"You want to stay away from them," she says, noting they can cause respiratory issues and skin irritation. In addition to cleaning products, air fresheners and fabric softeners are often loaded with fragrance. Some are easy enough to avoid, although read labels carefully; Mitchell says even products labeled earth- or eco-friendly can contain fragrance. Even if you don't consider yourself allergic, some fragrance additives are strong enough to cause headaches. If you can relate but still love the scent of lavender, eucalyptus, or other common household scents, consider purchasing smaller-sized bottles of cleaning products to test them first.