KENNESAW, Ga. | Apr 13, 2026

A spritz of your favorite perfume might feel like the perfect finishing touch for your outfit of the day. But have you given thought to what’s really inside the bottle? Research shows some ingredients can do more harm than good, especially for those with sensitive skin or fragrance allergies.

Kennesaw State University senior Ariana Mitchell is exploring what’s really lurking inside everyday scented products. An aspiring forensics scientist, she has spent the past year investigating two common fragrance allergens: D-limonene, a natural compound found mainly in the peels of citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes; and linalool, found in many flowers and herbs, especially lavender.

Under the mentorship of Wei Zhou, associate professor of chemistry in the College of Science and Mathematics, Mitchell is using a technique known as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify and measure allergen quantities in products like perfumes and plug-in room fragrances.

“Gas chromatography essentially heats up our allergens to turn them into gaseous molecules, allows them to be fully separated within the column, followed by the analysis of a mass spectrometer,” said Mitchell, a student in the Keeping Sights Upward Journey Honors College and a double major in criminal justice and chemistry.

Not all allergens contained in a perfume are always listed in the ingredient label, and the labeled allergens contained in a product do not give the used concentrations usually, due to the lack of strict regulations. While perfumes and body mists contain certain levels of various allergens, plug-in room fragrances showed significantly higher concentrations in this study.

“The plug-ins are more concentrated because they have to fragrance an entire room, so they tend to have a lot more allergens, so much so that it actually goes completely off our scale even after diluting it,” Mitchell said.

For consumers with sensitivities, Mitchell said this could have serious consequences.

“In extreme cases, it could trigger asthma, potentially sending someone to urgent care if they’re unaware of their allergy and the substance is present in high concentrations,” she said.

Zhou, the study’s principal investigator, commended Ariana for her dedication and strong analytical abilities.

“Since joining my lab last fall, Ariana has proven herself to be a highly dedicated and detail-oriented researcher,” Zhou said. “This research is important because it can help warn consumers, especially those with sensitivities, about which products or scent types they may need to avoid. By understanding what’s inside these fragrances, we can empower consumers to make safer, more informed choices.”

The study is the foundation of Mitchell’s Honors capstone project, with her latest findings to be presented at the KSU Spring 2026 Symposium of Student Scholars. She has previously presented at the 2025 Symposium of Student Scholars and the 2026 Georgia Collegiate Honors Conference.

She said she hopes her findings will encourage closer scrutiny from regulatory agencies and greater transparency in product labeling and looks forward to exploring more real-world scientific challenges.

– Story by Christin Senior

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.