Just found out I am allergic to fragrance! Anyone else?

[AlohaKeke]

I have been struggling with an allergy for a few years now and just found out that I am allergic to a fragrance. I will have to go completely fragrance free for 6 weeks to be sure that is what is causing my issues. Is anyone else sensitive like me? Any product recommendations to help me out?

 

[Christine]

Are you talking about skin allergies or respiratory?

Over the years, I have developed sensitivites (and most likely allergies) to most products out there that are applied to the skin. Sometimes the "organic" or "natural" ones are the worst. I get hives and welts. Basically, I cannot use any special creams, potions, or lotions. There are probably some safe ones out there, but I'm tired of spending money trying to find out.

I wash with either Dove White or Dove Sensitive skin bar and I moisuturize with straight Vaseline. Keeps me totally non-irritated. My DD is somewhat sensitive and she's had VERY good luck with The Body Shop's Sensitive Skin line so I may be giving that a try (best of all, you can buy a sampler package). Her friends have used it when they've stayed over and they all say the same thing--their skin is no longer red and it feels so good.

Now, if you're talking respiratory--I can no longer be around most perfumes are candles, although I'm fine with some.

 

[lorimay]

I can wear the Bath and Body Works sprays without any issues.
But if someone wears a heavy fragrance I get stuffy and watery eyes.
This is something that didn't start until my forties, so strange.

 

[Art 1]

Yes

 

[bookgirl]

I use aveeno body wash and I did use aveeno shampoo and conditioner (just changed to Organix). Fragrance Free and sensitive skin. They did a really good job. I get them at Walmart/Target

Origins facial products scent free. So is Clinique but I left them for Origins. Both of those are department store lines.
The other facial stuff I use is called Simple, it's a drugstore line, originally from the UK. The have a ton of products and they are carried at Walmart and Target.

Euerin, Curel body lotions all scent free. Sometimes I use Burts Bee's and it does smell like honey but naturally or the Lush Brand coconut lotion which does smell but it's because it's actual coconut oil.

Both Secret Clinical strength and Dove (go sleeveless line) have fragrance free versions.

( I have sensitive skin, but I'm only allergic to a few scents but I don't like heavily scented stuff so I tend to go that way anyway).

 

[bookgirl]

Are you talking about skin allergies or respiratory?

Over the years, I have developed sensitivites (and most likely allergies) to most products out there that are applied to the skin. Sometimes the "organic" or "natural" ones are the worst. I get hives and welts. Basically, I cannot use any special creams, potions, or lotions. There are probably some safe ones out there, but I'm tired of spending money trying to find out.

I wash with either Dove White or Dove Sensitive skin bar and I moisuturize with straight Vaseline. Keeps me totally non-irritated. My DD is somewhat sensitive and she's had VERY good luck with The Body Shop's Sensitive Skin line so I may be giving that a try (best of all, you can buy a sampler package). Her friends have used it when they've stayed over and they all say the same thing--their skin is no longer red and it feels so good.

Now, if you're talking respiratory--I can no longer be around most perfumes are candles, although I'm fine with some.

Just a thought but I also had reactions to a bunch of natural and sensitive skin stuff, guess what the main ingredient is in most sensitive skin products. LAVENDER and guess what I'm allergic too.

Who knew?

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I've had this for a few years now. Men's cologne, floral fragrances, and cleaning supplies are big triggers for me. I can do fruity scents without problem or if it's a scent I've dealt with for a long time that tends to be no problem either. Easy to control what scents you use, but extremely difficult to control what others use.

 

[peainapod]

I like Dr.Bronners sensitive/baby line of products. Not super expensive either and not full of chemicals.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

Most soaps cause an allergic reaction on my skin. I've found I can use a limited amount of Aveeno unscented body soap on some parts of me but not other parts and any shampoos or conditioners so long as I keep the run off away from my body, but mainly I use pet enzyme (Petco store brand, regular scent - the branded kinds have too much fragrance)

I've tried all sorts of different products that are supposed to work okay - they don't. YMMV.

The only commercial detergent I've found that doesn't cause irritation anymore is Arm & Hammer for sensitive skin. The Tide version and homemade were miserable experiences, don't know why.

I don't have any airborne sensitivities, thankfully, but have a friend who is really sensitive to something in cigarette smoke. The only thing she can do when she comes across someone who smells like smoke is cross the street. She was rather appreciative of Disney's smoking areas by the way -said they were almost all in downwind locations and/or really out of main footpath locations.

 

[Robbi]

OP, cheaper fragrances like Bath and Body Works, etc. give me respiratory problems- if they have those steam things emitting scent, I have to go the long way round the mall. I think it must be the fixtive or something. Better fragrances give me no problems at all.

 

[sasywtch]

Mygy friend was sent to the hospital in an ambulance at work all of a sudden to due the perfume/cologne in the office. When they put a "no cologne/perfume" notice at work, someone doused his cubicle in perfume one morning. Cute, huh?

I've had to learn over the years what I can/cannot do.
I use unscented laundry soap, unscented dryer sheets (the scented dryer sheets hurt him the worst of anything), no perfume, cologne, non scented deodorant. Definitely no glade or scented candles any longer. Simmering cinnamon sticks with orange peel makes a nice smell.

His sensitivity has waned somewhat and can now tolerate some things that he couldn't a few years ago. I've started cleaning with vinegar, bleach instead of the scented products and it's cheaper. Fabreeze is a no no for him also.
I don't have to go this far anymore but it's become a habit and all the smells actually now bother me (not allergy but yuk wise) as I'm not use to them anymore.

Also, don't forget about the rug shampoos-not only fragrance but some toxins. He cleans with hot water in his rug shampooer.

 

[SydSim]

Diagnosed myself with "scent sensitivity" after reading about it in the newspaper. Strong smells like perfumes, colognes and flowers set me off. I counted myself once and realized that i sneezed 120 times in eight hours

I now use Flonase all year round and hardly ever get an attack.