Can Nurses Wear Perfume?
Most people love wearing perfume. It makes you smell and feel good, but nurses are sometimes advised against wearing it to work. Even if most hospitals don’t have special restrictions about it, or don’t impose them strictly, it’s still best to think twice about wearing perfume if you’re a nurse.
Nurses are allowed to wear perfume while working. However, there are certain times when wearing perfume is not allowed. For example, if a nurse is working with a patient who has allergies to certain ingredients commonly used in perfumes and fragrances, the nurse may be asked to not wear perfume to work.
So in general, if you’re a nurse, you most likely can wear perfume to work. However, you should be aware of situations where it isn’t. If you’re interested to learn more, we will cover everything you should know about wearing perfume as a nurse, from pros and cons to some of the best perfumes you should consider wearing.
In this article..
Can Nurses Wear Perfume to Work?
There is no single answer to this question because every hospital has its own policies and guidelines regarding what staff members are allowed to wear while working. Some hospitals may allow nurses to wear perfume, while others may prohibit the use of strong fragrances.
In the United States, The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not have any specific regulations regarding nurses wearing perfume while working. However, OSHA does have general guidelines in place that refer to employers ensuring safe work environments for their employees.
As a result, some hospitals have policies in place that prohibit the use of strong fragrances due to the potential for triggering asthma attacks or allergic reactions. Ultimately, it is up to the individual hospital to decide if nurses can wear perfume while working.
If the hospital you work at permits nurses to wear perfume, you should still consider if it’s worth it. While smelling nice can make you more confident and mask some unpleasant smells at the hospital, there’s always a risk of harming your patients.
Tips for Nurses Wearing Perfume to Work
If you had decided to wear perfume to work, you should follow a couple of tips to minimize the risk of negative consequences. First and foremost, you should avoid strong scents and use inoffensive and light perfumes. Such smells are the least likely to cause an adverse reaction like an asthma attack or migraine in your patients.
Then, don’t overdo the perfume and use the least you can. A single spray is usually more than enough for you to carry a nice scent without causing trouble to those around you. Finally, it’s always wise to see the medical records of your patients and check whether they aren’t allergic to specific ingredients that are included in your perfume.
Recommended Perfumes for Nurses
As a nurse, your first priority should be to ensure the well-being of your patients. That’s why warm and calming scents are the best to wear. So if you’re a nurse who wants to wear perfume to work and not harm her patients, here are 3 perfumes we recommend you check out:
Lavanila created this perfume by infusing organic sugar cane alcohol with natural essential oils without using phthalates, parabens, mineral oils, and many other known skin irritants. As a result, it’s unlikely that this perfume will cause any allergic reactions in your patients.
The perfume itself features a light grapefruit and vanilla scent, with subtle notes of cedarwood and fresh lime. Finally, it’s vegan and cruelty-free, so you can be sure that no animals were hurt in the process of making it.
You can get a set of 50ml + 10ml (1.7 Fl. Oz. + 0.34 Fl. Oz.) for $56.
This perfume by Skylar features a light breezy smell with base notes of driftwood and vanilla, that is enhanced by middle notes of cotton blossom and water lily and finished off with top notes of sea salt and seaweed.
It’s hypoallergenic, so it’s unlikely to cause any allergic reactions in you or your patients. It was tested by 3rd party labs, so you don’t have to worry about the legitimacy of this statement.
Additionally, its packaging is recyclable, the perfume itself is vegan, and wasn’t tested on any animals. This company also makes monthly donations to non-profit organizations, so it’s one of the best perfume choices if you’re interested in more than not harming your patients at work.
Finally, here’s what Salt Air Perfume by Skylar does not contain:
- 1,300+ Questionable Ingredients
- 36 Fragrance Allergens
- Artificial Dyes
- Commonly Known Toxins
- Endangered Plant Species
- Parabens
- Phthalates
- Skin Sensitizers (BHT, BHA, Sulfates)
50ml (1.7 Fl. Oz.) costs about $125, while you can also get 10ml (0.33 Fl. Oz.) rollerball for $54.99
If you want a stronger smell without offending your patients, this option by Pacifica is the one you should consider. It has base notes of mandarin and Italian sweet orange that are enhanced by slight strawberry and raspberry notes.
Just like the previous perfume, this one is vegan, animal cruelty-free, and uses only natural ingredients. Finally, this perfume by Pacifica is phthalate-free and paraben-free, making it hypoallergenic.
You can get 29 ml (1 Fl. Oz.) for about $19.99, making it a great budget option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
(Q): What Perfumes Are The Safest To Use?
(A): As a nurse, you should always choose hypoallergenic perfumes with natural ingredients, because these are less likely to cause an allergic reaction or other adverse effects in your patients.
(Q): Can Nurses Wear Perfumes During Surgeries?
(A): The same general guidelines apply, but we recommend against wearing perfume during surgeries because there are always higher stakes and you want to minimize any potential chance of causing adverse effects in the patient that’s being operated on.
Final Words
As you can see, in most cases nurses can wear perfume to work. However, you should still be conscious about your perfume choice and wear the least offensive scents you can find in order to avoid compromising the health of your patients.
