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Health Professions: Perfume

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 22 October 2025UIN 81172

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to ensure that (a) medical and healthcare education and (b) training curricula include guidance on the appropriateness of wearing (i) perfume, (ii) aftershave and (iii) other fragranced products in clinical settings.

Answered by Karin Smyth

NHS organisations set their own policies locally and these generally form part of their unform policy. Although there is no national guidance in place, some organisations do advise in their own guidance that the wearing of perfumed products must be discrete and not overpowering.

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