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Volume XXIV, Number 2 • July 2003

Some Concerns About Fragrance Products

Several Folk Arts Center dancers report that they have difficulty with fragrance products they encounter at folk dances. Fragrance intolerance and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) are a growing problem in the U.S. Fifteen percent of Americans are believed to experience symptoms ranging from mild to debilitating when exposed to perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, and other scented personal care and laundry products. Typical reactions are coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, respiratory distress, migraine headaches, dizziness, and nausea. And breathing “second-hand” perfume (fragrance that someone else is wearing) can have the same effect as wearing it yourself.

The multibillion dollar fragrance industry is not regulated by the FDA; many commonly used ingredients are known respiratory tract irritants and neurotoxins. Modern synthetic fragrances are formulated to linger for days or even weeks. People who wear them daily tend to use more and more, as continued exposure to a scent results in decreased ability to smell it. These factors, combined with the fact that most of today’s personal care products (e.g., shampoo, soap, hand lotion) are heavily scented, can result in a level of respiratory tract and eye irritants indoors, such as in a dance hall, that is well above the tolerance threshold of someone with asthma, sinusitis, or allergies.

In recent years, a number of hospitals, businesses, restaurants, and organizations have established a “no scents” policy. One dance group that has done this is the Seattle English country dancers. You can read their Fragrance-Free rules on line at www.seattleball.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=3.

FolkNews welcomes your input on fragrance intolerance issues. Please send your comments to the editor, Julie Sussman.

[Seven readers responded, four of whom experience severe discomfort from fragrances worn by fellow dancers.]

Articles are copyrighted by the Folk Arts Center, and may not be reproduced without permission of FAC.