I live with a complex illness called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), which forces me to isolate myself in order to prevent exposure to certain triggers that can cause allergic reactions and severe symptoms.
The presence of fragrance in every part of daily life has become a barrier that has forced me to change how I interact with the world outside my home. As a result, I have realized that current “shared air practices” are a problem for thousands of people. In fact, a study from the University of Melbourne found that across four counties almost 33% of adults self-reported some form of fragrance sensitivity—from mildly inconvenient to life-threatening. Similar statistics have been reported by the Environmental Sensitivity Coalition of Canada with about a third of the country’s population suggesting they have “negative health reactions to fragranced products”.
What is fragrance intolerance?
When someone experiences adverse reactions when exposed to fragrances, they may experience airway inflammation, vomiting, migraines, skin rashes, and/or concentration issues often referred to as brain fog, their condition is referred to as a fragrance intolerance. People with fragrance intolerances may avoid places like shopping malls, airports, community centers, theaters, and other public places with dense populations due to the risk of exposure.
A clean or fresh smell doesn’t guarantee something is actually clean or fresh. Fragrance can mask other harmful chemicals or mould, and can create false impressions that could affect everyone’s health, not just those who are allergic. In workplaces or stores for instance, fragrances may help some people relax, but they can also irritate airways, cause anaphylaxis or anaphylactoid for people like me, or trigger concentration issues, migraines, skin irritation, or contact dermatitis.
A modern canary
My unique lifestyle is not conventional and is quite jarring for people to experience and understand. I must wear masks and gloves in public to mitigate my reactions to fragrance, but they often don’t fully protect me. I also cannot allow people into my space who do not practice fragrance-free living. This is why I applied to the Telus/StoryHive grant program to have my voice heard and my story seen. The result, “Life in the Bubble,” a short documentary about how my world became quieter while my inner voice got louder and I was able to focus on my art for healing. Art actually saved my life when I had no one to talk to, no one to listen to what I was struggling with. Art never judges me and doesn’t push me for perfectionism. If anything, art helps me to be imperfect and strive to find joy in simplistic creations.
Starting small
Implementing fragrance-free practices can start with simple changes, like providing fragrance-free soap in bathrooms and removing hidden triggers like candles, sprays and scented items. Beyond product changes, we must listen to people with lived experience and, instead of growing angry or bitter, we must choose to pursue change, encourage compliance, and educate others. Change requires collective effort and benefits everyone by reducing indoor air pollution. Living with a chronic illness is isolating enough; exclusion makes it worse. Being a modern canary in the coal mine isn’t a choice, but I am committed to changing shared air practices.
Ari Moretz is the founder of Canary Air, a consulting company that helps people understand fragrance
intolerance and works to create breathable work environments that increase productivity and concentration. canaryair.org. Watch Life In The Bubble – YouTube.
Photo: iStock
