How-to: tell if you're allergic to perfume

Check out our list of common allergy symptoms to perfume to see if you could be allergic to your fragrance:

Symptoms of allergy
•   Wheezing
•   Sneezing
•   Feeling sick
•   Headaches or migranes
•   Skin allergy – hives or rash
•   Hoarse voice

If you have any of the above mentioned symptoms when using your perfume, there’s a good chance you’re allergic. If you think you may have an allergy it’s recommended you go to your doctor and request an allergy test.

In the meantime, you should read the ingredients lists carefully on the products you are putting on your skin - remember it’s not only your perfume that contains a fragrance – skincare, hair care and even household cleaning products all contain perfumes in them. So look out for the following known triggers for setting off allergic reactions on the products you use everyday:

•   Musk
•   Essential oils
•   Benzyl alcohol
•   Camphor
•   Acetone
•   Amylcinnamic alcohol
•   Anisyl alcohol
•   Benzyl salicylate
•   Benzyl acetate

And if symptoms persist, try going fragrance-free for a while and noting if there’s any change in your symptoms.

13 Member Comments

Jay.dogga1986 25 Jun 2020 11:29 AM

Interesting

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talk-a-lot 2 May 2020 8:44 PM

I am thankful I do not have allergies with perfume because I love perfume.

itslinda 4 Apr 2016 8:55 PM

great article!

AllyG 12 Oct 2015 5:29 PM

I don't think this 100 percent correct.... -sneezing -headache -feeling sick doesn't particularly mean that you are allergic to perfume as sometimes spraying too much of a strong scented perfume can cause these symptoms. Spray too much of a strong perfume can cause sneezing as it can irritate the nose, and/or eyes causing sneezing to occur. The headache could be due once again excess spraying of perfume and also lack of water throughout the day thus making yourself dehydrated and more susceptible to getting a headache. Also feeling sick can come from not enjoying the scent of the perfume or the fact that an excess of the scent being sprayed in a confined area.

Blink182 30 Jul 2013 12:01 PM

i usually sneeze after I apply perfume but I think it's because I apply too much

Evanescencessy 25 Jul 2013 9:10 AM

Some perfumes definitely are too strong and make me feel woozy. I have gotten headaches from some but can't recall which perfumes they were.

AmberB 7 Feb 2013 12:22 PM

Thanks for the info

FeatheredBeauty 22 May 2012 10:16 AM

I'm glad I don't suffer any of these symptoms with perfumes as it sounds a bit depressing.

Chicklet 8 Mar 2012 8:02 AM

I find certain scents can give me a headache.

Corry 18 Dec 2011 11:20 AM

I'm allergic to perfume but it's not a skin reaction. It the smell itself. I often feel violently ill in places like supermarkets, offices, confined rooms....because the smell of perfume sends my head spinning and causes my sinuses to immediately block up. My eyes water and the extreme dizziness makes me nauseous. I can handle faint smells but so many women wear way too much perfume. They forget that our noses "get tired" after a while and even though they cant smell themselves anymore....everyone else can. They just keep reapplying it when they dont need to! So as a sufferer I will plea may case and ask if you MUST wear perfume, wear it sparingly and only in open spaces!