Fragrance is special and makes you feel loved, lovely, even glamorous. But research studies show that fragrances cause more allergic reactions than any other cosmetic. Secondhand fragrance is known to cause problems for bystanders, too, so go easy.
It takes at least two exposures, maybe more and perhaps as many as 40 to set off the reaction, and there is no way to know which ingredient is the culprit because the ingredients are not required to be listed on the label.
Testing to pinpoint a specific ingredient proves difficult because fragrances are complex mixtures of essences and fixatives. A fragrance may commonly contain 50 ingredients and as many as 1,500 of the 5,000 ingredients possible.
In addition, an allergic reaction can result from a particular combination of two or more ingredients. The number of potential ingredient combinations is so large that testing is unrealistic. At the same time, if you find yourself allergic to one ingredient, you may be vulnerable to any ingredients that are similar to the original culprit.
Many women feel they can avoid allergic reactions by purchasing only the more high-quality, high-priced perfumes. However, reactions are actually more common with these products. It is thought that essential oils more frequently found in expensive perfumes are more frequently responsible for allergic reactions. Known allergens commonly used in fragrances include fumo coumarin, cinnamon bark oil, oil of bergamot, clove oil, vanillin, eugenol, hydroxycitronellal, citral, fennel oil, diethyl maleate and Peru balsam.
Only the most professional of noses can detect individual ingredients by smell. Since the ingredients are not listed on the label, it is impossible for the average individual to detect and avoid even a known allergen. If you develop an allergic reaction, you simply may have to change your fragrance.
Another course of action suggests the avoidance of highly concentrated perfumes. While you may be allergic to perfume, you may not be allergic to cologne. It has been found that many people can wear their favorite scent when diluted with enough alcohol. The amount of oil then stays below the level of irritation. Herein lies a good reason to buy cologne instead of perfume. Other forms of a favorite scent — powder, sachet, lotion — may also be tolerated without irritation.
Regardless of the form of fragrance you buy, you should never wear scent on areas of skin that will be exposed to bright sunlight for any length of time. Photosensitive reactions result when the sun changes fragrance ingredients into chemicals that will case a burn or a rash and ultimately a darkening of the skin that appears after the rash has cleared up.
This darkened marking is commonly seen around the neck and cleavage in women who dab perfume on those areas and then sun themselves. It is called berloque dermatitis— berloque meaning "necklace" in French — because it looks much like a necklace.
You can avoid this type of irritation and marking by simply not wearing fragrance when you're going to be out in direct sunlight. Save it for the soft light of evening — and enjoy.
Judith Rasband is director of the Conselle Institute of Image Management and author of numerous publications on dress and image. Contact her at 801-224-1207 or judith@conselle.com. For related image information, visit www.conselle.com and www.LDSImageIntegrity.info.