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Fragrance-Free Policies in Practice: Identifying Perceived Implementation Gaps Through Lived Experience in a Qualitative-Dominant Mixed-Methods Study
bySudipta Roy
1<i></i>,
Nene A. Diallo
1<i></i>,
John Molot
2<i></i>,
Robert Lattanzio
3<i></i>,
Riina Bray
4,5<i></i>
,Jennifer Armstrong
6<i></i> and
Rohini Peris
1,*<i></i>
1
Association pour la santé environnementale du Québec-Environmental Health Association of Québec (ASEQ-EHAQ), Saint-Sauveur, QC J0R 1R1, Canada
2
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada
3
ARCH Disability Law Centre, Toronto, ON M5J 2H7, Canada
4
Environmental Health Clinic, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON M5S 1B2, Canada
5
Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
6
Ottawa Environmental Health Clinic, Ottawa, ON K2H 5A8, Canada
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(8), 1077; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23081077
Submission received: 3 July 2026 / Revised: 12 August 2026 / Accepted: 13 August 2026 / Published: 19 August 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Understanding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS): Interdisciplinary Insights into Science, Policy, and Lived Experience)
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Highlights
Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?- Indoor air quality and fragrance-related exposure affect health, accessibility, and participation in daily activities.
- This study identified gaps and inconsistencies of existing fragrance-free policies in practice.
- Gaps in policy clarity, accountability, and implementation may limit the effectiveness of fragrance-free policies.
- The findings contribute evidence to inform future fragrance-free policy development and implementation efforts.
- Comprehensive fragrance-free policies may improve accessibility and reduce barriers to participation in public and institutional settings.
- Stronger fragrance-free policies may support healthier indoor environments, improve access to healthcare, and promote better health outcomes.
Abstract
Background:Indoor air quality (IAQ) represents a key public health and accessibility concern. Improving IAQ through policies and practices that reduce exposure to fragranced products and other indoor air contaminants may enhance accessibility and support equitable participation for individuals with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).
Methods:
Using a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods design, we examined IAQ accessibility barriers and explored perceived implementation and accessibility gaps in existing fragrance-free policies among sixty individuals with MCS and related IAQ exposures across ten focus groups. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected in parallel, with thematic analysis conducted in NVivo. A structured IAQ and policy survey was administered to quantify reported experiences and policy impacts.
Results:
Approximately 63.3% of focus group participants reported dissatisfaction with the indoor environments they encountered. Qualitative findings highlighted indoor environments as inaccessible, inadequately controlled, and associated with ongoing exposure to fragranced products as well as other indoor pollutants. These findings indicate that current approaches often fail to ensure accessibility, leaving individuals with MCS exposed and excluded from full participation in workplaces, healthcare settings, and other public spaces.
Conclusions:
Comprehensive fragrance-free policies incorporating source control, education, ventilation, and accountability mechanisms may reduce exposure while improving accessibility and inclusion across the built environment.
Keywords:
indoor air quality; multiple chemical sensitivity; fragrance-free policy; accessibility; built environment