Having an allergy to department store fragrances can be a pain for some people but it doesn’t mean that you can’t still have a scent to call your own. There are options out there for those that are allergic to regular fragrances, however, each person reacts differently so it is important to use caution when trying new fragrances. Allergy sufferers may be able to find fragrant comfort in natural scents.

There are actually a large number of women that find themselves allergic to regular department store perfumes. Such allergies can be the cause of contact dermatitis, which is a negative skin reaction that occurs when it comes into contact with something that contains an irritant. Other ways a person can have allergies to perfume is if there is an ingredient that causes a typical allergic reaction such as sneezing, watery eyes, etc. Because regular, top of the line, department store fragrances contain a combination of synthetic chemicals, including alcohol, those that are allergic are in no way, shape or form able to purchase and use such products. But if a woman wants to smell nice what other alternatives are there?

One option is to try natural fragrances. Such scents start by being taken from a plant, leaves of the plant, or an actual tree, and then turned into an essential oil. From there, the essential oil is turned into a natural scent. If you’re familiar with essential oils, then you’ll already know that certain types of natural fragrances can influence your mood and behavior. For example, lavender has the ability to naturally relieve headaches and has a therapeutic, calming effect. Unlike department store perfumes, natural fragrances have a longer shelf life. Most natural scents don’t contain high levels of toxic chemicals, synthetic ingredients, or alcohol.

The main controversy about natural scents is that these days, just about anything can be labeled “natural” when in reality it isn’t. For this reason, it is important to note that some natural fragrances may still cause an allergic reaction. Beauty experts emphasize learning what the chemistry and makeup up of the natural fragrance is instead of what natural ingredients it contains and where those ingredients originated from. Avoid purchasing a product just because it is labeled “all natural.” When trying on new scents, regular or natural, it is vital to do a patch test on a small area of skin. If you know you suffer from fragrance allergies, do not spray the fragrance right onto your neck or other large area. Instead, spray a bit of the scent onto a blotting/tester sheet and rub gently onto your inside of your wrist. Wait a few minutes and see if your skin has any reaction. If the smell doesn’t cause an allergic reaction and your skin doesn’t show any signs of redness, swelling, or itchiness after the end of the day, chances are you’ve found a scent that will work for you.

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