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Updated: Nov 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: An Antimicrobial Fabric Using Nano-Herbal Encapsulation of Essential Oils
Published on: April 7, 2023
Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of commercial aromatizing fragrances
1Faculty of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3Z6, Canada.
Aim:
To explore the bioactivities of commercial fragrances.
Materials & Methods:
The antimicrobial activity of 25 commercial fragrances was assessed with pathogenic bacteria and fungi in vapor phase. Inflammatory response was evaluated by the measurement of cytokines.
Results:
Several fragrances were able to kill the microorganisms. Moreover, preparations of binary mixtures of the most active fragrances showed a synergistic effect. Regarding the inflammatory response, none of the tested fragrances showed a pro-inflammatory response, but two fragrances upregulated the secretion of IL-10 from macrophages.
Conclusion:
The antimicrobial activities of fragrances represent a new approach to control airborne pathogens.
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