A spritz here, a spritz there. We don’t think much about it when spraying on perfume, but the chemical concoctions that produce the intoxicating scents we know today can pose certain health risks.

Allergic Reactions

Because perfumes are made of various chemicals, they can cause a chemical or allergic reaction on the skin. Rashes, hives, dermatitis, and eczema can result or worsen when you use a perfume that is not agreeable to your skin and chemical make-up.

Before applying a new perfume, you should always test it in a very small area upon your skin to make sure that you will not have a severe reaction. (The inner part of your wrist works best.) Then, wait 24 hours before reapplying. If you do have an allergic reaction in the test area, discontinue use of the product immediately and make note of the ingredients in the product. If the reaction is really bad or terribly painful, seek medical attention. Should no reaction occur, you are probably safe to apply a more liberal amount.

Environmental Illness

Recently, the risk that perfume causes to environmental health has come under fire. Many people believe that the chemicals used in perfume are dangerous to inhale. While there aren’t many clinical studies that have been published on the subject, the number of people who complain about the irritation has certainly raised a few eyebrows.

Though it is hard to think of perfume as being dangerous, the fact is that some perfumes do contain toxic chemicals. Most scented products now on the market, including perfume, are made up of synthetic chemicals derived from ingredients such as coal tar and petroleum. When someone wears perfume, they are essentially wearing these chemicals on their skin. As the chemicals vaporize into the air, they can cause sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, breathing problems, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.

It is estimated that twenty to thirty percent of the world’s population has physical or allergic reactions to one or more synthetic substances. However, many people go undiagnosed and never realize that they have an allergy problem. Even so, the concern over environmental illness is becoming widespread enough that many offices, schools, and other workplaces have banned the use of perfumes.

Avoiding Perfume Health Risks

Completely avoiding the health risks caused by perfume is virtually impossible, because there are scented products everywhere. However, you can lessen the risk by not wearing perfume yourself or by trying to limit the amount of time that you spend around other people who wear perfume.

If you have never had problems with perfume in the past and choose to wear it, just know that a little perfume goes a long way, especially in the noses of others.

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