Guest Author - Cheryl Tidball, DO

Humans have enjoyed using fragrances since early history. They were originally considered to be luxury items, but now are common in everyday life. Not only are they used in perfumes and colognes, but they are also an important ingredient in lotions, hairsprays, soaps, deodorants, laundry and dishwashing detergents, air fresheners, candles, foods, and even scented gravel cat litter. Even popular magazines often contain scented perfume strips.

Fragrances are generally pleasant for the majority of individuals, but over 72% of asthmatics report that they trigger their asthma symptoms including tightness of the chest and wheezing. Others report that they exacerbate migraines and skin rashes. The fragrance allergen can enter the body either by inhalation, ingestion, or absorption. Sensitivity usually grows over time with repeated exposure to the offending agent.

There are over 400 vegetable/animal extracts and organic/inorganic compounds that are used in developing perfumes, 200 of which are used frequently. Perfumes usually contain at least three main parts, the topnote, middle character and endnote. The topnote usually consists of volatile organic compounds and extracts which give the first whiff of the perfume. The middle character reacts with the oils of the skin and is diffused as worn. The endnote contains low-volatility compounds that cause the scent to persist. It is difficult to determine which of these components may be triggering asthma and allergy problems because the fragrance industry is not required to list individual ingredients and generally tries to keep their formula a trade secret, simply listing “fragrance” as a component of their product.

It is generally difficult to develop allergy shots to these individual components, so the most important preventative measure asthmatics should take is to avoid them as much as possible. Products that state that they are “unscented,” “natural,” or “organic” are not necessarily fragrance-free—they just have no perceptible scent or may actually contain a fragrance to mask another scent. Instead try to purchase items that specifically state “perfume-free” or “fragrance-free.”

Employers and schools should make a point to make their environment not only smoke-free, but fragrance-free as well for the health and well-being of their asthmatic and allergy-prone employees and clients and request that all employees avoid wearing fragrances. HEPA filters can be installed in both the home and the workplace to filter as many of these potential allergens as possible. If scents cannot be avoided, sensitive individuals should be able to alter their work location to stay as far away as possible from them, creating a safe environment for everyone!