Recently, while at the Maine Center for the Arts, a woman sauntered to her seat located several rows below mine. As she moved, a thick wave of heavily scented air washed over me and my companion.

Even though I don’t have a severe fragrance allergy, the rest of the evening was uncomfortable as I became increasingly congested and eventually developed a headache. I can only imagine the impact this woman had on the captive audience members seated closer to her.

While I am not calling for a ban on all things scented, I do think it is time to review our habits. Many workplaces have become “fragrance free” in order to protect employees and customers who may have fragrance allergies.

Eastern Agency on Aging instituted just such a policy. Staff and clients can suffer terribly when someone enters the building wearing perfume. I myself have had to shut my office door and open my window more than once when a visitor has been a little heavy-handed with the cologne. And occasionally, staff members have had to retreat to their homes due to being overcome by the fragrant air, which to them is toxic.

All of us at EAA have a responsibility to our clients. We ask that if you are coming to EAA, please refrain from wearing any and all products that are scented. We often have seniors visiting us who are on oxygen or have other lung disorders. Since heavy fragrances can linger for hours in our small offices, these individuals end up suffering or are forced to leave without getting the help they need.

And make no mistake. Men are not exempt. Aftershave can have lethal effects on someone with fragrance allergies as well.

We live in a world where just about everything has an aroma. It isn’t as simple as putting away the perfume. Think about it. Fragrance is everywhere and in so many different products that oftentimes we can simultaneously smell like a variety of things from flowers to fruit and more. A short walk down the detergent aisle in the grocery store can send me into an uncontrollable sneezing fit.

Soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorants, lotions, makeup, toothpaste, scented tissues and toilet paper, and magazines can be offensive to someone who is sensitive to fragrances.

Here are just some of the reactions that can be experienced by someone with allergies or related health concerns:

. Nausea or dizziness.

. Headache.

. Itchy skin, eyes and nose.

. Runny nose.

. Wheezing and coughing.

. Difficulty breathing.

. Sore throat.

. Asthma attacks or asthma-like symptoms.

Often all it takes is a brief encounter with the offending odor for symptoms to occur.

And things that were never bothersome before suddenly are a problem. For example, have you ever noticed your eyes becoming itchy or your nose becoming runny when you put on a favorite fragrance? Maybe you become wheezy, start coughing or have trouble breathing when getting close to someone who is clearly drenched in perfume? You may be having an allergic reaction and should consider visiting your health care provider.

For seemingly first-time sufferers, the reaction is often blamed on seasonal allergies and not something as seemingly innocuous as someone’s odorous dryer sheet.

Keep in mind, fragrances are chemical compounds and the fact that you may have become allergic to one scented product does not necessarily mean that you will be allergic to all fragrances. So next time you feel a reaction, make a note of your environment and what you are using.

Read labels and look for the term “fragrance-free” on products instead of “unscented, organic and all-natural,” as these still may be lightly scented.

Clean air has the best fragrance of all.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. Email Carol Higgins at chiggins@eaaa.org. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, or toll-free (800) 432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org, or visit www.eaaa.org. TTY 992-0150.