More of us are avoiding perfumed people – and places

The survey of more than 1100 representative adults in the US also found that businesses that ‘perfume’ their premises could be losing money:  more than 20% of the survey respondents said that they left premises as quickly as possible if they smelled air fresheners or some fragranced product.

More than twice as many said they would choose hotels and airplanes without fragranced air than with fragranced air.

A problem at work

The study found that in the workplace, over 15% of the population lost workdays or a job due to fragranced product exposure. Over 50% of those surveyed said they would prefer fragrance-free workplaces. And over 50% would prefer that health care facilities and professionals were fragrance-free.

The research was conducted by Professor Anne Steinemann, from the University of Melbourne School of Engineering, is published in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health.

When exposed to fragranced products, 34.7% said they suffer adverse health effects, such as breathing difficulties, headaches, dizziness, rashes, congestion, seizures, nausea, and a range of other physical problems. For half of these individuals, effects are potentially disabling, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“This is a huge problem; it’s an epidemic,” says Professor Steinemann.

Second-hand scents

Professor Steinemann is especially concerned with involuntary exposure to fragranced products, or what she calls “secondhand scents.” She found over 20% said they suffer health problems around air fresheners or deodorisers, and over 17% can’t use public restrooms that have air fresheners. In addition, over 14% said they wouldn’t wash their hands with soap if it was fragranced.

Over 12% of those surveyed experience health problems from the scent of laundry products vented outdoors, over 19% from being in a room cleaned with scented products, and over 23% from being near someone wearing a fragranced product.

More generally, over 22% of Americans surveyed can’t go somewhere because exposure to a fragranced product would make them sick.

“These findings have enormous implications for businesses, workplaces, care facilities, schools, homes, and other private and public places,” said Professor Steinemann.

Recognised in law

For instance, a growing number of lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act concern involuntary and disabling exposure to fragranced products.

Fragranced consumer products sold in the US (and other countries) are not required to list all ingredients on their labels or material safety data sheets. Nearly two-thirds of the population surveyed were not aware of this lack of disclosure,

Professor Steinemann suggests using products that do not contain any fragrance (including masking fragrance, which unscented products may contain). She also recommends fragrance-free policies within buildings and other places.

“It’s a relatively simple and cost-effective way to reduce risks and improve air quality and health,” she explains.