Person gently holding a clear glass perfume bottle, sensitive skin fragrance use

Generally yes in normal, everyday amounts, but babies and young children have more sensitive skin and airways than adults, so strong, direct or prolonged exposure, especially in a small, poorly ventilated room, is worth avoiding as a matter of basic caution.

What’s worth being mindful of

Spraying perfume directly onto a baby or young child, or applying it to their skin, isn’t something most guidance recommends, their skin is simply more reactive and absorbs things differently to adult skin. Bakhoor smoke, being a genuine combustion product, is worth keeping well away from babies specifically, good ventilation matters far more around infants than adults, and a smoky room isn’t somewhere a baby should be lingering regardless of how nice it smells to everyone else.

A sensible approach at home

  • Apply your own perfume in a different room from where a baby sleeps or spends most of their time
  • Use bakhoor in well-ventilated spaces and avoid burning it in a nursery or small enclosed room
  • Never apply perfume directly to a baby’s or young child’s skin

Our guide to perfume allergies and sensitive skin and bakhoor guide cover this, alongside the complete guide to perfume.