title: Effect of strong fragrance on olfactory detection threshold.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the olfactory threshold of healthy volunteers at the University College Hospital, Ibadan and to investigate the effect of perfume on their olfactory detection thresholds.
  
  
  METHODS
  A quasi-experimental study on olfactory detection thresholds of healthy volunteers from September 2013 to November 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary health institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  A structured questionniare was administered to the participants in order to obtain information on sociodemographics, occupation, ability to perceive smell, use of perfume, effects of perfume on appetite and self-confidence, history of allergy, and previous nasal surgery. Participants subjectively rated their olfactory performance. Subsequently, they had olfactory detection threshold testing done at baseline and after exposure to perfume with varied concentrations of n-butanol in a forced triple response and staircase fashion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Healthy volunteers, 37 males and 63 females, were evaluated. Their ages ranged from 19 to 59 years with a mean of 31 years ± 8. Subjectively, 94% of the participants had excellent olfactory function. In the pre-exposure forced triple response, 88% were able to detect the odor at ≤.25 mmol/l concentration while in the post-exposure forced triple response, only 66% were able to detect the odor at ≤.25 mmol/l concentration. There is also a statistical significant difference in the olfactory detection threshold score between the pre-exposure and post-exposure period in the participants (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of strong fragrances affects the olfactory detection threshold. Therefore patients and clinicians should be aware of this and its effects on the outcome of test of olfaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria ayofasunla@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ayotunde James
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fasunla
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: David Dayo
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Aderemi Adeleke
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Adeosun
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Onyekwere George Benjamin
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Nwaorgu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010476:Perfume
keywords: fragrance; health workers; olfactory detection threshold