Understanding Hypoallergenic Perfumes
While the term "hypoallergenic" suggests a reduced risk of allergic reactions, it's important to note that no perfume can be completely hypoallergenic. Individual sensitivities vary greatly, and what works for one person may not work for another [2:1]
[3:4]. Therefore, finding a suitable fragrance often involves trial and error
[3:8].
Recommended Brands and Products
Several brands have been recommended for their hypoallergenic properties:
Juliette Has a Gun's Not a Perfume: This fragrance is often cited as hypoallergenic because it contains only cetalox, alcohol, and water, avoiding common allergens found in other perfumes [2:3]
[3:4].
Skylar: Known for excluding many allergenic ingredients, Skylar aims to create fragrances that are less likely to cause reactions. Vanilla Sky and Boardwalk Delight are suggested options for those sensitive to scents [2:1]
[3:5].
Ellis Brooklyn: Another brand mentioned for its cleaner formulations, although individual reactions may still occur [3:7].
Fragrance Types and Ingredients
For those with sensitivities, simpler fragrances with fewer ingredients might be more tolerable. Fruity and soliflore (single flower) scents are often easier to manage than complex blends [2:5]. Avoiding musky or floral notes like patchouli, oakmoss, sandalwood, and amber may also help reduce adverse reactions
[2:5].
Alternative Options
Perfume oils, such as those from Ambre, are another option for individuals with allergies. These oils tend to stay closer to the skin and may be less irritating than traditional sprays [3:1]. Exploring all-natural or vegan perfumes could also be worthwhile, as synthetic ingredients are sometimes responsible for triggering allergies
[2:4].
Personal Experience and Testing
Ultimately, finding a hypoallergenic perfume requires personal testing. Keeping a log of reactions to different perfumes can help identify specific allergens [2:2]. Sampling products before purchasing, especially those with clean or simple formulations, can provide insight into what works best for your unique sensitivities
[2:9].
Someone living with me is allergic to perfumes, and can't have scented laundry detergent or anything like that because it makes him itchy. What are some brands that work well but won't affect someone affected by walking down the detergent aisle or standing near someone wearing perfume? He's fine with the fresh and cozy eos lotion and says mint doesn't give him a headache.
I am sensitive to scents and just go for scents that stay close to the skin. That way he'd have to get all up in your business to smell it. While basic, I really like Phlur scents for this.
So weird. I find Fleur to be strong. Irritatingly so.
It's crazy how everyone can have such a different experience!
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Hi fragrance experts… I need help finding a perfume I can wear. Everything I’ve tried gives me a headache and/or irritates my asthma. I’m not sure if it’s due to an allergy or if I’m just sensitive. I would love a recommendation for a hypoallergenic perfume or if anyone has had a similar issue and has any helpful tips. I’ve noticed I can last longer in gourmand scents like sol de janeiro cheirosa 62, but I’m usually still washing it off after a couple hours. Anything too musky or floral gives me an instant migraine.
I'm one of those "allergic to everything" people and I have asthma too. Some perfumes give me headaches, but the worst ones give me a rash (Bath & Body works I'm looking at you...)
You'd probably be better off figuring out which ingredients cause which symptoms and go from there. "Hypoallergenic" doesn't mean nobody will have a reaction or that one isn't possible. Clean ingredients don't mean you won't have a reaction either. Everyone is different.
So it's time to start a log of the perfume you wear and the reaction. Then you could find the ingredients and try to narrow down the offenders.
yeah bath and body works has done me dirty too… any recs for some types fragrances I should start testing?
I've found their body sprays (and some other body sprays over the years) are horrible, but I can use lotion and shower gel.
Just start testing with what you have now, or what is on your list to buy. It's really up to you!
If you don't have anything currently you could try to find some with fewer ingredients and see if those cause a flare of any type (not sure what brands those are, hopefully others can help with that!)
I do like Clean Beauty and have had zero reactions to anything from them. I'd imagine they would be pretty forthcoming with an ingredient list if there isn't one online too, but I haven't looked...
Juliette Has a Gun’s Not a Perfume is genuinely hypoallergenic. In fact, it’s an aspect of the (not technically a) fragrance that they promote!
Came to say this :)
Might be synthetics you’re reacting to. All natural, vegan worth trying to see if that has a different impact. Even most alcohol used in perfumes has synthetics ( all natural perfumers alcohol is very pricey).
I have sensitivity to many scents--it's been trial and error to determine which ones I can tolerate (and it's not an exact science). But for sure: the simpler the scent, the better I can manage it. I also do better with fruits and soliflores. Yet: there are also days I can tolerate Poison! So I would look for the simplest perfume you can find, with really basic notes and no musk, patchouli, oakmoss, sandalwood, or amber. I'd also stay away from anything called "cashmere."
thanks I’m glad I’m not alone! any recs for some basic ones I should start sampling? I’m not very well versed in the world of fragrance.
Sure! As a teenager I got Tea Rose, which is basically... rose, with maybe a little honey and lime. I still love it and it's pretty affordable. I have also had good luck with citrus scents like Diptyque's Oyedo (on the pricier side) and Guerlain's Eau de Fleurs de Cedrat. The latter is now ridiculously priced, so I cling to my bottle 🤣 I USED to love Fresh Lemon Sugar but it's now different than what I used in the past; you could try their Hesperides Grapefruit but it does have some musk to it.
I would try the brand Skylar!
Technically NOTHING is 100% hypoallergenic (pretty much ANYTHING can be an allergy trigger for someone, even if it's uncommon) but they aim to be as hypoallergenic as possible, and I've personally never had a sensitivity to any of their perfumes.
Vanilla Sky or Boardwalk Delight might be good scents to try if you like gourmands!
thank you I’ll give it a try!!
That’s a pretty vague term. What are you allergic to specifically?
Not A Perfume by Juliette Has a Gun is the only one I can think of off the top of my head. It’s just alcohol, cetalox, and water AFAIK which means it doesn’t contain any of the ingredients people are usually allergic to in perfumes.
If you’re looking for something with a strong/perfumey smell you’re probably out of luck. All the nice smelling things are allergens
I have a very sensitive allergic rhinitis. I’ve tried few perfumes and they all triggered my allergy. I always choose between smelling nice and being able to breathe through my nose.
My coworkers wife is the same, I gave her a decant of Not a Perfume and she was allergic.
If you've got very sensitive allergic rhinitis, strong scent in general, perfumes in particular, will probably really irritate your already inflamed nasal tissues.
You could try Skylar. They exclude a ton of different ingredients that are supposed to be allergenic. Unfortunately, it’s just gonna be trial and error though because nothing that has fragrance can ever be truly hypoallergenic.
That and Ellis Brooklyn are the ones that come to mind!
The only way to know that unfortunately is trial and error.
I guess, you’re right.
I do not think these exist in the way you are looking for.
This is sad.
I really like the oils from Ambre — Solace is my favorite. That one’s the only perfume oil I use amongst my pretty expansive collection of perfumes. I am allergic to all kinds of things, so I’m never really sure what the culprit is when I’m struggling, but I feel like the Ambre never exacerbates, triggers, or worsens my issues.
Quais perfumes masculinos não dão alergia ? , pergunto isso pois tenho alergia , o que torna um pouco complicado ter alguns perfumes , quais não dão alergia ? e quais vocês indicam e acham bons ?
Cara, depende de quem usa. O que dá alergia em um, não dá alergia em outro.
Não tem como te dar uma resposta, você precisa identificar as substâncias que te causam alergia para tentar selecionar as fragrâncias.
I love Le Labo’s Santal 33 but each time I wear it, I get a headache that gets worse as the day progresses - the messed up thing is I knew this before I purchased it. I wonder what it is. This also happened once with Another 13 when I sprayed more than I usually do
The top note in By the Fireplace makes me sneeze!
Same! I want to like this line so much but there’s just something in them. I actually can handle them better than before
That’s interesting I don’t think any have made me sneeze
I get this with certain florals, like gardenia and lily.
Tocca's Cleopatra, Stella and to a lesser extent Florence. It is probably some molecule that they use for the white florals that just creates a headache for me.
Same for JHAG Not A Perfume.
I wonder if the synthetic molecules are more likely to give that reaction
Going through trying to see if anyone else had an allergic reaction. I tried another 13 today for the first time and I had a severe splotchy histamine response and it looked like a sunburn for hours 🥲
I'm normally not too sensitive to perfumes or prone to headaches at all but there is something about the Clean Reserve line that makes my nose and head hurt (despite liking the scents).
Yea it really sucks when the ones you like are the ones that give you headaches - sounds like dating actually
Allergic to fragrances - anyone else? Gone years without using perfume but now I just want to smell nice. What are my options? Basically allergic to everything like Limonene, Linalool, citral, citronellol, farnesol and coumarin.
Even natural perfumes have some of these ingredients.
What are my options?
Thanks!
I just posted above—I am allergic to any scents that contain citrus— and all of the compounds you listed except for farnesol are found in citrus. I asked the same thing—what are safe scents?
“Natural fragrance “ doesn’t do it—these all naturally occur and are used in many essential oil blends.
I have issues with fragrance too. I feel like that's just life with allergies.
Exactly the same!
Also allergic to fragrances. Lurking for answers 👀
The only thing I found is haoma with less of my allergens and maybe if I spray it onto my clothes instead of directly onto my skin ill be OK?
Or try some nice aromatic essential oil. I also cannot stand perfumes. I sometimes use a special mix of essential oils called "heart warming". Smells a lot like roses and I think sandle wood and I love it. I put it on my wrists and behind my ears. Its also less expensive than perfume. Just check that it is 100% essential and therefor natural.
I think your best bet is to find single ingredient essential oils you are not allergic to and wear those!
Hi everyone :)
After making some small talk with my therapist I’ve come to find out she has pretty severe allergic reactions to e.g. perfumes & hairdyes (lots of swelling, bad rashes etc). She also expressed being kinda bored with the very limited selection of hypoallergenic scents she has tried out in the past (no idea which ones though).
I feel pretty shit for her, ngl :(
Does anyone have any frag/brand recommendations that are available in Europe/The Netherlands? The more popular/obvious ‘clean’ brands I’ve seen sadly only ship within the US.
Thanks in advance 💝
I second Skylar! Also Juliette Has A Gun Not A Perfume is hypoallergenic
I didn’t know about Not a Perfume! Thanks a lot 🫶
orebella by bella hadid is made with no alcohol, vegan ingredients that might be suitable for hypoallergenic skin. i’m not sure if this one is sold is europe, though!
clean reserve is one of the most popular “clean” perfume brands that she might be interested in. i believe they can be found in europe but i could be wrong, sorry haha
Hey, thanks for the info! Unlike Orebella, looks like Clean Reserve is totally available here! I’ll tell her about it whenever I see her.
The perfume house Skylar makes hypoallergenic perfumes. Highly recommend them
I know about Skylar but unfortunately they don’t ship to Europe
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As well as the advice above, I would recommend not bringing a fragrance to your nose immediately while it’s freshly sprayed, either just smell the atomiser or let a paper strip dry before you sniff it. That’s helped me narrow fragrance down a bit better. I discovered that aldehydes will always make my sinuses ache. My allergies are not severe though so I appreciate my suggestion may not work for everyone.
Plenty of natural substances are irritating and cause allergies, so that's not a safe way to guess.
Trial and error, really. We all have different triggers.
Juliette Has a Gun Not a Perfume works well for me when when my sinuses are acting up!
If your reaction is to the scent, you could try spraying the back of your neck or generally behind you. This might help you not smell it much but other people still will.
I have a ton of fragrance sensitivities and it was helpful for me to figure out what notes specifically set them off. I found that a lot of the worst offenders for me were white florals.
Before doing that, I stuck to Juliette Has a Gun’s Not a Perfume because it was formulated to be hypoallergenic. It only has one aromachemical in it. Luckily I also love the smell of it so that was my signature scent until I found out I could safely wear fruit, musk, and amber fragrances as well.
The one you know for sure doesn’t give you a headache, isn’t too strong, can be worn without bothering you even on days you don’t feel like wearing perfume.
I’m a woman but my safe scent is Versace Man Eau Fraiche. Feels like I’m facing a wide open ocean and is guaranteed to never bother my nose.
Davidoff Cool Water (for men) it somehow always fits. It's refreshing, uplifting but not sweet, and so cheap. I don't know why, but sometimes I simply don't feel like using expensive perfumes, Cool Water always goes.
Cool water is indeed the bomb
Jo Malone Wood Sage and Sea Salt. Not great for sillage or longevity, but easily my go-to scent!
I combined this with Chanel’s Allure Pour Homme Sport the other day (on a whim) and I was not mad at it.
D&G Light Blue
Fresh, inoffensive and light but great longevity and sillage. Great compliment getter too
I find both its longevity and sillage leave something to be desired. maybe it's just on me, but I cannot seem to get this fragrance to stick - fiance agrees, it's so strange. others stick to me just fine though!
Idk why but i dont get good performance out of this. I like it's smell, i want it to persist
glossier you. it's so versatile.
Same, it’s such a soft scent that’s great for daily wear
My safe fragrance is a cheapie! Bath & Body Works Moonlight Path. Even when I don't feel like wearing anything, or right before bed, I'll spray this on and it just adds a little umph to my day.
I love this as a body wash, good to know it's worth a body spray pick up next sale.
Never tried the body wash, but I loved the scent in the body cream as well! So lovely
Hey everyone, I am a big perfume gal. I love perfumes that last forever and receive complements... lol. I have gotten more into health and honestly wearing normal perfume (EX: coach, Chanel, Versace, etc.) makes my stomach hurt so bad and gives me a terrible headache.
I really want to be able to find a non toxic, low chemical, natural, perfume that is not super harmful to the lungs that smells super strong and lasts forever. I don't even know if this exists tbh but PLEASE let me know any brands that you guys have found. I really miss smelling "good" but I just can't handle the harsh chemicals anymore :(
Heretic Parfum does all naturally derived ingredients in their scents. I would also recommend that you check out some oil based perfumes. They wear a little closer to the skin, but as someone who can be sensitive to scent I find that oil formats are far less triggering than a traditional alcohol based spray; even oils that use synthetic fragrance molecules. Off the top of my head, I know that Solstice Scents and Possets have some perfume oils that are 100% botanical. Another botanical perfume house is Strange Invisible. Hope you find something you love!
I came back to comment on this after I read it a week ago. I tried three different perfume brands from this thread (ordered samples and tried them out). My partner and I both get headaches from most perfumes. Hands-down BEST was Heritic perfumes. You can order a mix and match of samples and all of them are soooo lovely and last all day. They all smell like natural scents layered into something really well-crafted. I’m hooked
Here are some of the ones I’ve been admiring, but haven’t tried because I react to pretty much everything now (the only perfume I use is very faint): Olo Fragrance (uses minimal synthetic ingredients, mostly natural), Illuminated Perfume, Hima Jomo, Tamara Parfums
I LOVE Kumba Made fragrance oils. The Water Lilly has been my go-to for years. I feel like it lasts a really long time, but I don’t wear it every day. https://kuumbamade.com/products/water-lily-fragrance-oil
I’m so glad I found this thread! Im transitioning to more natural products and I’m about to order vanilla bean oil perfume!
Oooh I've always wanted to try a perfume oil!
Thank you! I just bought their lavender lace! I’m so excited to try it 😀😀
Kumba Made's oils last forever!
You could try samples from online shops like Integrity Botanicals and Detox Market. There are lots of small perfumers now, too, that have some natural fragrances - La Curie for example. I’ve seen others but can’t recall their names now - Google searches could possibly find them. That said, many people have the same reaction you have when they’re near someone wearing strong perfume, whether it’s natural or not. I get migraines from all of them and I struggle when I’m in enclosed spaces with someone wearing them. It’s better to keep your perfume close to you and not obvious to others in public if you’ll be in enclosed spaces or close to people who can’t move away (like standing in line).
I found that Pacifica didn't last long enough for me :( but DIME looks amazing! I'm gonna go check them out.
Dime has galoloxide in some of them which is a super super toxic musk!!
Heretic Parfum, Wit & West, Living Libations, Providence Perfume, there's so many 100% natural perfumers now! Full list is here https://organicbeautylover.com/skin/best-clean-perfumes/
best hypoallergenic perfumes
Key Considerations for Hypoallergenic Perfumes:
Ingredients: Look for perfumes that are free from common allergens such as synthetic fragrances, parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. Natural or organic ingredients are often a safer choice.
Fragrance Type: Opt for perfumes labeled as "hypoallergenic" or "fragrance-free." Essential oil-based fragrances can also be a good alternative, as they typically contain fewer synthetic compounds.
Skin Sensitivity: Test the perfume on a small area of skin before full application to ensure it doesn’t cause irritation or allergic reactions.
Brand Reputation: Choose brands known for their commitment to hypoallergenic formulations. Research customer reviews and ingredient transparency.
Concentration: Consider the concentration of the fragrance. Eau de toilette and eau de cologne typically have lower concentrations of fragrance oils compared to eau de parfum, which may be less irritating for sensitive skin.
Recommendations:
Lavanila The Healthy Fragrance: This brand offers a range of natural perfumes that are free from synthetic fragrances and harsh chemicals, making them a great hypoallergenic option.
Herbivore Botanicals: Known for their clean beauty products, their perfumes are made with natural ingredients and essential oils, providing a lovely scent without common allergens.
Clean Reserve: This line features fragrances that are vegan, cruelty-free, and made with sustainable ingredients, focusing on hypoallergenic formulations.
Choosing hypoallergenic perfumes can enhance your fragrance experience without compromising your skin's health. Always remember to check the ingredient list and perform a patch test!
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