Why You Should Avoid Air Fresheners & Artificial Scents

The Truth About “Clean” Scents

Here’s what you need to know: Clean does not have a smell.
Clean is the ABSENCE of smell.

The fragrance industry has spent decades conditioning you to associate certain scents with cleanliness. This is brilliant marketing, but it’s not biology.

If something smells “clean,” it means chemicals have been added. You’re smelling those chemicals—not actual cleanliness.

Woman opening window to let fresh air into home - avoiding air fresheners for clean indoor air quality

Why Your Body Cares About Artificial Fragrances

In functional medicine, we focus on reducing unnecessary chemical exposures so your body’s detoxification systems can work optimally.

When you inhale synthetic fragrances:

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) enter your respiratory system
  • These compounds are absorbed into your bloodstream through your lungs
  • Your liver must process them through Phase I and Phase II detoxification pathways
  • This requires enzymatic activity and nutrient cofactors

The key question: Why add this processing burden when it serves no health purpose and can be easily avoided?

The Simple Rule to Follow

If something has a smell and it is NOT:

  • A whole food
  • A real flower or plant
  • Unprocessed natural materials

Then it contains volatile chemical compounds your body must process.

Where You’re Being Exposed (More Than You Think)

Shelf of scented cleaning products and air fresheners containing hidden VOCs and toxic fragrances

You might think air fresheners are the only concern, but artificial fragrances are hiding in products throughout your home:

Indoor air products:

  • Plug-in air fresheners
  • Spray air fresheners and “odour eliminators”
  • Scented candles (yes, even “natural” or soy ones)
  • Reed diffusers with synthetic fragrance
  • Car air fresheners

Cleaning products:

  • Scented all-purpose cleaners
  • Scented dish soaps and dishwasher detergents
  • Fabric softeners and dryer sheets
  • Scented laundry detergents
  • Perfumed toilet sprays and bathroom cleaners
  • Any product labeled “fresh,” “clean,” or “spring breeze”

Personal care products:

  • Perfumes and colognes
  • Aftershave and body sprays
  • Scented soaps and body washes
  • Shower gels
  • Scented shampoos and conditioners
  • Scented body lotions and creams
  • Scented deodorants and antiperspirants
  • Hair styling products with fragrance
  • Scented sunscreens
  • Makeup with added fragrance
  • Nail polish and nail polish remover
  • Scented hand sanitizers
  • Scented wet wipes and baby products

Important warning: Products labeled “natural,” “plant-based,” “eco-friendly,” or even “non-toxic” often still contain fragrance compounds—unless they specifically say “fragrance-free” or “unscented.”

Here’s what most people don’t realize: When you use fragranced personal care products, the VOCs don’t just stay on your skin—they continuously volatilize into the air around you for hours, affecting both you and everyone nearby.¹

What the Science Actually Shows

Abstract molecular structure representing volatile organic compounds VOCs in artificial fragrances and air fresheners

The hidden chemicals in your “fragrance”:

1. You have no idea what’s really in there

  • That single word “fragrance” on your product label can represent mixtures of dozens to hundreds of undisclosed chemicals²
  • Common compounds include phthalates, synthetic musks, aldehydes, and petrochemical derivatives
  • Fragrance formulations are protected as trade secrets, so companies aren’t required to tell you what’s in them³
  • An estimated 3,000-4,000 different chemicals are used in fragrance formulations⁴

2. These products release VOCs into your home

  • Air fresheners and scented products continuously emit VOCs into your indoor air⁵
  • One study analyzed 37 fragranced consumer products and found 156 different VOCs—42 of which are classified as toxic or hazardous⁶
  • The most common VOCs were limonene, alpha-pinene, and beta-pinene (terpenes)⁶
  • Plot twist: “Green” and “organic” fragranced products emit similar levels of hazardous air pollutants as regular products⁶
  • Another study of 134 consumer products found 559 VOCs emitted collectively⁷

3. They create harmful secondary pollutants in your home

  • Those terpenes in fragrances react with the ozone in your indoor air to generate secondary pollutants including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and ultrafine particles⁸⁻⁹
  • These secondary pollutants can actually be more harmful than the primary emissions
  • Your indoor ozone levels (20-70% of outdoor levels) are sufficient to trigger these reactions¹⁰

4. Real health problems documented in scientific studies

Here’s what peer-reviewed research has documented:

  • Your lungs and airways: Fragrance exposure can trigger asthma symptoms and airway inflammation¹¹⁻¹²
    • 36.7% of asthmatics report health problems specifically from air fresheners and deodorizers¹³
  • Your hormones: Phthalates (extremely common in fragrances) interfere with your hormone function¹⁴⁻¹⁵
    • Associated with reproductive health issues, early puberty, obesity, and diabetes¹⁶
  • Your brain: VOCs can cause headaches, dizziness, and cognitive impairment¹⁷
    • 12.6% of the population reports migraine headaches triggered by fragranced products¹⁸
  • Your skin: Fragrance compounds are a leading cause of contact dermatitis¹⁹

5. You’re not alone—this affects millions

Large international studies show just how common fragrance sensitivity really is:¹⁸

  • 32.2% of adults across the US, Australia, UK, and Sweden report adverse health effects from fragranced products
  • 17.4% report health problems specifically from air fresheners and deodorizers
  • 15.7% get sick from being in a room that was cleaned with fragranced products
  • 9.5% experience health effects severe enough to be considered disabling
  • 9.0% have lost workdays or even lost a job due to fragranced product exposure at work

The most commonly reported symptoms:¹⁸⁻²⁰

  • Respiratory difficulties (16.7%)
  • Mucosal symptoms—runny nose, watery eyes (13.2%)
  • Migraine headaches (12.6%)
  • Skin rashes (9.1%)
  • Asthma attacks (7.0%)
  • Dizziness, nausea, and fatigue

6. Some people are especially vulnerable

If you’re in any of these categories, you’re at higher risk:

  • Have asthma or respiratory conditions (36.7% report health problems from fragranced products)¹³
  • Are on the autism spectrum²¹
  • Have chemical sensitivities (12.8% of the population)²²
  • Have autoimmune conditions
  • Have chronic inflammatory conditions
  • Are pregnant or trying to conceive
  • Have young children

7. Companies don’t have to tell you what’s in there

  • Fewer than 10% of volatile ingredients are disclosed on product labels or safety data sheets²³
  • “Fragrance” is legally exempted from full ingredient disclosure—even though it typically contains dozens to hundreds of chemicals
  • This makes it impossible for you to make truly informed choices about what you’re bringing into your home

“Secondhand Scent” Is Real—And It’s Affecting People Around You

Gym locker room where artificial air fresheners create secondhand scent exposure during exercise and heavy breathing

Just like secondhand smoke, the fragrances you wear affect everyone around you.²⁴

Here’s how it works:

  • Fragrance chemicals from your personal care products continue to volatilize into the air for hours after you apply them
  • Research shows fragranced laundry products even emit VOCs from dryer vents that contribute to outdoor air pollution²⁵
  • When you wear fragranced products in enclosed spaces (gyms, offices, airplanes, waiting rooms), you’re creating continuous VOC exposure for everyone present

This particularly affects:

  • People with asthma (36.7% report health problems from others’ fragranced products)
  • Those with chemical sensitivities
  • Pregnant women and children
  • Anyone in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces

The real-world impact:¹⁸

  • 20.2% of people will leave a business as quickly as possible when they smell fragranced products
  • 15.1% have lost workdays or a job due to fragranced product exposure in their workplace
  • Over 50% of people actually prefer fragrance-free workplaces, healthcare facilities, hotels, and airplanes

This is why more and more workplaces, gyms, healthcare facilities, and public spaces are adopting fragrance-free policies—it’s not about restricting personal choice, it’s about protecting collective health.

Where You’re Encountering Artificial Scents in Public Spaces

Public bathroom with automatic air freshener dispensers creating fragrance exposure in enclosed spaces

You’ve probably walked into these places and immediately been hit with that overwhelming “scent”:

Common places using air fresheners and artificial scents:

  • Gyms and fitness studios: Automatic spray dispensers in locker rooms and bathrooms (ironically, the worst place when you’re breathing heavily during exercise)
  • Public toilets: Plug-ins, automatic sprays, urinal cakes, and toilet bowl rim blocks
  • Retail stores: Especially clothing stores, home goods stores, and department stores that pump signature scents
  • Pet shops and veterinary clinics: Heavy use of air fresheners to mask animal odors
  • Supermarkets and grocery stores: Particularly in restrooms and sometimes near entrance areas
  • Shopping malls: Both in common areas and individual stores
  • Hotels and Airbnbs: Lobby areas, hallways, and individual rooms
  • Waiting rooms: Doctor’s offices, dentists, salons, spas
  • Offices and coworking spaces: Especially in bathrooms and conference rooms
  • Restaurants and cafes: Restrooms and sometimes dining areas
  • Car dealerships and auto repair shops: Used to create that “new car smell” or mask chemical odors
  • Real estate open houses: Agents often use scented plugins or bake cookies to create a “homey” atmosphere
  • Taxis, Ubers, and rental cars: Hanging air fresheners and vent clips
  • Airplanes: Cabin sprays and scented amenities
  • Movie theaters: Both in the theater and restrooms

Why businesses use them (they usually mean well): Most business owners use air fresheners because they genuinely believe:

  • It makes their space more welcoming
  • It signals “cleanliness” to customers
  • It masks odors from bathrooms, trash, or other sources
  • Everyone expects and appreciates a “fresh” smell

They typically have no idea about the health impacts or that a significant percentage of their customers are actually being driven away by these products.

How to Advocate for Fragrance-Free Spaces: What to Say

Woman respectfully speaking to business manager about removing air fresheners and creating fragrance-free environment

You have the power to create change—here’s how to do it respectfully:

Option 1: Speak to staff or management in person

“Hi, I wanted to let you know that I really appreciate [this business/gym/store], but the air fresheners you use trigger my asthma/migraines/respiratory issues. About one-third of people experience health problems from fragranced products—it’s actually quite common. Would you be open to switching to fragrance-free cleaning products and removing the air fresheners? True cleanliness doesn’t actually have a smell. I’d love to continue supporting your business, and I know many others would appreciate this change too.”

Option 2: Leave a review or comment card

“Love this [gym/store/restaurant], but I have to mention that the artificial air fresheners make it difficult for me to stay. Research shows that 32% of people experience adverse health effects from fragranced products. Consider going fragrance-free—it would make your space accessible to more people and is actually healthier for everyone. Happy to share some resources if helpful!”

Option 3: Email to management

“Subject: Request for Fragrance-Free Environment

Dear [Business Name],

I’m a customer who values your [gym/store/service], but I wanted to bring something important to your attention. The air fresheners and scented cleaning products used in your facility trigger health issues for me and many others.

According to peer-reviewed scientific research:

  • 32.2% of adults report adverse health effects from fragranced products
  • 17.4% specifically experience problems from air fresheners
  • Over 50% of people actually prefer fragrance-free environments

The good news: truly clean spaces don’t need fragrance at all. Clean has no smell. By switching to fragrance-free cleaning products and removing air fresheners, you’d actually:

  • Make your space more accessible to customers with asthma, allergies, and sensitivities
  • Reduce chemical exposure for everyone, including your staff
  • Maintain genuine cleanliness through proper ventilation and source removal

I’d be happy to share resources about effective fragrance-free alternatives if that would be helpful. Many businesses, gyms, and healthcare facilities are making this change and finding that customers really appreciate it.

Thank you for considering this request. I look forward to continuing to support your business.

Best regards, [Your name]“

Option 4: For healthcare facilities specifically

“As a patient, I wanted to bring to your attention that the air fresheners used in your facility can trigger health issues for vulnerable populations. Many healthcare facilities are implementing fragrance-free policies specifically because patients with respiratory conditions, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and pregnant women are particularly sensitive to these chemicals. I can provide research studies if helpful. Would you be open to discussing this with your administration?”

Key principles when advocating: ✓ Be respectful and assume good intentions ✓ Frame it as a health and accessibility issue, not just personal preference ✓ Provide the statistics—they’re powerful ✓ Offer to help with solutions or resources ✓ Emphasize that this benefits their staff too ✓ If possible, mention that other customers likely share this concern ✓ Thank them for considering it

Follow up with action:

  • If they make the change, thank them publicly (reviews, social media)
  • If they decline, vote with your wallet when possible
  • Share your experience with others who might want to advocate
  • Consider reaching out to corporate offices for chain establishments

Remember: Most business owners have simply never thought about this. Your voice—backed by science—can create real change that helps not just you, but everyone who uses that space.

? Download My Free Business Education Handout

Want to help create fragrance-free spaces in your community?

I’ve created a simple, one-page guide you can print and hand to business owners at gyms, restaurants, pet shops, and other public spaces. It includes:

✓ Key statistics and facts
✓ Simple solutions they can implement
✓ 4-week transition plan
✓ Common myths debunked

Available in English and Greek!

? Download English Version (PDF) | ? Κατέβασε την Ελληνική Έκδοση (PDF)

Feel free to print and share this handout with any business you’d like to see go fragrance-free.

How You’ve Been Tricked: “Clean” Doesn’t Smell Like Anything

Natural lemon and cleaning supplies showing real clean has no artificial lemon scent or fragrance

The fragrance industry has successfully trained you to believe:

  • Lemon scent = your kitchen is clean
  • Lavender scent = your bathroom is fresh
  • “Spring breeze” = your clothes are properly washed
  • Pine scent = your floors are disinfected

But here’s the truth:

What you’re actually smelling:

  • Synthetic aroma chemicals
  • VOCs being released into your air
  • Compounds your respiratory system is encountering and your body must process

What actual cleanliness is:

  • No odour at all
  • The result of actually removing contaminants
  • Surfaces that are neutral
  • Air that is just… air

How Your Body Has to Process These Chemicals

When you breathe in fragrance chemicals, here’s what happens inside your body:

  1. Inhalation: VOCs enter through your respiratory tract
  2. Absorption: Fat-soluble compounds cross from your lungs into your bloodstream
  3. Distribution: These chemicals circulate throughout your entire body
  4. Metabolism: Your liver must process them through:
    • Phase I reactions (using cytochrome P450 enzymes)
    • Phase II conjugation (requiring glutathione, sulfur, glycine, and other nutrients)
  5. Elimination: Your body works to excrete them via your kidneys, lungs, skin, and digestive tract

The functional medicine perspective:

  • Is this exposure necessary for your health? No.
  • Does it serve any biological purpose? No.
  • Could your body’s resources be better spent elsewhere? Absolutely.

Artificial scents serve no biological purpose while requiring your body to actively process and eliminate them.

What Real Clean Actually Smells Like

Clean air has no odour.

When a space is truly clean:

  • The air is neutral
  • There’s no detectable scent
  • You smell… absolutely nothing

If you walk into a room and smell “fresh linen,” “ocean breeze,” or “citrus burst”…

…you’re not smelling cleanliness. You’re smelling chemical compounds that have been dispersed into the air.

What to Use Instead: Simple, Effective, and Truly Clean

Baking soda in glass jar - natural odor absorber alternative to toxic air fresheners and artificial scents

Here’s how to create genuinely clean air without adding volatile compounds:

✓ Prioritize ventilation

  • Open your windows regularly
  • Create cross-ventilation when possible
  • Use mechanical ventilation systems
  • Add HEPA filtration if needed

✓ Remove the source instead of masking it

  • Identify and address what’s actually causing odours
  • Remove organic matter, mold, and bacteria
  • Fix any moisture problems
  • Take out your trash regularly

✓ Use natural odour absorbers

  • Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)—neutralizes odours chemically
  • Activated charcoal—its porous structure physically traps odour molecules
  • Zeolite minerals

✓ Clean with simple, effective products

  • White vinegar (acetic acid)—evaporates completely, leaving nothing behind
  • Castile soap (saponified oils)
  • Hydrogen peroxide—breaks down into just water and oxygen
  • Hot water and microfiber cloths

✓ Add real plants

  • Real potted plants
  • Fresh flowers (unsprayed, organic when possible)

What About Essential Oils? Here’s the Nuanced Truth

Essential oil bottles used therapeutically and sparingly - not as continuous air fresheners or room scents

Essential oils are not inherently harmful, but they are chemically active substances and should be treated with respect.

Here’s what you need to understand:²⁶

Essential oils are also volatile organic compounds. While they’re derived from plants rather than synthesized in a lab, they:

  • Are highly concentrated chemical mixtures
  • Emit VOCs into your air when diffused
  • Require your body to process them through the same detoxification pathways
  • Can trigger allergic reactions and respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals
  • Have documented effects on hormone receptors when used at high concentrations or chronically²⁷
  • Can be problematic for pets, infants, and pregnant women
  • Studies show that even essential oils emit measurable levels of VOCs including formaldehyde²⁶

Our functional medicine perspective on essential oils:

✓ Essential oils can have legitimate therapeutic applications when used:

  • Intentionally (for a specific purpose)
  • Briefly (not continuously)
  • At appropriate dilutions
  • By people without contraindications

✗ Essential oils should NOT be used:

  • As continuous air fresheners or “room scents”
  • By pregnant women (many oils are contraindicated)
  • Around infants and young children
  • Around pets (especially cats, who lack certain liver enzymes)
  • If you have asthma, allergies, or chemical sensitivities without medical guidance
  • Just because they’re “natural”

The key distinction: Using a drop of lavender oil for occasional targeted use is very different from continuously diffusing oils throughout your home for hours every day. The dose, duration, and purpose matter enormously.

Remember: “Natural” does not automatically mean “safe” or “burden-free” for your detoxification systems. Even natural compounds can create processing load when you’re exposed continuously.

If you can smell something constantly, you’re inhaling volatile compounds constantly—whether they’re synthetic or natural.

How to Actually Solve Odour Problems (Not Just Cover Them Up)

Natural home ventilation through open windows removing odors without air fresheners or artificial fragrances

Here’s the truth: Odours are telling you something needs to be addressed.

What You SmellWhat Actually Needs to HappenWhy Masking Doesn’t Work
Food smellsVentilate immediately; remove the sourceFragrance doesn’t eliminate food particles in your air
Musty smellFind your moisture or mold source; remediate itYou’re covering up a problem that’s actively harming your health
Bathroom odoursImprove ventilation; clean thoroughlyThe bacterial and organic matter causing the smell is still there
Pet odoursWash bedding and fabrics; use enzymatic cleanersFragrance doesn’t break down the organic compounds causing the smell
Gym/body odourImprove air circulation; clean surfaces regularlyThe bacterial growth continues regardless of added scent

Masking is not eliminating.

When you cover an odour with fragrance, you’re now breathing in:

  1. The original odour compounds
  2. PLUS all the added fragrance chemicals

You’ve doubled your exposure, not solved the problem.

The Best Approach: Go Fragrance-Free

To support your health and minimize unnecessary chemical exposures:

✓ Maintain fragrance-free indoor spaces

  • No air fresheners
  • No scented cleaning products
  • No scented diffusers

✓ Avoid wearing:

  • Perfumes and colognes
  • Scented body sprays and aftershaves
  • Heavily scented personal care products (lotions, deodorants, hair products)

✓ Use only fragrance-free cleaning products

✓ Prioritize ventilation and source removal over masking odours

✓ Recognize that clean has no smell

Why this matters (in a health and fitness environment):

  • When you exercise, your breathing rate increases—meaning you inhale more VOCs more deeply
  • Enclosed spaces concentrate chemical exposures
  • Many of our members have asthma or respiratory conditions that are aggravated by fragrances
  • Sweat can actually reactivate fragranced products you applied earlier in the day
  • We serve vulnerable populations including pregnant women and children

What I recommend you use instead:

  • Unscented or fragrance-free deodorants
  • Fragrance-free body wash and shampoo
  • Fragrance-free laundry detergent (and skip the fabric softener entirely)
  • Leave the cologne and perfume at home on workout days

The environment this creates:

  • Reduces chemical burden for everyone
  • Accommodates those with sensitivities and respiratory conditions
  • Provides truly clean, neutral air
  • Allows everyone to focus on their health and performance goals

The Bottom Line: What You Need to Remember

Indoor houseplants naturally improving air quality without artificial air fresheners or synthetic fragrances
  1. Clean does not have a smell—clean is the complete absence of smell
  2. Fragrance products emit VOCs that contribute to indoor air pollution in your home
  3. One-third of the population experiences adverse effects from fragranced products—you might be one of them
  4. Chemicals in fragrances (especially phthalates and synthetic musks) have documented health concerns
  5. Masking odours doesn’t solve the underlying problem—it just adds more chemical exposure
  6. Simple, effective alternatives exist for maintaining true cleanliness without any chemical additives
  7. “Secondhand scent” is real—what you wear affects everyone around you in shared spaces
  8. Most people actually prefer fragrance-free environments when given the choice
  9. You can advocate for change in public spaces—business owners often just haven’t thought about this
  10. Your voice matters—backed by science, you can help create healthier environments for everyone

One Simple Principle to Guide Your Choices

If it has a smell, it’s in the air you’re breathing—and your body has to process it.
Truly clean air smells like nothing at all.

References
  1. Steinemann AC, Gallagher LG, Davis AL, MacGregor IC. (2013). Chemical emissions from residential dryer vents during use of fragranced laundry products. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 6(1):151-156.
  2. Steinemann AC, MacGregor IC, Gordon SM, Gallagher LG, Davis AL, Ribeiro DS, Wallace LA. (2011). Fragranced consumer products: Chemicals emitted, ingredients unlisted. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 31(3):328-333.
  3. Lunny S, Nelson R, Steinemann A. (2017). Something in the air but not on the label: A call for increased regulatory ingredient disclosure for fragranced consumer products. University of New South Wales Law Journal, 40(4):1366-1391.
  4. International Fragrance Association (IFRA). (2020). IFRA Transparency List. Available at: https://ifrafragrance.org/initiatives/transparency
  5. Nazaroff WW, Weschler CJ. (2004). Cleaning products and air fresheners: Exposure to primary and secondary air pollutants. Atmospheric Environment, 38(18):2841-2865.
  6. Steinemann A. (2015). Volatile emissions from common consumer products. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 8(3):273-281.
  7. Nematollahi N, Kolev S, Steinemann A. (2019). Volatile chemical emissions from 134 common consumer products. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 12(11):1259-1265.
  8. Singer BC, Destaillats H, Hodgson AT, Nazaroff WN. (2006). Cleaning products and air fresheners: Emissions and resulting concentrations of glycol ethers and terpenoids. Indoor Air, 16(3):179-191.
  9. Singer BC, Coleman BK, Destaillats H, Hodgson AT, Lunden MM, Weschler CJ, Nazaroff WW. (2006). Indoor secondary pollutants from cleaning product and air freshener use in the presence of ozone. Atmospheric Environment, 40(35):6696-6710.
  10. Weschler CJ. (2000). Ozone in indoor environments: Concentration and chemistry. Indoor Air, 10(4):269-288.
  11. Kim S, Hong SH, Bong CK, Cho MH. (2015). Characterization of air freshener emission: The potential health effects. Journal of Toxicological Sciences, 40(5):535-550.
  12. Steinemann A, Wheeler AJ, Larcombe A. (2018). Fragranced consumer products: Effects on asthmatic Australians. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 11(4):365-371.
  13. Steinemann A, Goodman N. (2019). Fragranced consumer products and effects on asthmatics: An international population-based study. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 12(6):643-649.
  14. Wang Y, Qian H. (2021). Phthalates and their impacts on human health. Healthcare, 9(5):603.
  15. Dodson RE, Nishioka M, Standley LJ, Perovich LJ, Brody JG, Rudel RA. (2012). Endocrine disruptors and asthma-associated chemicals in consumer products. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120(7):935-943.
  16. Benjamin S, Masai E, Kamimura N, Takahashi K, Anderson RC, Faisal PA. (2017). Phthalates impact human health: Epidemiological evidences and plausible mechanism of action. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 340:360-383.
  17. Caress SM, Steinemann AC. (2009). Prevalence of fragrance sensitivity in the American population. Journal of Environmental Health, 71(7):46-50.
  18. Steinemann A. (2019). International prevalence of fragrance sensitivity. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 12(8):891-897.
  19. Johansen JD. (2003). Fragrance contact allergy: A clinical review. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 4(11):789-798.
  20. Steinemann A. (2016). Fragranced consumer products: Exposures and effects from emissions. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 9(8):861-866.
  21. Steinemann A. (2018). Fragranced consumer products: Effects on autistic adults in the United States, Australia, and United Kingdom. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 11(10):1199-1203.
  22. Steinemann A. (2019). International prevalence of chemical sensitivity, co-prevalences with asthma and autism, and effects from fragranced consumer products. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 12(5):519-527.
  23. Steinemann A, Nematollahi N, Rismanchi B, Goodman N, Kolev SD. (2021). Pandemic products and volatile chemical emissions. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 14(1):47-53.
  24. Steinemann A. (2021). The fragranced products phenomenon: Air quality and health, science and policy. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 14(2):235-243.
  25. Goodman NB, Wheeler AJ, Paevere PJ, Agosti G, Nematollahi N, Steinemann A. (2019). Emissions from dryer vents during use of fragranced and fragrance-free laundry products. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 12(3):289-295.
  26. Nematollahi N, Kolev SD, Steinemann A. (2018). Volatile chemical emissions from essential oils. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 11(8):949-954.
  27. Ramsey JT, Shropshire BC, Nagy TR, Chambers KD, Li Y, Korach KS. (2020). Essential oils and health. Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine, 93(2):291-305.

Additional Supporting References:

  1. Goodman N, Nematollahi N, Agosti G, Steinemann A. (2020). Evaluating air quality with and without air fresheners. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 13(1):1-4.
  2. Uhde E, Schulz N. (2015). Impact of room fragrance products on indoor air quality. Atmospheric Environment, 106:492-502.
  3. Nematollahi N, Doronila A, Mornane P, Duan A, Kolev SD, Steinemann A. (2018). Volatile chemical emissions from fragranced baby products. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 11(7):785-790.