I Finally Found Perfumes That Don’t Trigger My Headaches

FAQ

What actually happens in the brain when a scent causes a headache?

The sense of smell is wired directly to areas of the brain that control pain and arousal, so certain scents can trigger headaches in sensitive people. When strong scents irritate your nose, sinuses, and airways, they send signals to your brain that “may cause inflammation and pain,” Dr. Halen says. For particularly sensitive people, “the brain treats smells like a threat,” activating nerves in the head and face, causing changes in blood vessels and releasing chemicals associated with pain. From there, symptoms such as pressure, nausea, sensitivity to light, and dizziness may develop. Rule of thumb for those who are sensitive to scents: “The stronger and more artificial the scent, the more likely it is to cause a headache,” adds Dr. Halen.

Another reason for sudden changes in scent preferences is GLP-1 drugs. Scientists are still studying this link, but many people taking semaglutide report that their once favorite perfume suddenly smells too strong, too sweet, or even makes them feel nauseous. This means that scent preferences can vary dramatically from person to person.

When people say they want a “fresh” or “clean” scent, what are they actually looking for?

When people ask for a clean scent scent, they are usually describing a feeling rather than a specific scent. These fragrances tend to follow a few key scent directions without feeling too heavy, too sweet, or too perfumey. “The citrus gives a glow, the aldehydes create that freshness, almost soapy brightness, and the white musk and skin musk make the scent soft and close to the body,” says Trizzino. Light florals such as muguet, peony, freesia, neroli, and orange blossom complete the scent with watery florals, green notes, and sheer wood to keep the scent light.

“People seeking fresh scents often try to avoid anything too sweet, too syrupy, too smoky, too powdery, too sexy, or too loud,” says Trizzino. They want something that works for their daily lives (office, errands, travel, etc.) without feeling overdone. “They may not want heavy vanilla, deep amber, big patchouli, candied fruit, smoky woods, or intense white flowers,” she says.

meet an expert

• tobias halenM.D., board-certified psychiatrist, chief medical officer, and co-founder of Greenwich, CT-based NeuroSynchrony Health, Inc.
• Jenise TrizzinoVice President of Innovation and Products saint birdbased in New York City

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