Smells Like Danger     

Artificial fragrances can be found everywhere. They’re not healthy for anyone, but for some people, they’re literally toxic. One woman found that out the hard way

As told to Lori Holzman Schwartz

I go to the grocery store, but they’re out of salmon. I could groan with frustration. For someone else, this would be no big deal. Just drive to the other grocery story, three minutes away, and pick it up.

Dinner done.

But for me, it’s not that easy.

I have a severe allergy to artificial fragrances, and I never know how bad my reaction is going to be. Sometimes I’m triggered, but the reaction is just itchy skin, or lightheadedness, or dizziness, tingling, or flushing. Sometimes I have nausea, vomiting, and my blood pressure drops. Occasionally, I have a full-blown anaphylactic reaction, where my airways swell and I can’t breathe, which is why I’ve started walking around with an EpiPen in my purse.

I have a list of “safe stores,” ones I know don’t use fragrances to mask unpleasant odors, or make their store smell good. But now, my “safe store” is out of the salmon I said I’d make for a kimpeturin, and I need to get some.