Fragrance Allergies: Why Do Perfumes and Incense Make You Sneeze?

Fragrance Allergies: Why Do Perfumes and Incense Make You Sneeze?

19 Nov 2025

Have you ever been in a department store in the fragrance or perfume section and suddenly felt an itch in your nose and tears in your eyes? Or have you found that a colleague with a strong cologne or the smell of incense in a particular space has you sneezing uncontrollably just to function?

Either way, you're not alone. While many people enjoy smells like this, for a significant portion of the population, these smells will trigger heavy sneezing, nasal congestion, and headaches. Often, this behavior is dismissed as mere dislike, when often it is a physical condition that is either fragrance allergies or perhaps more commonly known as fragrance sensitivity. 

When perfumes lead to sneezing, and other nasal symptoms. Your body is trying to tell you something. This blog will explore what you experience, the symptoms and what relief an ENT specialist can provide you.

Is It a True Allergy or a Sensitivity?

This frequently asked question is an important distinction to make.

• A true fragrance allergy is a reaction of your immune system, in which your body incorrectly identifies some chemical in the fragrance (the allergen) as a harmful agent, and makes IgE antibodies to combat it, which then creates histamine and other chemicals. This is what causes all the symptoms of allergy: sneezing, itchy eyes, and a runny (or congested) nose.
• Fragrance sensitivity (or, in a broader sense, non-allergic rhinitis) is an irritant reaction. There's no immune response; your nasal passages are simply hypersensitive. The chemicals in the fragrance—often volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—directly irritate the nerve endings in your airway, resulting in a reaction.

For the person who is struggling, the symptoms are nearly identical. The important point I want to make is that your reaction is real (it is physical) and that there are treatment options available.

What's Hiding in a "Fragrance"?

The phrase "fragrance" or "parfum" on an ingredient label is a trade secret. This individual word can legally mask a mix of dozens or hundreds of different chemical substances.

• Common triggers of respiratory reactions include the following:
• Perfumes, colognes, and body sprays
• Incense sticks (agarbatti) and scented candles
• Plug-in air fresheners and room sprays
• Scented detergents and fabric softeners
• Scented cosmetics and lotions

Symptoms of Fragrance Allergies and Sensitivity

Although sneezing can be the most frequent complaint associated with perfume exposure, fragrance allergies may also lead to other symptoms. These allergies more commonly affect the respiratory system, such as:

• Uncontrollable sneezing or sneezing fits
• Runny nose (rhinorrhea)
• Nasal congestion or stuffiness
• Itchy, watery, or red eyes
• Itchy nose or throat
• Post-nasal drip
• Headaches or even migraines
• Wheezing or shortness of breath (especially for those with asthma)

Connection between Asthma and Sinusitis

If you have other respiratory diseases, it is imperative to address a fragrance allergy. If you have asthma, inhaling perfume or incense chemical irritants can constrict your airways, leading to coughing, wheezing, and possibly even a dangerous asthma attack. Continued irritation of your airways can imitate or exacerbate chronic sinusitis symptoms. The chronic inflammatory state of your nasal passages makes your passages more prone to swelling and infection. An ENT can evaluate this crucial overlap of diseases and map a treatment plan that will protect your sinus and lung health.

Finding a Solution: How to Manage and Treat Symptoms

You are not obligated to function in a reactive mode. Management for fragrance allergies consists of two steps: avoidance and medical management.

1. Avoidance and Lifestyle Modifications

This is the best first step.

• Go Fragrance-Free : Actively make the choice to use "unscented" or "fragrance-free" products for your home and personal care.
• Improve Ventilation : Use exhaust fans and open windows to help eliminate lingering irritants in your environment. .
• Saline Nasal Rinses : Use a neti pot or saline spray to wash irritants and allergens quickly and physically out of your nose, giving immediate relief.

2. When to See an ENT Specialist

If avoidance isn't enough, or if your symptoms are chronic and affecting your quality of life, it's time to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist.

An ENT specialist can provide a definitive diagnosis and a treatment plan that goes beyond just managing symptoms.

How Your ENT Specialist Can Help

Don't dismiss your symptoms as "just a sensitive nose." Here’s how we can help:

• Correct Diagnosis: We will do a comprehensive medical history and administer a physical exam, typically with a nasal endoscope (small, painless camera) to see inside your nose. This will help us eliminate other causes for your nose to be reactive [...] such as a deviated septum, nasal polyps, or a chronic sinusitis.
• Allergy Testing: We can perform specific allergy testing (landing between a skin prick or blood testing of environmental allergens for true allergy to fragrance compounds or pollen or dust, as well, if it exacerbates your sensitivity).
• Medical Treatment Plan: Based on the diagnosis, we can prescribe treatments to calm the inflammation in your airways. This often includes:
  • Nasal Steroid Sprays: These are highly effective at reducing the underlying inflammation and sensitivity in your nasal passages.
  • Antihistamine Sprays or Pills: If a true allergy is identified, these can block the histamine reaction and stop symptoms.
  • Decongestants: For short-term relief from severe congestion.

Breathe Freely Again

Fragrance allergies and sensitivities are legitimate medical afflictions. You have a right to breathe easy without having to worry about what scent might be next to spark a reaction. If you are sneezing constantly, feeling congested, or getting headaches from perfume, incense and other scents, your body is clearly asking for help. Contact us to book an appointment today with the best ENT Specialist in Delhi. We can help you pinpoint the cause of your nasal irritation and work to create a treatment plan that can provide lasting relief.