Migraines are intense headaches that come with severe pain. The medical condition affects one side of the head, and patients experience nausea. In some cases, you can become sensitive to sound and light. Also, you might vomit when you don’t get immediate treatment. The neurological disease causes pain in the neck, dizziness, and light-headedness. You can become irritable and experience nasal congestion as well.

Here are typical smells that cause migraines:

1. Cleaning products
Cleaning products come with scents that cause migraines. Detergents contain toxic chemicals that fill the atmosphere when you are cleaning your home. If your house isn’t adequately ventilated, the gases from cleaning supplies linger in the air. When you inhale the oxygen, you will get a migraine headache. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the items are the root causes of head pain. Fragrances added to the products trigger migraines due to the toxicity and irritants in them. You can look out for detergents that have acetone, formaldehyde, ethanol, terpenes, and dichlorobenzene. The harmful chemicals are present in dishwashing liquid, fabric softeners, and household cleaners.

2. Food odors
Strong food odors trigger migraine headaches. Burnt or rotten meals have smells that activate nerve receptors in your nasal passage, inducing migraines. Cat foods and cooking onions are other odors that can lead to migraine attacks. Typically, patients experience osmophobia or an aversion to smells. Many people who are sensitive to smells suffer from depression and anxiety. Additionally, some patients get acute migraines due to fish smell. The trigger varies from one person to the other, depending on the odor.

3. Cigarette smoke
Nicotine which is found in tobacco, is a significant reason why cigarette smoke causes migraines. Inhaling secondhand smoke and smoking primarily leads to throbbing pain in your head. Typically, the smoke causes vessel constriction, which in turn reduces blood flow to your brain. Your brain activity becomes depressed, resulting in migraines. What’s more, the smoke irritates your throat and nose due to an allergic reaction. The outcome is a splitting headache that needs immediate medical attention before it worsens.

4. Alcohol
Alcohol smells lead to migraine headaches due to sulfites, tyramine, and histamine. The substances boost inflammation in your body once you inhale them. For instance, red wine has a strong odor that can induce head pain within a short time. If you consume wine and other drinks, the effect is way more profound since your blood vessels will swell, leading to afflicting headaches. You will get dehydrated if you don’t consume enough water after having a drink. Also, most drinks have ethanol which is a chemical that triggers migraines.

5. Perfumes
Odors from perfumes are another reason why you get persistent migraines. Ingredients like phthalates and ethanol cause headaches due to their harsh chemical presence. Typically, your blood vessels swell and dilate when you inhale the fragrance. In turn, your body will stimulate your nerve system linked to head pain. The smell might be from another person who has used a strong-scented perfume. On that account, you can stay away from people who use strong fragrances. If you are shopping for one, you can get a trigger when you spray it to determine the odor.

In other circumstances, your perfume could be having toxic elements causing allergic reactions. You will suffer from sensitivity that comes with chronic headaches, watery eyes, and a runny nose.