Unveiling The Scent Of Sickness: Navigating Fragrance Allergies

Fragrances can make a person feel sick. About 1 in 3 people report having health problems when exposed to fragranced products. Those problems include asthma attacks, hay fever, headache, migraine, dizziness, breathing problems, rashes, congestion, nausea and seizures.

Fragrance sensitivity

Common symptoms of fragrance sensitivity include headaches, migraines, nausea, breathing problems, dizziness, rashes, congestion, sneezing, eye irritation, and diarrhoea. In some cases, fragrance sensitivity can even exacerbate symptoms of asthma and allergies and, in severe cases, cause dizziness and fainting.

The University of Melbourne study found that one in three Australians report health problems when exposed to common fragranced consumer products. This includes migraine headaches and asthma attacks.

To avoid fragrance sensitivity, it is recommended to avoid the perfume counter in department stores and wear a mask while cleaning your home. Additionally, natural alternatives are available for most personal care and household products, which can help to ensure that you and your family are not exposed to harmful fragrances.

Synthetic scents

Fragrances can make a person feel sick. About 1 in 3 people report having health problems when exposed to fragranced products. Those problems include asthma attacks, hay fever, headache, migraine, dizziness, breathing problems, rashes, congestion, nausea and seizures.

According to research by the University of Melbourne, some people have even lost workdays or a job because of illness caused by fragranced goods such as air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products and personal care items.

Australian author Kate Grenville recently published a book called The Case Against Fragrance, detailing her experience of discovering that a fragrance sensitivity was impacting her health and wellbeing and finding out just how hard it was to avoid fragrance when shopping, travelling or even just seeing friends. She found that candles, perfumes and air fresheners can cause headaches, nausea, confusion and sore eyes!

Some ingredients found in synthetic fragrances are known carcinogens and hormone-disrupters. This means they can impact your hormone levels and expose you to chemicals such as Formaldehyde which can have adverse effects on your health. In some cases, traces of such chemicals have even been found in breastfeeding mothers' breast milk.

According to Kate Grenville, the over-processed, concentrated fragrance in preservative-filled synthetic products is what causes physical reactions and potentially long-term hormonal disruptions.

Air fresheners

The over-processed, concentrated fragrance in preservative-filled synthetic products is what causes these physical reactions. Some ingredients found in synthetic fragrances are known carcinogens and hormone-disrupters. This means they can impact your hormone levels and expose you to chemicals such as Formaldehyde which can have adverse effects on your health.

About 1 in 3 people report having health problems when exposed to fragranced products. Australian author Kate Grenville recently published a book called The Case Against Fragrance, detailing her experience of discovering that a fragrance sensitivity was impacting her health and wellbeing and finding out just how hard it was to avoid fragrance when shopping, travelling or even just seeing friends. She found that candles, perfumes and air fresheners can cause headaches, nausea, confusion and sore eyes!

According to research by the University of Melbourne, some people have even lost work days or a job because of illness caused by fragranced goods such as air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products and personal care items.

Many of these products release dangerous air pollutants, some of them carcinogenic, which emit even more pollutants when combined with ozone. This could be contributing to some of the effects people feel when they smell the fragrances.

Carcinogens

Fragrances can make a person feel sick. About 1 in 3 people report having health problems when exposed to fragranced products. Those problems include asthma attacks, hay fever, headache, migraine, dizziness, breathing problems, rashes, congestion, nausea and seizures.

Some ingredients found in synthetic fragrances are known carcinogens. This means they can impact your hormone levels and expose you to chemicals such as Formaldehyde which can have adverse effects on your health. In some cases, traces of such chemicals have even been found in breastfeeding mothers' breast milk.

Air fresheners or deodorizers were the culprit for 16 percent of those surveyed, and cleaning fluids did it for 15 percent. Many of these products release dangerous air pollutants, some of them carcinogenic, which emit even more pollutants when combined with ozone. This could be contributing to some of the effects people feel when they smell the fragrances.

According to Kate Grenville, the over-processed, concentrated fragrance in preservative-filled synthetic products is what causes physical reactions and potentially long-term hormonal disruptions. If you’re one of the 33% of people affected by fragrance, you’ll know it comes at you from all directions - air fresheners in offices, shops as well as heavy perfumes worn by colleagues, friends and family and scented laundry detergent (amongst supermarket aisles of products), and causes headaches, migraines, nausea and dry eyes. It can even exacerbate symptoms of asthma and allergies, and in severe cases, cause dizziness and fainting.

Australian author Kate Grenville recently published a book called The Case Against Fragrance, detailing her experience of discovering that a fragrance sensitivity was impacting her health and wellbeing and finding out just how hard it was to avoid fragrance when shopping, travelling or even just seeing friends. She found that candles, perfumes and air fresheners can cause headaches, nausea, confusion and sore eyes!

Hormone disruptors

Fragrances can make a person feel sick. About one in three people report having health problems when exposed to fragranced products. Those problems include asthma attacks, hay fever, headache, migraine, dizziness, breathing problems, rashes, congestion, nausea and seizures.

According to research by the University of Melbourne, some people have even lost workdays or a job because of illness caused by fragranced goods such as air fresheners, cleaning supplies, laundry products and personal care items.

Australian author Kate Grenville recently published a book called The Case Against Fragrance, detailing her experience of discovering that a fragrance sensitivity was impacting her health and wellbeing and finding out just how hard it was to avoid fragrance when shopping, travelling or even just seeing friends. She found that candles, perfumes and air fresheners can cause headaches, nausea, confusion and sore eyes! Some ingredients found in synthetic fragrances are known carcinogens and hormone-disrupters. This means they can impact your hormone levels and expose you to chemicals such as Formaldehyde which can have adverse effects on your health. In some cases, traces of such chemicals have even been found in breastfeeding mothers' breast milk.

Kate Grenville also says that the over-processed, concentrated fragrance in preservative-filled synthetic products is what causes physical reactions and potentially long-term hormonal disruptions.

If you’re one of the 33% of people affected by fragrance, you’ll know it comes at you from all directions - air fresheners in offices, shops as well as heavy perfumes worn by colleagues, friends and family and scented laundry detergent (amongst supermarket aisles of products), and causes headaches, migraines, nausea and dry eyes. It can even exacerbate symptoms of asthma and allergies, and in severe cases, cause dizziness and fainting.

Frequently asked questions