If fragrances irritate, it's time to leave them

The Lodge, a new home-fragrance collection by Aromatique that features a fragrance blend of cypress, vanilla and amber, will be making its debut in the fall.
The Lodge, a new home-fragrance collection by Aromatique that features a fragrance blend of cypress, vanilla and amber, will be making its debut in the fall.

Home fragrances leave a bad scent in the noses of some ... especially those with related allergic reactions.

Melba J. Collins of Little Rock is among those. She can't be around certain strong fragrances, especially in the form of scented candles. "I also can't go into candle stores ... I can't breathe," she says. Collins says she probably could stand it if a homeowner she visits is using a scented candle, but not if they use several, which can be overwhelming.

When she's the one entertaining, Collins, who is able to handle mild and spicy scents, will light a candle. However, "I will probably ask ahead of time now to see if fragrance bothers my guests."

Dr. Josh Kennedy, assistant professor of internal medicine and pediatrics in the division of allergy and immunology and the division of pulmonology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, says it's his opinion that fragrances are irritants, not allergens. Many patients with asthma are concerned about fragrances because they may exacerbate symptoms. And some people suffer from a condition called vocal cord dysfunction (whose clinical symptoms can be mistaken for asthma, according to multiple online sources). Those who have this condition will be irritated by such things as fragrances and even acid reflux.

Simply removing oneself from a home fragrance that irritates "is extremely important," Kennedy says. That's what his vocal cord dysfunction patients are told: Be aware of triggers, and if you're in an environment in which the condition is triggered, get out of it.

"The onus is on the patient to make sure they avoid the situation, because as soon as you leave the fragrance, the situation should improve," Kennedy says.

He advises hosts who use home fragrance to understand there are patients who are very sensitive to fragrances as irritants and not to be offended if a friend has to step outside or even leave the home.

-- Helaine R. Williams

HomeStyle on 07/12/2014

Upcoming Events