Writer Kate Grenville has published a book which investigates the prevalence of adverse reactions to fragrance. The Case Against Fragrance, published by Text Publishing Company, looks at the link between allergies, migraines and perfume.

“Problems caused by fragrance – headaches, breathing difficulties and skin rashes – are common enough that researchers have tried to put a number on them. The numbers are surprising,” writes Grenville in an extract published by The Pool.

“In 2004 1,000 people in the US were surveyed by random phone interview. Thirty-one percent reported adverse reactions to fragranced products… A survey in 2016 found that nearly 35 percent reported health problems such as respiratory difficulties and headaches when exposed to fragrance.”  

The extract also details a number of cases bought in the UK, US and Australia against employers after staff experienced breathing difficulties and debilitating headaches caused by their colleagues’ perfume.