Should Teens Wear Perfume to School?

Your might feel under-dressed without a spritz of your favorite perfume, but are fragrances appropriate for your teen to wear to school? Teenagers wear perfume to cover up odors, feel better about themselves and simply to smell nice. However, some teens wear too much perfume or the wrong type, leaving classmates gasping. Show your teen how to indulge in scents that are appropriate for her age and for school.

  1. Sensitivities

    • Many perfumes are named after flowers, but they contain synthetic chemicals that can irritate some people's sensitivities. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine notes that sensitivities to chemicals and fragrances are real chronic medical conditions that affects some people. Symptoms range from mild irritation and sneezing to headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, dizziness, nausea, coughing, difficulty breathing, burning eyes, skin rash and depression. Even if your teen does not have a known chemical sensitivity, wearing a new perfume or too much fragrance can trigger symptoms and also affect classmates and teachers.

    School Policy

    • Many schools and workplaces ban perfume because it can cause sensitivities and allergies in others. Your teen might not be allowed to wear perfume to school, whether you think it is appropriate or not. In some cases, students are allowed to wear perfume sparingly so the scent is not overpowering and does not affect other students. Check your teenager's school website for a list of school rules on fragrances.

    Hygiene

    • If your teen is wearing perfume to mask the smell of body odor, she has better ways to deal it. KidsHealth explains that after puberty, sweat glands become more active and secrete different chemicals. The body might also harbor new bacteria that add to the pungent sweat, suddenly making your teen self-conscious about how she smells. The best way to keep odors at bay is to bathe or shower every day using warm water and a mild soap to wash away bacteria and body oils. Wear clean underwear, socks and clothing each day and take a change of clothes for gym class. Additionally, your teen should wear more natural materials, such as cotton. Teens can also use a clean, wet towel to give their bodies a rubdown in the middle of the day to freshen up. Deodorants help cover up the smell of sweat, while antiperspirants limit sweat. If your teen has sensitive skin, look for varieties that are perfume-free.

    Alternatives

    • Even if your teen can wear perfume to school, alternatives to commercial fragrances exist. The American College of Healthcare Sciences recommends mixing pure essential oils to make your own chemical-free perfume oil. Experiment with a blend of aromatic oils to find the notes that fit together. Your teen might like to try flower, fruit and spice oils such as anise, bergamot, citrus, jasmine, rose, cinnamon and nutmeg. Also, your teen might choose to wear a lighter body spray rather than a perfume to school.

    Application and Types

    • How a perfume is applied can make a difference in how it smells and if it is overpowering. Teach your teen how to apply perfume properly. Some teens douse themselves in perfume because they can't smell it on themselves. This can trigger sensitivities and be irritating to others in a closed classroom. Show your teen how to use a roll-on or solid perfume to dab the fragrance on two to four pulse points such as the wrists and behind the ears. If she using a perfume spray, teach her how to squirt it in the air and walk through it, which gives her just enough of the scent. Additionally, it is important for your teen to wear the right type of scent. Your perfume might be too heavy for her. Choose fragrances that are light or flowery for your teen.

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