We wash our clothes, sheets, towels, and our home to keep them clean. Yet, these everyday actions can also expose us to substances we may not have necessarily chosen to breathe.
Scented laundry detergent, fabric softener, dryer sheets, household cleaners, air fresheners, and plug-ins: fragrances are everywhere in our homes.
And contrary to what you might think, their presence does not end when the cleaning or laundry is finished.
Why pay particular attention to laundry?
Because laundry accompanies us practically 24 hours a day.
Our clothes are directly against our skin during the day. At night, our face rests on a pillowcase, and we breathe in close proximity to sheets and blankets for several hours.
Scented laundry products include detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets. Researchers have looked into this exposure and shown that detergents can be a source of exposure to various fragrance allergens.
This makes it a particularly logical place to start when you want to reduce synthetic fragrances in your daily life.
"It smells clean" does not necessarily mean "it is clean"
We have learned to associate certain smells with cleanliness: the scent of freshly washed laundry, that of a room that has just been cleaned, or the lingering smell of fabric softener.
Yet, a smell is not an indicator of cleanliness.
A fragrance is added to a product to give it a scent or to mask another. The American Lung Association reminds us that fragrances are present in a multitude of household products—detergents, dryer sheets, cleaners, and air fresheners, among others—and that they may contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can end up in the air we breathe.
In other words, it is entirely possible to have a clean home and clean laundry without scenting them.
And what about our lungs?
This is probably where the question becomes most interesting.
Cleaning products may contain volatile substances that pass into indoor air. Some VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and cause respiratory symptoms. The American Lung Association highlights that certain populations are particularly vulnerable, including young children, people who already have lung disease, and cleaning professionals.
Epidemiological research also supports this.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 39 studies on cleaning professionals found that this work was associated with an approximately 50% higher relative risk of asthma. However, the authors highlighted an important limitation: these studies cannot precisely identify which products or ingredients are responsible for this association.
This is an important distinction: we therefore cannot say that synthetic fragrances alone cause asthma.
We can, however, reasonably seek to reduce unnecessary exposures in the indoor environment.
Some people seem much more sensitive to scented products
A study conducted among a representative sample of 1,137 American adults found that people who reported having received a medical diagnosis of asthma or a related condition reported problems much more frequently when exposed to scented products.
Among them, 28.9% reported problems when exposed to emissions from scented laundry products coming from a dryer, and 42.3% after being in a room recently cleaned with scented products.
However, these figures must be interpreted correctly: this was a survey based on symptoms reported by participants. It shows an association, but does not prove that a particular fragrance is the cause.
This does, however, align with a reality well known to some people with asthma or sensitivities: a smell that seems pleasant and harmless to one person can become extremely uncomfortable for another.
The skin is also exposed
Fragrances are also an important family of contact allergens.
An analysis specifically examining household detergents concluded that they can be a relevant source of exposure to fragrance allergens.
And with laundry, this issue takes on a particular dimension: what we use to wash our clothes and bedding comes into repeated contact with our immediate environment.
Where to start?
If you had to start somewhere, cleaning and laundry would be a particularly simple and logical choice.
Choose a laundry detergent without synthetic fragrance. Avoid highly scented fabric softeners and scented dryer sheets. Then gradually look at the products we release directly into our environment: air fresheners, plug-ins, room sprays, and highly scented household products.
Reducing unnecessary synthetic fragrances in laundry and household products is therefore a simple step to lighten our indoor environment—particularly relevant when someone in the home is sensitive or has asthma.
What if I don't have asthma or an immediate reaction?
The absence of symptoms does not necessarily mean the absence of exposure.
We use some of these products day after day, sometimes for decades: to wash our clothes, bedding, and surfaces, and to scent our environment. We can therefore be repeatedly exposed to various volatile compounds present in or emitted by certain household products.
It is this concept of chronic exposure that deserves our attention.
Some household products can, among other things, emit VOCs. And obviously, not all VOCs have the same risk profile: some are relatively little concern at usual exposure levels, while others are recognized as harmful or even carcinogenic. A recent study analyzing 75 household products, for example, found benzene, a recognized carcinogen, in six spray products.
This does not mean that doing laundry or occasionally using a scented household product causes cancer. The presence of a hazardous substance and the actual health risk are two different things: dose, duration, and route of exposure matter.
But when an exposure is avoidable and repeated daily, wanting to reduce it may simply be a matter of the precautionary principle.
And the skin?
It also deserves a closer look.
Fragrances are among the well-recognized causes of allergic contact dermatitis. A major scientific review published in 2024 reminds us that many fragrance substances can sensitize the skin and that fragrance contact allergy is commonly reported worldwide.
Symptoms can take the form of itching, redness, dry or cracked skin, a burning sensation, and eczema. The American Academy of Dermatology also classifies fragrances among the common causes of contact dermatitis.
But with an important distinction: fragrances are recognized skin allergens, without claiming that all skin irritation comes from laundry detergent. A 2023 review concludes that allergic dermatitis specifically attributable to laundry detergents appears to be rather rare.
We do not need to wait for a product to cause us to react before asking whether we really need to be exposed to it every day.
Is scented laundry detergent bad for your health?
We cannot say that all scented laundry detergent is bad for your health. However, some products may contain or emit irritating or allergenic substances, and people with asthma or sensitivities may be more bothered.
Can fragrance cause eczema?
Fragrances are well-recognized contact allergens and can cause allergic contact dermatitis in sensitized people.
Is it better to use fragrance-free laundry detergent?
To reduce exposure to fragrance substances, especially in the presence of sensitive skin, allergies, or respiratory problems, choosing fragrance-free laundry detergent is a simple option.
Is fabric softener necessary?
No. Fabric softener is not necessary for cleaning laundry. It can therefore be skipped, especially when you want to reduce the fragrances you are exposed to.
Do scented household products pollute indoor air?
Some household products can release volatile organic compounds into indoor air. The nature and quantity of emissions vary considerably depending on the products and their use.
References
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Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatics — Steinemann, 2018
Study of 1,137 American adults. Among people with asthma, 28.9% reported problems associated with scented laundry products coming from a dryer vent, and 42.3% in a room recently cleaned with scented products. Important: self-reported symptoms, therefore association and not proof of causality.
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Fragranced consumer products: Chemicals emitted, ingredients unlisted — Steinemann et al., 2011
Analysis of 25 common scented products, including laundry detergents, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, household products, and air fresheners: 133 different VOCs detected, including 24 classified as toxic or hazardous under U.S. federal regulations. The study measures emissions, not the actual health risk at use levels.
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Fragrance allergens in household detergents — Wieck et al., 2018
Very relevant to our article: 1,447 products from 131 households were examined. The authors conclude that detergents can be a relevant source of exposure to fragrance allergens.
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Fragrance Contact Allergy – A Review Focusing on Patch Testing — Sukakul et al., 2024
An excellent recent reference for the skin, eczema, and allergic contact dermatitis section. The review reminds us that fragrances are among the frequently reported contact allergens and that more than 150 fragrance substances have demonstrated skin sensitization potential.
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Is Laundry Detergent a Common Cause of Allergic Contact Dermatitis? — Norman et al., 2023
This one is important for adding nuance to our statement: allergic contact reactions specifically attributable to laundry detergents appear to be relatively rare. It also examines the allergens that may be present in laundry detergents.
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Invisible Threats in Daily Life: Evaluating VOCs, Metals, and Hazards of Household Cleaning Products by Type — Kim et al., 2024
This is the one I would use to cautiously approach cancer. Researchers analyzed 75 household products and detected benzene—a recognized carcinogen—in six spray products. This demonstrates the possible presence of a carcinogenic substance in some analyzed products, not that the use of household products or fragrances causes cancer.
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Cleaning Products and Work-Related Asthma, 10 Year Update — Rosenman et al.
Another interesting piece of data on repeated exposure: among 9,667 confirmed cases of work-related asthma from five U.S. states, 1,199—or 12.4%—were associated with cleaning products. This obviously concerns occupational exposure, which is much greater than that in an ordinary home.
