Side Effects of Perfume and Fragrance Compounds
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Fragrance compounds are used in a wide range of everyday products – from perfumes and skincare to food and medicines. Although they provide a pleasant scent, many fragrance compounds can lead to health issues such as allergies and respiratory problems.
What are fragrance compounds and how are we exposed to them?
Fragrance compounds are used in perfumes and other scented cosmetic products. Additionally, they are added to food and drink for flavouring and to medicines due to their antiseptic properties. This means many people use products containing fragrance compounds on a daily basis.
There are around 3,000 synthetic and natural fragrance compounds, and a single fragrance blend can contain up to 300 different substances.
Exposure can occur through direct application of scented products to the skin or mucous membranes, contact with textiles (such as clothing or bedding washed with scented detergent or fabric softener), and inhalation. In this way, both external and internal surfaces of the body can be exposed. Since fragrance compounds are volatile substances that easily become airborne, this means that even people who do not use the scented product themselves can be exposed.
What side effects can fragrance compounds cause?
Exposure to fragrance compounds can lead to various skin reactions such as contact dermatitis, urticaria (hives), photoallergy, and skin discolouration (dyschromia).
Contact Dermatitis
In Europe, it is estimated that around 1–3 percent of the population suffers from contact dermatitis triggered by fragrance compounds. Women appear to be more frequently allergic to these substances than men, likely reflecting the more frequent use of scented products among women.
Contact dermatitis is caused by inflammation of the skin triggered by irritants or allergens. In cases of allergic contact dermatitis, the skin may become red and swollen, with itching and small blisters or vesicles, and sometimes even sores. The reaction typically appears 24 to 72 hours after exposure to the fragrance compound.
Fragrance-related contact dermatitis often occurs on the hands, underarms, and face. The reaction usually appears where the cosmetic product was applied, but eczema can also develop elsewhere, such as after touching the skin with hands that still have product residue.
Underarm reactions are often caused by deodorants. If the reaction is severe, it may spread down the arms and to other areas of the body.
Facial eczema is often caused by scented skincare and aftershave products, but wet shaving has also been shown to increase the risk of perfume allergy.
Urticaria (Hives)
Symptoms of urticaria include itching and red or pale raised patches on the skin, appearing shortly after applying the product and lasting from a few minutes to several hours. Fragrance compounds such as cinnamal and cinnamic acid (cinnamon acid) can trigger hives. Other substances that may cause similar reactions include menthol, vanillin, and benzaldehyde.
Photoallergy, Phototoxicity, and Skin Discolouration
Symptoms of photoallergy mainly present as eczema. These symptoms appear and disappear within 2–48 hours after applying the product. Sun-exposed areas of the skin are most affected, although symptoms can also spread to other areas.
Phototoxic (non-allergic) reactions to fragrance compounds can also occur, causing redness followed by hyperpigmentation.
Respiratory Symptoms
In addition to skin contact, inhalation of fragrance compounds can irritate the airways and trigger or worsen asthma and other respiratory issues. People with asthma, allergies, sinus problems, and rhinitis are more susceptible to irritation than others.
Fragrance compounds have been shown to cause negative health effects even when the substances themselves are considered harmless. This may be due to so-called conditioned responses, where the reaction is not caused by a physical effect of the substance, but by a response to the scent itself.
Can fragrance compounds be avoided?
Fragrance compounds are present in many products, and avoiding them can be difficult – especially because they can become airborne and affect people without direct contact. A total of 82 fragrance compounds have been identified as allergenic and are subject to mandatory labelling. This means they must be listed in the ingredients of cosmetic products, allowing individuals with confirmed allergies to avoid them.
However, most fragrance compounds are not subject to mandatory labelling. In such cases, manufacturers may simply label the product with “perfume” or “fragrance” without specifying which substances are used.
The term “fragrance-free” can be misleading. It means that no substances have been added to give the product a specific scent, but the product may still contain fragrance compounds used for other purposes – such as masking odours or acting as preservatives. In these cases, the fragrance compounds must be listed in the ingredients, allowing individuals with allergies to avoid the products.