Is Perfume Bad for You? Health Risks of Fragrance Exposure

Is perfume bad for you? For some people, perfume causes headaches, congestion, watery eyes, breathing problems, and skin irritation. Researchers are also investigating potential long-term health effects from certain fragrance ingredients, including hormone disruption.

The risks depend on the ingredients, the amount of exposure, and individual sensitivity. And it’s not just the person wearing perfume who may be affected.

When Someone Else’s Perfume Makes You Sick

On our recent trip to the Homesteaders of America conference, our son Duncan had an unpleasant experience on the flight from Chicago to Washington, D.C. He was seated next to a young woman wearing a considerable amount of perfume. (Or a fragranced body product. He’s not sure.)

Duncan is chemically sensitive, and being trapped in a plane seat next to someone wearing strong fragrance was miserable. By the time the flight landed, his eyes were watering and he was badly congested.

Once we reached our accommodations, he showered and changed clothes to remove any lingering fragrance. Some time outside walking around in the fresh air helped, too. Thankfully, his symptoms cleared up.

But it wasn’t exactly the way we wanted to start our trip.

I doubt the young woman intended to make anyone sick. She probably thought she smelled nice. That’s part of the problem with perfume and other fragranced products. What smells pleasant to one person can cause a very real physical reaction in another.

And unlike a scent you encounter briefly while walking through a store, an airplane doesn’t offer much opportunity to escape.

What Is Actually in Perfume?

Modern perfumes are complex mixtures of fragrance compounds, solvents, stabilizers, and other ingredients. A single fragrance may contain dozens of individual chemicals. Some ingredients are derived from plants, while others are manufactured synthetically. Many perfumes contain both.

Common fragrance-related ingredients include:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Chemicals that readily evaporate into the air, carrying fragrance molecules into the surrounding environment.
• Phthalates: Certain phthalates, such as diethyl phthalate (DEP), have been used as solvents and fragrance fixatives to help scents last longer.
• Aldehydes: Compounds used to create particular fragrance notes. Some can irritate the eyes, skin, or respiratory tract.
• Terpenes: Aromatic compounds such as limonene and pinene, found naturally in citrus fruits, pine trees, and essential oils.
• Synthetic musks: Fragrance ingredients designed to create long-lasting musk scents.

Not every ingredient in these categories is equally hazardous. Even chemicals within the same family can have substantially different health effects.

The difficulty is that consumers often don’t know exactly which ingredients are in their perfume. In some cases, that lack of information can have life-threatening consequences.

In 2013, 15-year-old Brandon Silk of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, experienced severe allergic reactions after exposure to Axe body spray at school. His throat began closing, he developed hives, and he required emergency medical treatment. His reactions were so serious that his high school asked other students to stop wearing Axe.

We first heard Brandon’s story in the documentary Stink!, which I’ve embedded below.

Brandon’s mother, Rosa, tried to find out exactly which fragrance chemicals were triggering his reactions so he could avoid them. But according to the family’s account in the documentary, the manufacturer wouldn’t disclose the complete fragrance formula, citing proprietary information.

Imagine trying to protect your child from a potentially deadly allergic reaction when you can’t even find out which ingredient is responsible.

This is why fragrance ingredient transparency matters. It’s not simply about whether people prefer natural or synthetic scents. For some families, knowing what’s in a product is a matter of health and safety.

Read the original CBS/AP report about Brandon’s experience.

The problem with fragrance labels

Look at the ingredient list on a bottle of perfume or scented lotion, and you may see the word fragrance or parfum. That single word can represent a mixture of numerous ingredients.

Under U.S. cosmetic labeling rules, manufacturers can generally list fragrance mixtures without identifying every individual component. This makes it difficult for people with allergies or chemical sensitivities to determine whether a product contains ingredients that cause problems for them.

It also complicates research into the health effects of specific fragrance formulations.

What Does Research Say About Perfume and Health?

Research has identified several potential health concerns associated with perfume ingredients and exposure to fragranced products.

Some effects, such as skin allergies and respiratory irritation, are well documented. Others, particularly long-term effects involving hormones, reproduction, and cancer, require more investigation.

1. Perfume can trigger respiratory irritation and asthma symptoms

One of the clearest concerns involves the respiratory system. When someone wears perfume, volatile fragrance compounds enter the surrounding air. Other people can inhale those compounds, even if they never use the product themselves.

According to pulmonologist Dr. Jonathan Parsons of Ohio State University, fragrance exposure can cause symptoms such as:

• Coughing and throat irritation
• Nasal congestion and runny nose
• Watery or itchy eyes
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath

People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or fragrance sensitivity may be especially vulnerable. Fragrance exposure can also cause irritation in people without diagnosed respiratory conditions.

A 2022 systematic review of perfume and cologne health effects examined 37 relevant studies and identified respiratory symptoms among the commonly reported adverse effects.

This is consistent with what happened to Duncan on our flight. Although we can’t identify the specific chemical responsible, the timing of his symptoms and their improvement after leaving the fragranced environment suggest that perfume exposure was a trigger.

2. Fragrances can cause headaches and migraines

Have you ever walked through the perfume department of a store and developed a headache?

You’re not alone. (I’m right there with you.)

Strong fragrances are a recognized migraine trigger for some people. They can also provoke headaches, nausea, or dizziness in susceptible individuals.

The 2022 systematic review reported that migraine symptoms following perfume or cologne exposure occurred in varying proportions of participants across several studies. Not everyone responds the same way. One person may enjoy a fragrance without difficulty, while another develops a headache after only a brief exposure.

For people who experience fragrance-triggered migraines, avoiding the offending scent may be an important part of managing symptoms.

3. Perfume can cause skin allergies and irritation

Perfume is also a common source of allergic contact dermatitis.

Symptoms may include:

• Redness
• Itching
• Rash
• Dry or inflamed skin
• Blisters in more severe reactions

These reactions may develop after repeated exposure, even if someone previously used the product without problems.

Fragrance allergies can involve natural or synthetic ingredients. In fact, essential oils and botanical extracts contain some of the same fragrance allergens found in commercial perfumes.

A product labeled natural isn’t automatically less likely to cause an allergic reaction. We strictly limit the use of essential oils in our home.

4. Some fragrance ingredients raise hormone and reproductive health concerns

This is where the research becomes more complicated. Certain chemicals used in personal care products, including some phthalates and parabens, can interfere with hormone signaling under particular exposure conditions.

Researchers refer to these as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. The endocrine system regulates numerous functions, including reproduction, metabolism, growth, and development.

A 2025 narrative review of perfumes and cosmetic products discusses evidence connecting certain cosmetic ingredients with endocrine and reproductive health concerns.

However, finding a chemical with endocrine-disrupting properties in a laboratory doesn’t automatically mean that wearing a particular perfume causes hormonal problems. Actual risk depends on the specific chemical, its concentration, how it enters the body, how often exposure occurs, and other sources of exposure.

It’s reasonable to be cautious about unnecessary repeated exposure, particularly during pregnancy and childhood, without assuming that every fragranced product causes reproductive harm.

5. What about perfume and cancer?

Some fragrance-related chemicals have raised concerns in toxicology research because of their potential carcinogenic properties.

A potentially hazardous ingredient doesn’t automatically mean that ordinary perfume use causes cancer. A chemical may be classified as hazardous under certain exposure conditions without posing the same risk at the much lower concentrations encountered during everyday use.

That said, for me, I’d prefer to error on the side of caution. When I do wear fragrances of any sort, I keep them as clean as possible, and don’t use a ton.

What Did Researchers Find When They Tested Actual Perfumes?

One interesting investigation published in Vanderbilt University’s Young Scientist Journal examined the chemical composition of 12 commercially available perfumes. The researcher used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify organic compounds in the products.

Across the 12 perfumes, the analysis identified:

• 130 different organic chemicals.
• Between 14 and 33 identified organic ingredients per perfume.
• Numerous ingredients associated with one or more chemical hazard classifications.

All 12 perfumes contained at least one identified ingredient classified as a potential skin or respiratory sensitizer. The study also identified ingredients with other hazard classifications, including those related to reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity.

An important limitation: The study did not determine the actual exposure doses or establish whether using the tested perfumes would cause those health effects.

It was also a small student-led analytical study, not a clinical trial or a comprehensive assessment of perfume safety. Still, it illustrates why knowing what’s inside fragrance products matters.

Read the Vanderbilt perfume ingredient analysis.

Why Are Some People More Sensitive to Perfume?

People can react differently to the same fragrance for several reasons. Some have diagnosed allergies to particular fragrance ingredients. Others have asthma, migraines, or respiratory conditions that make strong scents difficult to tolerate. Still others experience symptoms from chemical exposures without having a conventional allergy.

This is sometimes described as fragrance sensitivity or chemical intolerance. These reactions aren’t all caused by the same biological mechanism.

For example, allergic contact dermatitis involves an immune response, while some respiratory symptoms may result from irritation or sensory nerve responses rather than a true allergy.

The mechanisms behind broader chemical intolerance are still being investigated. But the fact that researchers haven’t fully explained every reaction doesn’t mean the symptoms aren’t real.

In Duncan’s case, removing himself from the exposure, washing, changing clothes, and getting fresh air made a substantial difference.

Why fragrance can linger on clothing

Fragrance ingredients are deliberately formulated to last. Some compounds evaporate quickly, while others remain on fabric, hair, or skin and are released gradually. (Like the fake maple flavor of a Chick-Fil-A chicken and waffle sandwich – ick. I tried one on the trip – bad idea.)

That’s why you may still smell someone’s perfume on a jacket or sweater long after they’ve left the room. For a chemically sensitive person, washing contaminated clothing can be an important part of reducing continued exposure.

Is Natural Perfume Safer Than Synthetic Perfume?

Not necessarily. I enjoy the natural scents of flowers, herbs, citrus peels, and fresh greenery. There’s something wonderful about walking into the garden and catching the scent of lilacs or lavender. But natural doesn’t automatically mean harmless.

Essential oils are concentrated mixtures of aromatic chemicals. Some can cause skin sensitization, headaches, or respiratory irritation, particularly when used heavily or diffused into enclosed spaces. (I talk about this more in the simmering potpourri article.)

Certain plant-derived fragrance compounds can also react with ozone in indoor air to form additional pollutants.

On the other hand, synthetic doesn’t automatically mean dangerous. Some manufactured fragrance ingredients have been thoroughly evaluated and can be used safely within established limits. I have some recipes for simple homemade perfumes that can also be used appropriately

The more useful questions are:

• What ingredients does the product contain?
• How much are you exposed to?
• How often do you use it?
• Does it cause symptoms?
• Are other people being exposed without their consent?

If you’re sensitive to fragrances, replacing synthetic perfume with heavily applied essential oils may not solve the problem.

Perfume Isn’t the Only Source of Fragrance Exposure

We encounter added fragrances in far more products than perfume and cologne.

Common examples include:

• Laundry detergents and fabric softeners
• Dryer sheets and scent boosters
• Air fresheners and plug-in diffusers
• Scented candles
• Cleaning products
• Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash
• Lotions and deodorants
• Trash bags and other fragranced household products

Each product may contribute a relatively small amount of fragrance to the surrounding air, but using several scented products at once can increase total exposure. And some products, particularly scented laundry products, are designed to leave fragrance on fabrics for extended periods.

You may become accustomed to the smell of your own home or clothing, while a visitor notices it immediately.

Being unable to smell a fragrance anymore doesn’t mean it has disappeared. And something smelling like a fragrance doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s “clean”.

How to Reduce Perfume and Fragrance Exposure

You don’t have to eliminate every pleasant smell from your life to reduce unnecessary chemical exposure. Start with the products and situations that make the biggest difference.

Choose fragrance-free personal care products

Look for products labeled fragrance-free, rather than simply unscented. Unscented products may contain masking fragrances designed to neutralize other odors. Check ingredient labels, particularly if you have known fragrance allergies.

Skip laundry scent boosters and dryer sheets

Clean laundry doesn’t need to smell like a tropical sunset or a field of artificial wildflowers. Fragrance-free detergent and simple laundry routines can leave clothing clean without adding lingering scents. This is particularly helpful for bedding, towels, and clothing worn close to the skin.

Reduce artificial air fresheners

If your home smells unpleasant, try to identify and address the source.

Improve ventilation when outdoor air quality permits, remove odor sources, and clean surfaces rather than covering odors with another fragrance. Fresh air and a clean home generally accomplish more than adding layers of scent.

Be careful with essential oil diffusers

Essential oils can be useful and enjoyable, but diffusing them continuously isn’t necessary for a healthy home. Use them sparingly, consider ventilation, and be mindful of children, pets, and visitors who may be sensitive.

Ask for fragrance-free accommodations when needed

If you have fragrance sensitivity, consider contacting workplaces, healthcare providers, or event organizers ahead of time. Some facilities have fragrance-free policies or can make reasonable accommodations.

When traveling, request fragrance-free rooms and avoid scented toiletries when possible. You’ll probably need to pack your own toiletries. Air handling systems treat entire buildings, so it’s tough to get away from fragrances.

What to do after an unexpected fragrance exposure

If a fragrance causes symptoms:

1. Leave the affected area and get fresh air when possible.
2. Remove or change clothing that has absorbed the scent.
3. Shower or wash exposed skin if fragrance residue is present.
4. Ventilate the space if you can control the environment.
5. Seek medical advice if symptoms persist or recur.

If you experience severe breathing difficulty, throat swelling, or other signs of a serious reaction, seek emergency medical care. For people with asthma, follow their prescribed asthma action plan.

A regular cloth or surgical mask may not effectively filter fragrance vapors. Some properly fitted respirators with appropriate vapor-filtering cartridges can reduce certain chemical exposures, but these aren’t practical for every situation.

A Little Consideration Goes a Long Way

I don’t think most people who wear perfume intend to cause problems for others. They simply enjoy a particular scent, and they may have no idea how strongly it affects the people around them.

But there’s a difference between enjoying a personal fragrance and filling a shared space with it. Airplanes, medical offices, theaters, classrooms, and other enclosed public spaces deserve special consideration.

Someone seated next to you may have asthma, migraines, chemical sensitivity, or another condition that makes fragrance exposure difficult. And unlike choosing not to eat a particular food or use a particular skin product, we can’t simply choose not to breathe the air around us.

For Duncan, the effects of that airplane encounter were temporary. Once he was able to wash up and spend time outdoors, he felt better. Other people may not recover as quickly.

I don’t expect everyone to give up every scented product. But I do think we could all benefit from using less fragrance, especially when sharing enclosed spaces with others.

Sometimes the kindest thing you can wear is nothing at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it bad to wear perfume every day?

Daily perfume use isn’t necessarily harmful for everyone. However, repeated exposure can increase contact with fragrance chemicals, and some people develop skin irritation, allergies, headaches, or respiratory symptoms. If you experience symptoms, reducing or eliminating fragrance exposure is a sensible first step.

Can smelling someone’s perfume make you sick?

Yes. Airborne fragrances can trigger headaches, migraines, congestion, watery eyes, coughing, and asthma symptoms in susceptible people. You don’t need to apply perfume yourself to experience a reaction.

Can perfume affect your lungs?

Yes. Fragrance compounds can irritate the respiratory tract and trigger symptoms in people with asthma, COPD, or fragrance sensitivity. The effects depend on the ingredients, exposure, and individual susceptibility.

Is perfume an endocrine disruptor?

Perfume is a mixture, not a single chemical. Some ingredients historically used in fragrances or other personal care products have endocrine-disrupting properties. However, the presence of one of these ingredients doesn’t automatically establish that a finished perfume disrupts hormones under normal use conditions.

Is expensive perfume safer than cheap perfume?

Price isn’t a reliable indicator of fragrance safety. Both expensive and inexpensive perfumes may contain allergens or irritating compounds. Ingredient transparency and personal tolerance matter more than the price tag.

Are essential oils better than perfume?

Essential oils are plant-derived, but they’re still concentrated chemical mixtures. They can cause allergies, skin irritation, or respiratory symptoms. People sensitive to perfume may also react to essential oils.

References and Further Reading

1. The Impact of Perfumes and Cosmetic Products on Human Health: A Narrative Review (2025)
2. Evaluation of Pollutants in Perfumes, Colognes and Health Effects on the Consumer: A Systematic Review (2022)
3. How Fragrances Affect Health, and Ways to Reduce Exposure — Ohio State University
4. Analyzing Specific Health Hazards in Perfumes by Identifying Ingredients Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry — Vanderbilt Young Scientist Journal

This article is intended for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.

About the Author

This article was written by Laurie Neverman, author of Common Sense Preparedness and founder of Common Sense Home. Laurie has degrees in math and engineering and a background in renewable energy systems. She combines her technical training with decades of hands-on experience researching practical ways to create a healthier, more resilient home. Her family prioritizes fragrance-free personal care and cleaning products, in part because of family sensitivities to synthetic fragrances. Laurie believes that informed choices, ingredient transparency, and simple changes at home can help reduce unnecessary chemical exposure.