Before shelling out for expensive perfume, have you ever wondered just what makes that sexy smell? Chances are that it's a cocktail of less-than-sexy petroleum-based chemicals, some of which can trigger asthma or cause cancer, birth defects and nervous system disorders.
Ninety-five per cent of some 5,000 chemicals used in fragrances are derived from petroleum and 80 per cent of these have not been tested for safety on humans, says Pat Thomas in her book, Cleaning Yourself to Death.
"Of the less than 20 per cent that have actually been tested for safety, most have been found to be toxic to humans," she says.
Some chemicals commonly found in perfume are on the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) "hazardous waste" list.
Smoking in workplaces is illegal. Could wearing perfume be next for the banned list?
Spraying yourself with Eternity or Poison is already forbidden in Nova Scotia, Canada, because perfumes are classed as "indoor pollutants".
An asthma attack can be triggered by any strong smelling chemical, such as perfume or air freshener, says Marian Minnock, a nurse with the Asthma Society of Ireland.
Some 470,000 people suffer from asthma in the Republic and Minnock advises them to avoid perfumed products. "People with asthma go into a room where something like Mr Sheen has been sprayed and it hits them immediately," she says.
According to the US Institute of Medicine, perfumes are as likely to trigger asthma attacks as second-hand cigarette smoke.
Just because a chemical smells pleasant doesn't mean it's risk-free.
EPA tests found that air in US department stores contained more chemicals than air in garages and the most abundant chemical in both workplaces was toluene.
Repeated exposure to toluene can damage bone marrow, the liver, the kidneys and a foetus.
Manufacturers assure us that perfumes are safe because they contain low concentrations of synthetic chemicals.
However, no research has been carried out on the long-term health effects of the mix of petro-chemical fragrances we're exposed to - in products from air fresheners, furniture polish and washing powder to shampoo, skin-care creams and deodorant.
A further problem is that testing carried out by producers usually focuses on allergic reactions of the skin rather than on the effects of inhalation.
It's difficult to discover perfume ingredients as manufacturers don't have to label their products comprehensively. Labelling laws allow cosmetic producers to use the blanket term "fragrance" so "trade secrets" are not revealed.
Women and children are most at risk from fragrances. Women have more fatty tissue where toxins can be absorbed (and passed on in breast milk) while children absorb more chemicals than an adult because they breathe faster and have thinner skin. Research by the UK-based Hyperactive Children's Support Group found 45 per cent of children had reactions to perfume.
In the US, fragrance sensitivity is a mounting concern as growing numbers are suffering from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).
Requests for people to be "fragrance-free" are appearing on invitations to social occasions, public meetings and conferences, but being scent-free is not always easy.
Products labelled unperfumed may contain synthetic fragrances to mask the unpleasant odour of other chemicals.
Asthma Society of Ireland: 1850-445464