Both Pichon and Mastenbroek agree that lighter scents are best for migraine sufferers. “Fragrances that have been created with a calming effect in mind, or that are using principles of aromatherapy, are likely to be soothing to the nose and not stimulate the receptors,” explains Mastenbroek. “The most sensible advice I would give is to be stick to citrus (orange, lemon, grapefruit, lemongrass), herbs (lavender, chamomile, rosemary, thyme) and mint notes (peppermint and spearmint). Based on aromatherapy knowledge we have, we can safely say these will not have an adverse effect on the majority of people including migraine sufferers.”
As a migraine sufferer I know that paying a visit to a fragrance counter can be overwhelming, time-consuming, and straight up risky. However I’ve spent enough years testing fragrances to have figured out the ones that are safe and the ones to avoid. Of course, as we now know, everyone has different triggers, so I’ve also drawn upon recommendations from the fragrance experts and from my fellow migraine sufferers.
Scroll down to discover the best fragrances for migraine sufferers, plus the ones to avoid.