For more information you can visit the Allergy and Chemical Sensitivity Week Website

Most fragrance ingredients are derived from petroleum. Some are known or probably carcinogens (substances that cause cancer), neurotoxins and/or known or suspected hormone disruptors. Many have not had adequate safety testing. Some people are allergic or sensitive to one or more fragrance ingredients. Some get symptoms when they use a product containing fragrance. Others also get symptoms when someone around them is wearing fragrance or when there is fragrance in a room from a cleaning product, "air freshener" or other source.

Fragrance is a common cause of asthma, rhinitis (hayfever), sinusitis, eczema, dermatitis, migraine and other types of headaches. It can also cause anaphylaxis (a potentially fatal allergic reaction), epileptic seizures, dizziness, fatigue, poor concentration, nausea and other symptoms. (These symptoms can have other causes - see your doctor for medical advice.)

Many fragrance-free products are available, but be careful to avoid products that are labelled "unscented" but include "masking fragrance" as an ingredient. Here is a one-page list of fragrance-free personal care products that are easy to find in Australia:

FRAGRANCE-FREE PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS
This is a short list of fragrance-free personal care products that are usually easy to find. They are available from supermarkets (sometimes in the health food section), harmacies, health food shops and online.

Always check the ingredients - some products claiming to be “unscented” have a “masking fragrance” added and this can cause symptoms.
Not all fragrance-free products are suitable for all people with MCS. Sometimes other ingredients - either synthetic or natural - cause symptoms. You can find out more about ingredients at www.cosmeticsdatabase.com. If you are looking for products to wear while around someone with MCS, it is best to ask them if particular products will be ok. Although natural, essential oils often cause symptoms so this list doesn’t include products that are strongly scented with essential oils. However, it does include a few products with a mild scent from essential oils as these all-natural products are the best choice for some people with MCS. “Mild natural scent” is noted in brackets for people who need to avoid this.

Shampoo and Conditioner

Herbon (mild natural scent) www.herbon.com.au health food shops
Simple www.simpleskincare.com.au pharmacies
Melrose fragrance-free www.melrosehealth.com.au health food shops
Akin Unscented www.purist.com health food shops, pharmacies, Priceline
Envirocare Sensitive Body and Hair Cleanser www.envirocareearth.com.au health food shops

Soaps

Herbon Botanic Soap www.herbon.com.au health food shops
Simple www.simpleskincare.com.au pharmacies
Melrose Organic Castile Liquid Soap - Original www.melrosehealth.com.au health food shops
Envirocare Sensitive Body and Hair Cleanser www.envirocareearth.com.au health food shops
Natural Selections Sorbolene Moisturising Bar Unscented www.pental.com.au supermarkets

Hand lotions and other skincare products

Simple products www.simpleskincare.com.au pharmacies
Akin Unscented www.purist.com health food shops, pharmacies, Priceline

Deodorant

Herbon (mild natural scent) www.herbon.com.au health food shops
QV Naked www.egopharm.com pharmacies, Priceline
Mum Hypo-Allergenic Unscented Roll On supermarkets, pharmacies
Mitchum Antiperspirant Roll On Unscented pharmacies, Coles supermarkets

Shaving
Clinique M Shave Aloe Gel, fragrance-free www.clinique.com.au pharmacies
QV Man Shave www.qvskincare.com.au pharmacies, Priceline

Sunscreen

Wotnot (mild natural scent) www.wotnot.com.au health food shops
Hamilton Sensitive SPF30+
Sunscreen Cream and Lotion www.hamiltonlabs.com.au pharmacies, Priceline

Laundry products

Planet Ark Aware Sensitive Skin www.awareenvironmental.com.au supermarkets
OMO Sensitive www.unilever.com.au supermarkets
Sodium bicarbonate can also be used to wash clothes.

Note: the use of a product name does not constitute a recommendation or endorsement by AESSRA Inc. January 2011
aessra
Allergy and Environmental Sensitivity Support and Research Association Inc.
Reg. No. AOOO6141S ABN 32 386 589 943
P.O. Box 298, Ringwood, Vic 3134, Australia Phone: 03 9888 1382 www.aessra.org