrance can irritate the skin, especially with frequent use.

In addition to skin irritation, the strong scent of cologne can be overpowering when used as a hand sanitizer. This can be unpleasant and may trigger headaches or other sensitivity reactions.

To minimize the risk of skin irritation or an allergic reaction, it is advisable to use dedicated hand sanitizer products that are formulated to be gentle on the skin and have a neutral scent. These products are designed for frequent use and are less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Cologne has a strong scent that may be overpowering when used as a hand sanitiser

While cologne can technically be used as hand sanitiser, due to its high alcohol content, it is not recommended. One of the main issues with using cologne as a hand sanitiser is its scent. Cologne has a strong fragrance that may be overpowering when used as a hand sanitiser. Ann Prosser of Cosmetic Safety Assessment firm Oxford Biosciences said:

> It would be fine to use old perfumes as hand sanitisers, as with the high percentage of alcohol they would work. But the smell on your hands would be overpowering! I certainly wouldn’t apply perfume more than twice a day and then I’m always fully clothed so most of it goes onto fabric rather than skin.

The strong scent of cologne may be off-putting to some people and could be a reason to avoid using it as a hand sanitiser. Additionally, the fragrance oils in cologne are not intended to be used in large quantities on the skin.

Another concern when using cologne as a hand sanitiser is the potential for skin irritation or allergic reactions. Overusing cologne on the hands may increase exposure to fragrance allergens, which could lead to skin irritation or allergic reactions. There is also a risk of photo-sensitisation, where the oils in the cologne cause rapid tanning of the skin, resulting in reddening or permanent hyperpigmentation.

It is important to note that cologne is not tested as a hand sanitiser or hygiene product. It is designed to be used as a fragrance cosmetic and is not intended to be rubbed into the skin in large amounts. Therefore, using cologne as a hand sanitiser could potentially be unsafe and is not recommended.

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