Allergy to Oudh oils

#1
I've tried various pure oudh oils and all of them cause a red, itchy rash on the skin where the oil had been applied a few hours after the application. Some Mukhallats (oudh blends), but not all, also cause this rash. I've been told that when essential oil is applied on skin it oxidises and the resulting peroxidase molecules stimulate a localised allergic reaction in few unlucky people. I guess I'm one of them. Does anyone else have a similar problem ?
 
#2
I've never experienced that, no.
Must be be really sad for you though :(

Have you tried washing the spot you are putting the oil on with water and soap before applying the Oud?
Maybe that will help the oxidation.
I don't know much about chemistry.
 
#5
Tried washing before the oil application and tried a skin moisturizer before the application too, neither worked, only way I can use the oils is to apply on my clothing!
 
#6
Yes, this has been happening to me recently too! I'm ( not) glad to hear I'm not the only one. I think it's contact dermatitis - disappears within 24-48 hrs if I put steroid cream on the area. And it happens with pure oils from reputable dealers and Oudh containing mukhallats. Curses!!!! At least Oudh CAN be worn on clothes, and I have a couple of scent lockets too that are about to get used a lot more often ( perhaps not an option for a guy).
 
#7
I had a similar reaction, albeit it was only very dry and flaky skin, which was also slightly itchy.
I treated myself with topical application of anti-histamin cream. And it helped to switch the area where I applied the oil ( from the inside of the wrist to the back of the hand and lower fore-arms).
In my case the itchiness and dry skin went away. I believe it came from over-application of oils (sometimes I did apply this oil in the morning, another in the afternoon). However, it all went away after a while, in my case.

Maybe you just need to be patient, since essential ols are also absorbed through the skin. Once your body is adapted to them, it might be that the rash also disappears.

Recover soon!
Thomas S.
 
#8
I've heard that people have overcome allergies using an energy medicine technique called TAT - which stands for Tapas Accupressure Technique. It might be worth a try. You can google the phrase and find instructions on how to perform the technique on yourself. I'd be interested in knowing if you get any benefit from it.
 
#9
You may need to use a carrier such as jojoba or sunflower oil to dilute the oud to a level that your skin tolerates. I know that we love oud for its richness but we only have one skin.
 
#10
Thomas S. for me it was the opposite - the inner wrists don't seem to react like the back of my arms do. Fumigator, I'm wondering whether this will work as I seem to be reacting to Oudh containing mukhallats as well. I'm going to give it a try though as who knows what the concentration is in a mukhallats except the people who made it! Shhaider I know you are trying to be helpful but I have a bigger reaction to "alternative" medicine than would be polite to refer to on this board. Let's just say that Respectful Insolence , Quackwatch, and Science Based Medicine are the blogs I read more often than this one.....
 
#11
In case anyone is wondering, this is what the rash looks like. It gets better within a day or so, after using a steroid cream and stopping the oudh applications. The reason for posting this topic is not to look for treatments, but rather to seek opinions about the chemistry in the oils that may be behind this.
 

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Robert

New Member
#12
I know this thread is a little old now but, yes I get an allergic reaction to Oud and Mysore sandal wood oil too, the wierd thing is sometimes it's ok,for instance I was ok for the first 6 months then all of a sudden wham, I get the itchy pimply rash, it takes around 12 to 24 hours to come on with me so at least I get to enjoy the oil. I love the fragrance so much though that I feel it's worth the itchiness, I also wear it on my clothes but prefer it on my skin as it yields a slightly different aroma. I've only had my ouds for around 2 years now so I'm a bit of a spring chicken but I don't intend giving up because of this, in fact I'm pondering buying some more soon.
 
#13
I have similar reaction to few oud oils as well. I get small itchy rash and itch lasts for two days. Besides that I also get drying of my nose tip smelling those oils.
 
#14
I had this same issue some time back, but it seems to have died down. An easy way out of it though, is to apply the oil to your clothes. It lasts longer, and sometimes even smells better than on skin (dependant on the oil)...
 
#15
It seems like reaction to oud oil is not an allergy but a mild fungal infection. I put on some green papua last night and got a rash and red bump this morning. I tried Clotrimazole cream and the itching was gone right away. Clotrimazole is active ingredient of Lotrimin cream used to treat athlete's foot. Lotrimin is an anti fungal cream.
Allergic reaction to anything usually sets up very quick after getting in contact with the allergen. In case of oud oils it seems like the rash does not comes immediately after the application ( the way it should be in case of an allergic reaction). The rash comes 12 to 24 H after the application so it could be a fungus causing the problem.
This remedy has worked for me . I hope you guys get benfit from it
 

Oudamberlove

Well-Known Member
#16
Sounds like Contact Dermititis, I copy and pasted some info from the web:cool:

You call it a rash. Your doctor calls it dermatitis. Either way, your skin gets red and tender after you've touched something.

It could be caused by an allergy, or because the protective layer of your skin got damaged.
Usually, you won't get a rash the first time your skin touches something you're allergic to. But that touch sensitizes your skin, and you could have a reaction the next time. If you got a rash on first contact, chances are you've touched that trigger before and just didn't know it.
When something is irritating or damaging your skin, you'll probably see a rash right away. With an allergy, it may be a day or two before the rash shows up.


Symptoms of a contact allergy are usually right around where you touched the thing you're allergic to.

Irritant contact dermatitis (skin damage) tends to burn and be more painful than itchy.
 

JohnH

Moderator
Staff member
#20
I have reacted to a couple of oils. What I did was get some 8mm cotton piping cord and made a wrist band and put drops of oil directly on to that, works well and oud lasts an age on it. Would also be good if you want to wear Hindi but have to go to an appointment etc. You can take the band off and put it in a little ziplock and put it back on after.
 
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