PERSONAL HEALTH : When Perfume Isn’t Your Passion

Strong perfumes that send some people into raptures may send you into the next room. But you’re probably just irritated, not allergic to the scent, says an allergy specialist.

“A dislike of strong odors is a normal human trait. Almost everyone will display some sort of symptoms or experience a reaction when in an enclosed, polluted, environment,” says Dr. James Wells of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

But he says that an allergic basis for complaints about perfume can’t be demonstrated. “People who complain about strong perfumes also usually are sensitive to other irritants, such as detergents, cleansers, deodorizers, etc. Weather changes also can set off this type of reaction.

“Plus, while there is growing scientific evidence that ‘passive’ smoke is harmful, fragrance reactions are usually only a nuisance. Very seldom are they life-threatening,” says Wells.

A few people are very sensitive to perfumes, but physicians don’t yet know why, he says, adding that the irritation seems to be age-related: “It seems to be something that develops over time and shows up mostly in people who are middle-aged and older.”