Fragrance sensitive travelers - a product warning

Wow, thanks for the warning. I too am sensitive to fragrances, so appreciate the "heads up."

Why does everything have to be scented?

The smell of nothing is perfectly fine.

Why does everything have to be scented?
The smell of nothing is perfectly fine.

With many products it may be easier to make it 'smell nice', than to make it 'odor free', where the ingredients don't naturally 'smell nice'

There is a sensitive version that does not have a scent.

I, too, am highly sensitive to fragrances. I have used the fragrance-free version of the Olay Cleansing Melts on three trips and have been pleased. Definitely get the FF version! Thanks for the reminder to always test out products at home before traveling! Enjoy your trip!

Thanks Jean! I was looking at those for an upcoming trip and will now search out the FF version. After many years in the wine industry, fragrances are a no no.

Thank you very much for your reminder.

I haven’t noticed the smell on these things, but I will say I keep mine in a Ziploc baggie and I recommend that because the first time I traveled with them a little moisture got into my cosmetic bag and they fell apart. They became totally useless so they need to be kept pretty dry. The baggie would probably also contain any smell, which may be why I’ve never noticed it.

I just use soap and water to cleanse my face followed by moisturizer, so no issues there, but I have had the hardest time finding laundry sheets that are truly fragrance free. I've purchased 4 different ones, including at least one recommended here, that are supposedly fragrance free, but definitely aren't. I have a pair of pants I need to throw away because after a year (!) they STILL smell like the detergent I used on them one time overseas. I have washed them at least half a dozen times since then, but that smell is part of them forever apparently. I actually washed my clothes without detergent several times on my most recent trip. I figured just water in the washer would be better than flat out dirty. At one apartment the detergent had a scent, but not a strong one, so I washed everything while I was there. My next trip is in about 6 weeks, so I appreciate this reminder. Guess I need to start looking for scent free detergent sheets again.

PS: I can't wait to hear about your trip when you return. I don't write trip reports because my thoughts are always too scattered and honestly, I'm not nearly as organized as most people here, but I learn so much from the experiences of others.

KRS, I have used the fragrance free laundry sheet called Beyond Free & Clear laundry detergent strips and also one from Lazy Coconuts, and I would recommend both. I also see that Seventh Generation makes one now, and I use their regular laundry detergent and other products, so I'd definitely try that one.

Might want to note the times that fragrances have been applied on airplanes. Almost overpowering inside such close confines with no escape. Applies to nail polish and remover also.

”I have a pair of pants I need to throw away because after a year (!) they STILL smell like the detergent I used on them one time overseas. I have washed them at least half a dozen times since then, but that smell is part of them forever apparently.”

KRS, yes, unfortunately about 7 years ago my husband & I had two loads of clothes that we ended up needing to throw away. At least the timing was good. I had just returned home from a solo trip and washed the clothes I took on the trip. The next morning I had a horrible headache and my sinuses were clogged. When I walked towards the laundry room, it was even worse. Tide had changed one of their formulas without noting any change on the containers. I rewashed them in fragrance free detergent, soaked them numerous times in a bathtub of baking soda & vinegar, hung them out in the sun for weeks - nothing would remove it. Only a couple of cotton garments released that smell; otherwise, it was a total loss. The “good timing” is that it didn’t occur right before my trip!

Update: I know I am sensitive to smells. As of this morning, the plastic & fabric of my favorite LLBean toiletry kit still strongly has the smell after hanging it in the garage overnight. The silicone cup that was in the toiletry kit that I use instead of hotel cups still has the smell after soaking it in vinegar and a little water overnight. Thankfully I had not placed the toiletry kit or the Ziploc bag of those pieces inside my favorite Cotopaxi travel bag - whew!

As of this morning, I won’t chance taking either this toiletry kit or cup on this upcoming trip. : (

I wonder Jean, if you could run your kit through the dishwasher cycle, maybe with some white vinegar? (No heat dry of course)

As of this morning, the plastic & fabric of my favorite LLBean toiletry kit still strongly has the smell after hanging it in the garage overnight.

Hang it outside so there is more air movement, so the 'aroma' will dissipate?

Perfume doesn't give me the sinus/headache problems, but my skin is extremely sensitive to it (and other stuff). So, I always have to pack all my own products when traveling. And sometimes re-wash a rented apartment's sheets or towels, or put pillows and things in closets.

However, I sure do hate the smell of added scents. I can't fathom why people want their hair, hands, lips, various body parts, kleenex and other paper products, toothpaste, mouthwash, dishes, dog, kitty litter box, car, floors, carpets, furniture, clothes, shoes, candles, cleaning products, and even their air, to smell like dozens of different perfumes. It used to be more of a problem for me in European hotels and apartments years ago than it is now, so presumably people have been objecting to heavy scents.

Internet suggests soaking the items in rubbing alcohol or vodka overnight. Also putting them in the freezer.

It's an absolutely misery for those of us who are sensitive. I wish people would look what "fragrance" is actually made of (hint: petroleum industry byproducts) before slathering it everywhere and in everything.

I don’t have sensitivities or allergies, but I also really hate all the stuff with added smells nowadays.
What’s with those granules to add to your washing to make the clothes smell better?!
Isn’t that why they’re in the laundry in the first place ?!

There are unscented laundry sheets: from Tru-Earth.
Made in Canada!

https://ca.tru.earth/products/laundry-detergent-fresh-linen?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAACzIPs1vHK-8VhhgNzjShhKHBFZvf&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-5a9BhCBARIsACwMkJ6XL5n8j6AxEzHAdb0CNlSMbxp4hy1hKaOt8gpEQyBQ_J0A4bHYq48aAj9JEALw_wcB&tw_adid=697187435245&tw_campaign=1766291502&tw_source=google&variant=47656909373742&selling_plan=690540413230

Removing smells?
As others have suggested, by go-to is white vinegar or baking soda or a combination of the two.

You might also try putting them in a ziploc bag with some charcoal packets.

Jean, not sure exactly when your trip is, but you might try putting baking soda (dry) in the items overnight and see if that helps. I've tried it a few times and it worked some of the time.

Jean, if I were you I’d also contact the manufacturer, either by phone or email. I’ve been really disappointed in some products I’ve bought and thrown some straight away too, which really galls me big time. I share my concerns and ask for compensatory coupons and while they all listen politely, more often than not they reply with some sort of refund. They’re often interested in hearing your concerns as a consumer and work to keep you as a customer. Just a thought and it helps to assuage my frustrations when I throw good money after bad.

Not sure of the timeline you have, but two things you can try: packing crumpled newspaper round the cup and sealing it in a Tupperware or ziplock. Change out the paper every couple of days. I’ve used that for oniony Tupperware and it works in about a week. Secondly, you can try putting it in clean clay kitty litter for a couple of days. I work in a library and we’ve used the second technique for books that have been in a smoker’s house for a long time.

Thank you for all of the suggestions for ways to remove the heavy fragrance! My upcoming trip is very soon and I don’t want to risk ruining other items I would pack with the toiletry kit and silicone cup on this trip. So, I am using a substitute toiletry bag, and I thankfully have some extra silicone cups since they came in a pack.

I washed the silicone cups since the first day and soaked it in vinegar sealed up overnight. That didn’t remove all of the smell, but running it through the dishwasher has helped. The toiletry kit is still hanging in the garage after I soaked it in the sink with vinegar & washed it. It still smells. We have lots of snow outside, so I don’t want to air it outside. I will deal with it when I’m back home again.

Procter & Gamble sells this product, but I didn’t keep the package.

SJ, I agree about the scent granules to add to the wash - another Procter & Gamble product.

We stayed at a relative’s cabin in Montana, and they used that stuff on the sheets & towels. There’s an initial nice smell followed by my sinus’ closing up - ugh! We had to sleep with the windows open, and the towels all moved out to the living room.

Jean, we used to visit a relative fairly often, who always used scented products on her bed linens. We finally bought a set of sheets that fit the guest room bed. The first thing we'd do when we got there was strip the bed, put on our own sheets, and stash hers in a plastic trash bag until time to leave.

And keep the bedroom windows open.

Jane and Jean - you sound like me! On road trips, when staying in vacation rentals, I always pack a cotton mattress pad and cotton sheets to save my sanity.

Jane and Jean - it reminds me of being in Veliko Tarnovo on the RS tour - the toilet paper was so fragrant (lilies? who knows?) that I had to wrap it up in plastic and use my emergency stash. Yikes!

I am so sensitive to strong fragrances in soaps, face cleansers and creams. Even the "fragrance free" products are too strong for me. I stay away from most brands like Olay for that reason. I can't stand the smell of most sunscreens, especially Neutrogena, but found one that is fragrance free at Trader Joe's called Daily Facial Sunscreen https://www.ebay.com/p/21055186090. It is similar to Unseen Sunscreen made by Super Goop but half the price

Thank you, Leslie! I will check it out!