Podcast Summary: "What's That Rash?"

Episode: Should you be avoiding perfumes and fragrances?
Host: ABC News
Date: October 21, 2025
Main Theme:
An exploration into whether perfumes, fragrances, and scented products—both natural and synthetic—pose health risks. The hosts discuss the science, historical context, and health impacts, answering a listener's question about the safety of everyday exposures to fragrances.

Episode Overview

The hosts address a listener question regarding the ubiquity of fragrances in daily life and their potential health effects. They examine whether perfumes (synthetic and natural), scented cleaning products, candles, and personal care products could be harmful—delving into scientific evidence, anecdotal experience, and cultural history.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Personal Habits and Attitudes Towards Fragrances

• The hosts share their own approaches:

  • One avoids strong fragrances, sometimes feeling ill even psychosomatically ([03:53], A).
  • The other is not particularly concerned, disliking strong scents but not actively avoiding them ([03:06], B).
  • Both acknowledge that scents are now "everywhere" in modern life ([03:33], B).

• Notable Moment:

  • Trip to a French perfume factory with a humorous anecdote about panelist A blending his own scent, described as "subtle, but really subtle" ([06:00], A), and his dislike for floral or citrus notes in favor of muskier ones ([06:07], A).

2. Historical and Cultural Context of Perfume

• Origin of the word "perfume":

  • Derived from Latin "per" (through) and "fumare" (to smoke), originally linked to incense and burning aromas ([06:41], B).

• First chemist as a perfumer:

  • "The first chemist in history may have actually been a female perfumer," referencing Tapputi from ancient Mesopotamia ([07:02], B).

• Cultural reasons for scent preferences:

  • Discussion about why certain scents (e.g., roses, musk) are chosen for perfumes over familiar, beloved but un-perfume-like scents (e.g., "milky baby", "coffee") ([07:17], B).

3. How Scents Affect Us Chemically and Neurologically

• The direct route of scent to the brain:
  • The olfactory nerve offers "a very short route into the brain"—meaning fragrances can directly influence mood, cognition, and wellbeing ([08:34], A).
  • Enjoyment of fragrance is about how it "triggers certain pathways in our brain" ([08:03], A).

4. Health Risks: What the Evidence Actually Says

• Acute Reactions:

  • Many people report symptoms (migraines, headaches, vague feeling) when around strong fragrances, particularly synthetic ones ([09:26], B).
  • Hosts note: "if you get a migraine from a certain type of perfume, then who's a mere doctor to say you're not?" ([09:26], A).

• Respiratory Effects:

  • Majority of studies focus on people with occupational exposure (e.g., industrial cleaners), finding "reduced functionality of their lungs" from frequent exposure to concentrated fragrances ([10:13], A).
  • For everyday, casual users: "you shouldn't be worried at all" ([14:28], A).

• Potential Carcinogenicity:

  • Volatile organic compounds in both natural and synthetic fragrances theoretically could be carcinogenic, but "there's not convincing evidence... particularly in the doses that most of us experience them" ([11:12], A).

• Allergies and Asthma:

  • "Allergies can certainly be a problem... particularly if you're spraying it on your skin," with some also reporting asthma attacks ([11:26], A).
  • For those affected: "avoid that fragrance" ([14:28], A).

• Endocrine Disruptors and Debates:

  • Chemicals like phthalates are sometimes suspected as carcinogens or endocrine disruptors: "when you use the term endocrine disruptor, it usually means guns at 10 paces..." ([12:40], A).
  • The evidence is controversial and not conclusive.

• No Real Difference Between Synthetic and Natural:

  • The volatility of a compound—not whether it is synthetic or natural—is what matters most for potential biological effect ([12:20], B).
  • The synthetic fragrance industry can recreate natural scents, but "because it's synthetic, does it mean it's more dangerous? Maybe, maybe not. Nobody really understands that" ([13:22], A).

5. Positive or Therapeutic Effects of Scents

• **Some fragrances (such as lavender) do show "some evidence" for beneficial effects—like enhanced sleep ([13:56], A).

6. Guidance and Practical Advice

• "Casual use of fragrances, you shouldn't be worried at all" ([14:28], A).
• If a specific fragrance causes you real symptoms (headaches, allergies), avoid it. ([14:28], A).
• "If you think something is causing you harm and there's no harm in removing it, then just avoid it." ([15:35], A) —a restatement of the precautionary principle.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I get a bit nervous about them. So I share Holly's concern... This episode... is also a journey of discovery for me too. Am I right? Am I wrong? Should I be concerned? Have I missed out on romantic weekends because I don't like scented candles? Bow to find out." – A ([03:53])
• "I don't like floral or citrusy perfumes. So it was kind of male biased... tend to be a bit musky." – A ([06:07])
• "The enjoyment of a scent is about what happens in your brain. The fragrance is getting into our brain and triggering certain pathways." – A ([08:03])
• "There's not convincing evidence that even though in theory [fragrances] could be carcinogenic, that they do indeed cause cancer, particularly in the doses that most of us experience them." – A ([11:21])
• "If you find you get a headache to a particular fragrance, then that is real, it's not imaginary. And you should avoid that fragrance." – A ([14:28])
• "You can't have it both ways and say there's no effect when some of these scents do have an effect." – A ([14:06])
• "If you think something is causing you harm and there's no harm in removing it, then just avoid it." – A ([15:35])

Important Timestamps

• [01:51] Listener Holly's question: should we be worried about fragrances in household and beauty products?
• [03:53] Hosts' personal habits and skepticism around fragrances.
• [06:41] History and etymology of "perfume" and ancient perfumery.
• [08:34] How scent works neurologically.
• [09:26] Health effects: migraines, headaches, and individual sensitivities.
• [10:13] Respiratory risks for industrial/occupational exposure.
• [11:21] Cancer and allergy risks for the general population.
• [12:40] Synthetic vs. natural fragrance debate.
• [13:56] Evidence of therapeutic/positive effects (e.g., lavender for sleep).
• [14:28] Final evidence-based guidance for listeners.
• [15:35] Practical advice: apply precautionary principle.

Final Takeaways

• Fragrances are generally safe for most people at ordinary levels, with a few caveats:
  • Occupational and industrial exposures are where clear risks emerge, especially for lung health.
  • Some individuals experience real, acute reactions; their experiences are valid, even if they can't be generalized to the whole population.
  • Carcinogenic risk for the general public is unproven and not supported by convincing evidence.
  • Both synthetic and natural fragrances can potentially have effects, positive or negative.
• If a fragrance bothers you or causes symptoms, it's wise to avoid it.
• There's no need for alarm about everyday exposure unless you notice individual sensitivities.

For further questions, listeners are encouraged to write in. The hosts also humorously address listeners’ feedback on unrelated health topics after the main segment, but the central conclusion is clear: enjoy your scents, but trust your own experience and make choices accordingly.