Migraines are painful, pulsating headaches that can cause symptoms of blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. If migraines are chronic, it’s’ imperative to know your specific triggers to try and reduce migraine frequency. Migraines are believed to be caused by a narrowing of blood vessels in the brain. Odors are a common source of migraines.
Here are six smells that often cause migraine onset

1. Cigarette smoke
Breathing in smoke from cigarettes, be it first or second hand, can trigger migraines. In fact, 95% of migraine patients report a sensitivity to smoke, and cigarettes smoke in particular. If you are sensitive to smoke, it’s best to avoid cigarettes (and people smoking) as well as campfire smoke altogether

2. Food odors
Some pungent food smells may also cause migraines. The smell of cooking food, such as onions, garlic, and other spices may cause migraine onset in those who are sensitive to smells, which trigger the olfactory sense in the brain. Sometimes it is better to avoid certain foods if smelling them causes a migraine

3. Perfumes
Don’t assume that because a perfume smells nice to you that it will not trigger a migraine. Cacosmia can occur, which is when pleasant smells cause nausea and trigger a migraine. Avoid places with concentrated perfume smells, like department stores, if you are triggered by fragrances. 

4. Cleaning chemicals
Sometimes the chemicals from cleaning products cause migraines due to their strong smell. Toxic scents and chemicals (i.e., bleach) can cause headaches and even migraines. This means that it might be better to clean your home with natural products or wear a mask when cleaning.

5. Candles
The smell of burning candles can be pleasant for many people, however it may make migraine sufferers very sick. Certain candle fragrances can be triggering for a migraine sufferer, particularly artificial scents.

6. Air fresheners
Like candles, air fresheners might clean up the scent in a room, but they can easily cause migraines. The chemicals in these products, particularly if they are artificial or strong botanical fragrances are known to trigger a migraine.