Traveling by airplane can be more comfortable with a few luxuries, such as a cozy blanket or delicious snacks. (Here’s why applying sunscreen before flying on an airplane is important.) Any small comforts or strategies to reduce anxiety while flying can help. However, avoid the urge to apply or spray fragranced items. The scents you enjoy might cause discomfort — or even pose a risk — to other passengers.
The reality is, while you may have reserved about 17 to 18 inches of seat space, the cabin airspace is shared by everyone. Once the door is closed, all the aromas in a plane mix together. Although you might adore your favorite vanilla musk perfume or cinnamon apple hand lotion, those around you might not share the same sentiment.
Adeodata Czink, an expert in social manners, candidly described the issue with treating an airplane as your personal space and using fragrances liberally. Czink stated in a Seattle Times article, “It bothers the people seated around you, and they can’t leave the plane.”
How your perfume can be dangerous to your co-passengers
Czink’s use of the term “bothers” might be an understatement in some scenarios. For certain individuals, scents can lead to health issues. How severe can your impact be on someone else while traveling to the same destination? It depends on whether the person affected by your fragrance has a sensitivity (similar to an intolerance) or an allergy.
A fragrance sensitivity often results in less severe (but bothersome and unpleasant) symptoms like a stuffy nose or mild headache. (There are several reasons specific smells cause headaches, including underlying medical conditions.) In contrast, a clinical fragrance allergy triggers different reactions. When allergic to a substance (like a fragrance), your entire system goes into defense mode. Consequently, allergies can provoke life-threatening reactions, such as anaphylaxis.
According to a 2019 study in Air Quality, Atmosphere and Health, 34.7% of people in the United States report being sensitive to fragrances. Their self-reported effects ranged from migraines and sneezing to severe respiratory issues; 9.5% of those with sensitivities described their symptoms as “disabling.”
Becoming a fragrance-free flyer
Fortunately, not everyone with a fragrance allergy experiences reactions requiring immediate medical attention. However, since you cannot predict if those around you will be affected by your musky body mist or lemony cuticle balm, consider being extra cautious and considerate on your next trip.
A 2017 review in Allergologie Select notes that over 2,500 scents are used in various consumer cosmetic products. Therefore, there’s a genuine risk that your perfume (or other scented item) might contain a fragrance that could make travel hazardous for another passenger.
You might even consider a discreet personal “sniff test” before flying, as many cosmetic and personal products (beyond perfumes and colognes) are fragranced. For example, a 2020 article in Dermatitis lists fragranced household and beauty products, along with the typical concentration percentage of fragrance in each. For instance, deodorants usually contain up to 3%, scented creams up to 4%, and regular perfume between 15% and 30%. However, when combined with aromatic soaps, shampoos, detergents, conditioners, and cleansers, you might be creating more of a scented impact at 30,000 feet than expected.
