Perfumes And Colognes: Why They Don't Make Me Sneeze

Fragrances can be a delight to some and a disaster for others. While perfumes and colognes can smell sweet, they can also make people feel sick. About one in three people report health problems when exposed to fragranced products, including asthma attacks, hay fever, headaches, migraines, dizziness, breathing problems, rashes, congestion, nausea, and seizures. Fragranced products contain chemicals, including pollutants, that become airborne and can be a concern for some people, especially indoors. While perfume poisoning is rare, exposure to topical fragrances can trigger allergies, skin sensitivities, and cause harm over time. Fragrance sensitivity occurs when your airways are irritated by ingredients or chemicals in natural or manufactured scents. Symptoms include a ticklish feeling in your nose, a raw or burning sensation in the nasal passages, and watery, itchy, or red eyes.

Fragrance sensitivity vs. allergy

Fragrance sensitivity and allergies are two different things. Fragrance sensitivity is when your airways are irritated by ingredients or chemicals in natural or manufactured scents. It does not involve a whole-body immune response. Instead, it suggests that some component of the fragrance is irritating to your airways and eyes. Symptoms of fragrance sensitivity include sneezing, coughing, or itchy eyes. These symptoms can develop within minutes of exposure to a scent and can last from a few minutes to several hours.

A fragrance allergy, on the other hand, involves an abnormal immune response to ordinarily harmless substances in fragranced products. This type of allergy typically causes symptoms on the skin, such as an itchy rash, but can also cause respiratory symptoms such as a feeling of suffocation or a stuffy or runny nose. Fragrance allergies are caused by certain fragrance components called allergens that come into contact with the skin or are inhaled.

It is important to note that fragrance sensitivity is more common than fragrance allergy. In a 2009 survey on fragrance sensitivity, about 30% of the population of the United States reported irritation from a perfume, while only up to 4.5% of adults may be allergic to fragrance materials.

If you think you have a fragrance allergy or sensitivity, it is important to consult a healthcare provider. They can help you identify the specific fragrances or chemicals that are causing your symptoms and provide guidance on how to avoid or manage your exposure to them.

Temporary allergic reactions

The symptoms of fragrance sensitivity generally develop within minutes of exposure to a scent and can last from a few minutes to several hours. Symptoms include a ticklish feeling in your nose, a raw or burning sensation in the nasal passages, and watery, itchy, or red eyes. In some cases, extended inhalation of a scent may lead to nausea and dizziness.

The specific triggering scents and the severity of symptoms differ from person to person. Symptoms tend to be worse the longer the exposure or the stronger the scent. Fragrance sensitivity can be triggered by a wide variety of organic and artificial chemicals found in various scents. The most common substances that induce fragrance sensitivity include α-pinene (APN), limonene (LIM), linalool (LIL), and eugenol (EUG).

To prevent temporary allergic reactions, it is recommended to avoid offending fragrances by purchasing unscented or fragrance-free products. It is also beneficial to communicate your sensitivities to others and suggest they reduce their use of strong perfumes or fragrances.

Respiratory sensitisers in perfumes

Perfumes and colognes can contain respiratory sensitisers, which are chemicals that irritate the airways and mucous membranes of the eyes. These respiratory sensitisers can trigger a range of symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, itchy eyes, a ticklish feeling in the nose, and a raw or burning sensation in the nasal passages. In some cases, extended inhalation of perfume may lead to nausea and dizziness.

The specific chemicals responsible for these respiratory issues vary from person to person, but some common culprits include α-pinene (APN), limonene (LIM), linalool (LIL), and eugenol (EUG). These chemicals are often not listed individually on product packaging due to laws that protect fragrance manufacturers' trade secrets. Instead, they are simply listed under the general term "fragrance."

While fragrances can cause respiratory issues for some people, the toxicology of fragrance materials is largely well understood, and the majority of these chemicals are benign. The risk of respiratory sensitisation from fragrances is considered unlikely by some experts, who attribute reported symptoms to other factors such as psychological connections or sensory/psychosomatic effects.

To manage fragrance sensitivity, it is recommended to avoid offending fragrances and opt for unscented or fragrance-free products. It is also important to speak up about your sensitivities to friends, family, and colleagues, as they may be unaware that their fragrances are affecting you. In cases where exposure is unavoidable or symptoms are persistent, over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers or nasal decongestants can help manage symptoms.

Chemicals in perfume

The chemicals in perfumes are a mix of natural aromatic oils and synthetic chemicals. While many popular perfumes, colognes and body sprays contain trace amounts of natural essences, they also typically contain a dozen or more potentially hazardous synthetic chemicals, some of which are derived from petroleum.

The specific chemicals used to create a scent are often protected as trade secrets, and manufacturers are not required to disclose them. However, it is known that some common chemicals found in perfumes include α-pinene (APN), limonene (LIM), linalool (LIL), and eugenol (EUG).

Some other chemical ingredients in perfumes include:

• Aldehydes: These give a fresh, green, and soapy scent with a slight citrus undertone.
• Aliphatic aldehydes: Organic compounds found in natural materials that can be synthesized artificially, giving a pleasant floral or fruity scent.
• Ambergris: A waxy secretion produced in the intestine of sperm whales that ages into a sweet, earthy scent.
• Amber oil: Produced from fossilized sap, it has a rich and warm fragrance.
• Ambrette: Derived from seeds found in a type of hibiscus plant, it is used as a substitute for true musk due to its similar fragrance.
• Amyris: A flowering plant found in Haiti or South America with a sweet and woody fragrance, often used as a cheaper alternative to sandalwood.
• Benzoin: A balsamic-smelling resin from the Styrax tree, giving body to a perfume with a rich, sweet fragrance.
• Bergamot: A citrusy ingredient obtained from the bergamot orange, with a tangy and bright scent.
• Black pepper: Adds a luxurious and sensual scent that is both spicy and slightly woody.
• Calone: A synthetic chemical that adds a fresh, water-like note to a fragrance, reminiscent of a sea breeze.
• Cashmeran: Used to invoke the smell or feel of cashmere, it is a synthetic aldehyde that achieves a floral oriental fragrance by combining spicy, ambery, and floral notes.
• Castor: Derived from the Castor beaver, it creates a sweet and leathery aroma.
• Citron: Obtained from the zest of the citron fruit, similar to a lemon, adding a dry citrus edge to the top notes of perfumes and colognes.
• Civet: Produced by a gland in the African civet cat's tail, it has an unpleasant and strong odor in its pure form, but adds depth and warmth to musky fragrances in small quantities.
• Clary sage: An herb with a sweet and earthy aroma, used in unisex perfumes and colognes.
• Coumarin: A compound with a similar scent to vanilla and freshly cut hay, found naturally in tonka beans and cinnamon.
• Frangipani: A fragrant tropical flower with a rich and sophisticated fragrance, with notes ranging from roses and gardenias to pineapple and coconuts.
• Frankincense: A gum resin found in Arabia and Eastern Africa, with an earthy, spicy, and slightly sweet scent.
• Galbanum: A resin from plants in the Apiaceae family, with a green, plant-like aroma that is fresh and clean.
• Guayacan: Derived from the resin of the guayacan tree in South America, it has a woody scent often used in tobacco and leather scents.
• Hedione: A synthetic aromatic compound with a fresh and floral scent, often used as a cheaper alternative to jasmine.
• Heliotrope: A flower with a strong vanilla aroma and almondy undertones, pairing nicely with other floral notes.
• Indole: A widely used perfume ingredient that strengthens a floral aroma, giving off floral notes in small concentrations but smelling rancid in higher amounts.
• Iso E Super: A synthetic chemical used to create fullness in a fragrance, with a woody and velvety aroma and amber notes.
• Jasmine: A flower with a refreshing and light floral fragrance, commonly used in perfumery but one of the most expensive ingredients.
• Labdanum: Found in the gum of the rockrose bush, it is said to mimic the smell of ambergris with its sweet, earthy, and woody fragrance, used to create leather notes.
• Lavender: A well-known ingredient commonly used in aromatherapy for its calming properties, giving a floral and fresh note to perfumes.
• Lily of the valley: A spring-like scent with sweet green notes and hints of citrus, produced synthetically as the flower does not produce its own oil.
• Magnolia: A flower with a sweet and refreshing floral scent with fruity notes, used in summer fragrances.
• Mandarin: An intense and tangy aroma that is fresh, fruity, and citrusy, obtained from the mandarin orange.
• Monoi: An infused perfume oil made by soaking Tahitian gardenia petals in coconut oil, with a sweet floral and fruity smell.
• Muguet: The French word for lily of the valley, with a sweet and green scent made to synthetically resemble the natural scent of the oil-less flower.
• Musk: A natural animalistic and slightly sweet scent derived from the glands of the musk deer, though

How to treat perfume poisoning

If you are experiencing perfume poisoning, it is important to act quickly. Perfume poisoning can occur when someone swallows cologne or perfume, and it can be accidental or intentional. The most toxic ingredients in perfumes, colognes, and aftershaves are ethanol and isopropyl alcohol. If you or your child have ingested a significant amount of perfume, contact a poison control centre or your general practitioner for advice. They may recommend that you go to the hospital, especially if a large amount has been ingested.

If only a small amount of perfume has been ingested, the recommended treatment is to drink plenty of water, eat a light snack, and carefully watch for symptoms. The affected person should be given fluids and light snacks to prevent blood sugar from dropping to dangerous levels. Within 48 to 72 hours, the danger of a serious reaction from ingesting perfume will have passed.

If you are experiencing skin irritation or an allergic reaction due to perfume, wash the affected area with gentle, dye-free soap and lukewarm water. You can also try soothing the area with a hypoallergenic, natural product like calamine lotion, aloe vera, or coconut oil. If itching persists, you can use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream, such as Benadryl, until it subsides.

To prevent perfume poisoning, keep all fragrance products out of the reach of children. Do not apply fragrances in the presence of young children, and if you do apply a fragrance to a child, ensure they know never to use it on their own.

Frequently asked questions