Why Perfume Made Me Feel Sick (And What I Discovered)
- Mar 7, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Ever wondered why that perfume, lotion, or car air freshener makes you feel off? I did too… until I discovered the shocking truth about toxic scents — and what to do instead.
What Do Perfume and Mr. Bubble Have in Common?
Brilliant commercials.
Who else remembers waiting for Mr. Bubble to appear?
As kids, my sister and I would gather the bubbles into a face-sized mound and wait… and wait… for the magical Mr. Bubble to show up.
We even sang the song.
He never did.
But we believed he would—because the commercial told us so.
And that same pattern followed us into adulthood.
Perfume commercials promised something similar.
Beauty. Attraction. Confidence. Desire. Irresistible.
And we believed that too.
Do you know the truth about scented products?
Perfume, lotion, car fresheners, air fresheners, cleaning products…
Have you ever noticed they can make you feel a little “off”?
I used to think it was just me.
Until I started looking deeper.
Scented products — Why Do They Affect Me?
I was in my forties when I learned that many perfumes and scented products contain a complex mix of synthetic ingredients—often hidden under a single word: “fragrance” or “parfum.”
That label can represent dozens, sometimes hundreds, of ingredients that are not individually disclosed to consumers.
Some of these compounds are widely used in industry and have been studied for potential links to things like:
irritation or sensitivity in some individuals
headaches or dizziness in certain environments
respiratory or skin reactions with frequent exposure
It’s not about one ingredient.
It’s about the overall chemical load and how sensitive bodies respond differently.
It does make you wonder why this isn’t more commonly discussed.
Why so many everyday products are allowed to contain ingredients most people never see.
A lot of it comes down to regulation, labeling laws, and long-standing industry practices—where transparency hasn’t always been the priority.
Now that I know better, I do better.
Not perfect. Not always.
But much more consciously.
Do I still wear perfume?
No—unless it’s made with truly natural ingredients.
There are beautiful alternatives made from essential oils.
To me, they feel lighter, cleaner, and more aligned.
My favorite essential oils brand is doTERRA. From what I understand, their extraction methods are high quality, and the scents feel very different on my body compared to synthetic fragrance.
One of the most important things I’ve learned in my life:
Go for what feels natural to your body.
Pay attention to how things make you feel.
Your body will always tell you the truth.
Be your inner movie star.
xo Kathleen Naomi
