Do you suffer from migraines? If so, then you may be sensitive to strong scents. While beautiful perfumes can enhance one’s sense of well-being, they can also worsen migraines. To continue to enjoy fragrances safely and comfortably, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Why and How Can Perfumes Trigger Migraines?
The intensity of some fragrances can cause blood vessels to dilate, potentially causing a migraine attack. It’s essential to avoid using any fragrance if you feel a migraine coming on. In this situation, the best scent is no scent.
Which fragrances to avoid if you’re prone to migraine?
- To prevent sensory overstimulation, you should avoid overly intense scents. If a particular perfume is too intense, try opting for a lighter concentration. Consider using scented body lotions, hand creams, or shower gels for a safer option.
- Often, natural fragrances are more gentle than synthetic, so you may want to avoid chemical-based products. For example, Henry Rose brand offers a variety of beautiful perfumes based on natural and organic ingredients. You should also take a look at Clean Classic perfumes as their fragrances do not contain phthalates. Though it’s not always the case, and we strongly recommend testing any scent before buying.
- Find and avoid your triggers. For any individual, migraine can be triggered by certain specific types of scents. Carefully try different perfumes samples and determine which notes are more likely to give you a headache. The frequent triggers in perfumes for migraine sufferers are sharp (clean, soapy), white floral, and some types of musky scents. Though yours could be different, so, again, test anything before you buy it!
Tips on wearing perfume if you suffer from migraine
To ease the impact on your olfactory receptors, follow our tips on wearing perfume if you suffer from migraine:
- Make sure you don’t apply fragrance close to your face. It’s better to stop spraying perfume on your neck and behind your ears. Instead, try wearing it on your wrists, ankles, and inside the elbows: here, solid and rollerballs perfumes would be particularly convenient.
- You shouldn’t necessarily apply fragrance to your body! Here’s another method: spray perfume on a napkin and put it in your bag. And if you feel that the scent is too much and migraine is soon to begin, just put it away.
Perfumes for migraine sufferers – 7 light fragrances that won’t cause headaches
We’ve selected 7 perfumes for people who are prone to headaches. If you haven’t found a fragrance that would be safe for your receptors, these could be a great place to start! And don’t forget: different people can react differently to the same scent, so be sure to test what you plan to buy.
You by Glossier
Glossier’s “You” is a powdery musky scent that smells sweet and clean without being overwhelming. This simple fragrance delicately enhances your natural beauty while staying close to your skin.
Omnia Amethyste by Bvlgari
Bvlgari’s Omnia Amethyste is an airy, light fragrance that includes powdery iris, green heliotrope, citruses in the opening, and woody notes in the base.
Wild Bluebell by Jo Malone
Wild Bluebell is a refreshing, subtle, and not-so-overbearing scent by Jo Malone. It begins with fresh and dewy scents of bluebell, jasmine, and melon and softens into a powdery dry down.
Skin by Clean
The Skin fragrance by Clean is unobtrusive, soft, sweet, and floral-musky, and has a natural skin scent that comes through well. The fragrance is minimalistic and perfect if you find other scents too intense.
Not A Perfume by Juliette Has A Gun
Not A Perfume is an indescribable fragrance that smells different for everyone. It depends on everyone’s skin chemistry, meaning it can have sweet, musky, woody or ambery undertones.
Escentric Molecule 01
Escentric Molecule 01 consists of one molecule: Iso E Super. Smelling different on each person, it usually has woody, ambery, and musky notes.
Stella McCartney
While discontinued, Stella McCartney’s signature fragrance is fresh, feminine, and light. It boasts a perfect balance of light rose scent and can still be found in some stores.
In conclusion, migraines can be triggered by intense perfumes. However, there are still plenty of light, delicate, and safe fragrance options available for you. With a little bit of care and experimentation, everyone can find a scent that works well for them.