Allergy sensitive listings

[Brian-Harrison0]

There needs to be a filter for "allergy sensitive" listings. Or, at the very least for homes that do not use chemically fragranced laundry products. The hotel industry figured out decades ago that artificial scents on their linens were intrusive, unwanted, and unhealthy for many people.

[Joelle43 · Accepted solution]

Hello @Brian-Harrison0 

There are many hosts and guests who feel that this should be an option and I thought you might be interested in reading a previous (big) discussion on the subject:

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Advice-on-your-space/Please-make-quot-fragrance-free-quot-a-filt...

As a host, I am very careful with the products I use - non fragrant and a big fan of vinegar😉 .  My problem has been with a guest who used an extremely strong perfume that stayed for weeks despite washing everything at least twice and I'm not just talking of the bed linen - crazy amount of washing.  So whilst I am conscious that there are many people who are allergic or are sensitive to smells and would like to see such a category, what happens when the host can't deliver that promise because of a guest overdosing on perfume??  A prickly point for a host and another means for a guest to be refunded for their stay...

Some hosts (me) don't allow animals for the same reason but from what I read on the community center, this doesn't stop some guests from bringing undisclosed pets even if there is a restriction in place and there are many people suffering from pet allergies.  

[Alex]

Hi @Brian-Harrison0, 

Thank you for sharing this with the community. Joelle shared a great conversation where hosts were speaking about this same topic. Did you check it? 

Also, I'm going to tag some other hosts to see what they think about this topic: @Ahmed570 , @Jonathan2725, @Jirigarthe0 and @Ivan2229.

Best,

Alex

[Oksana127]

I completely agree! An "allergy-sensitive" or "fragrance-free" filter on Airbnb would be a game-changer for guests with sensitivities. While Airbnb does have filters for "pet-free" and "smoke-free" homes, there isn’t a dedicated option for fragrance-free or hypoallergenic environments.

What Hosts Can Do:

Clearly state in the listing that no scented detergents, air fresheners, or harsh chemicals are used.

Use fragrance-free or hypoallergenic laundry and cleaning products.

Mention if the home has HEPA filters, hard floors instead of carpets, or bedding suitable for allergy sufferers.

Include "allergy-friendly" in listing titles or descriptions to help guests find the right stay.

What Airbnb Could Improve:

Introduce a "Hypoallergenic / Allergy-Sensitive" filter.

Add a “Fragrance-Free” tag in amenities.

Encourage hosts to disclose cleaning product types in their listings.

Until Airbnb implements this, guests should message hosts before booking to ask about scented products, pets, and cleaning methods.