Perfume intolerance

Perfume intolerance or perfume allergy is a condition wherein people exhibit sensitivity or allergic reactions to ingredients in some perfumes and some other fragrances. This condition is very common and studies show that about 30% of the general population may suffer from it. [1]

Symptoms

Symptoms depend on each person's allergies and each perfume's or fragrance's ingredients. Symptoms may include allergic contact dermatitis, asthma attacks, headaches, and others.[2] The most common allergic reactions to perfume or fragrances added to products is contact dermatitis,[3][4] though other symptoms may occur, including allergic conjunctivitis.[5]

Patch test

The diagnosis of the causal allergen is made by patch testing with a mixture of fragrance ingredients, the fragrance mix. This gives a positive patch-test reaction in about 10% of tested patients with eczema, and the most recent estimates show that 1.7–4.1% of the general population are sensitized to ingredients of the fragrance mix.

Two studies show that inhalant-like allergies and sensitivity/intolerances are experienced by a subset of the US population, in the form of asthma and chemical sensitivities. Results aggregated from both surveys found that 30.5% of the general population[6] reported scented products on others irritating, 19% reported adverse health effects from air fresheners, and 10.9% reported irritation by scented laundry products vented outside.

Household products, such as soaps and detergents, perfume products, cosmetics, and other consumer goods, are estimated to use 2,500 different fragrance ingredients. Of those, approximately 100 different substances are known to elicit responses in at least some individuals. An estimated 1.7–4.1% of the general population shows a contact allergic response to a mix of common perfume ingredients.[7]

The diagnosis is made by patch testing with a mixture of fragrance ingredients, the fragrance mix. This gives a positive patch-test reaction in about 10% of tested patients with eczema, and the most recent estimates show that 1.7–4.1% of the general population are sensitized to ingredients of the fragrance mix.

Although products can be labeled "fragrance-free", many still contain lesser-known fragrance chemicals that consumers may not recognize.[8]

Cinnamaldehyde (cinnamic aldehyde) is a common fragrance allergen.[3][9]

References
  1. Flegel, K.; Martin, J. G. (2015). "Artificial scents have no place in our hospitals". Canadian Medical Association Journal. 187 (16): 1187. doi:10.1503/cmaj.151097. PMC 4627866. PMID 26438018.
  2. Dodson, Nikioka, Stanley, Perovich, Brody, and Rudel, 2012, "Endocrine Disruptors and Asthma-Associated Chemicals in Consumer Products". https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3404651/
  3. Saiyasombati, Penpan (1995). Mathematical model for predicting percutaneous absorption of fragrance raw materials (PDF) (B.S. in Pharmacy). Chulalongkorn University. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 20, 2011.
  4. Anne C. Steinemann. "Exposure Assessment: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions". University of Washington. Archived from the original on October 29, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  5. "Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At". McKinley Health Center. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  6. Caress S. M., Steinemann A. C. (2009). "Prevalence of fragrance sensitivity in the American population". J. Environ. Health. 71 (7): 46–50. PMID 19326669.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  7. "Fragrance Contact Allergy: A Clinical Review". American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. Retrieved 11 Feb 2012. Fragrance ingredients are also one of the most frequent causes of contact allergic reactions.
  8. Scheinman P. L. (December 2001). "Exposing covert fragrance chemicals". Am. J. Contact Dermatitis. 12 (4): 225–8. doi:10.1053/ajcd.2001.28697. PMID 11753900.
  9. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2011-09-10.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Further reading
  • Elberling J., Linneberg A., Dirksen A., Johansen J. D., Frølund L., Madsen F., et al. Mucosal symptoms elicited by fragrance products in a population-based sample in relation to atopy and bronchial hyper-reactivity. Clin. Exp. Allergy 2005
  • Kumar P., Caradonna-Graham V. M., Gupta S., Cai X., Rao P. N., Thompson J. Inhalation challenge effects of perfume scent strips in patients with asthma. Ann. Allergy Asthma Immunol. 1995
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