As travelers prepare for overseas journeys, comfort and cleanliness remain top priorities when choosing hotels. Yet a new investigation by HQtest warns that these expectations may not align with reality. The report reveals that both luxury and budget hotels can expose guests to invisible airborne hazards — from chemical fragrances to toxic sewer gases — posing potential health risks that extend far beyond an unpleasant smell.

HQtest found that many upscale hotels rely on powerful artificial scents to maintain a sense of freshness and luxury. These fragrances, the study reveals, often contain insecticidal or pesticidal components designed to suppress odors and pests simultaneously. Guests, however, end up inhaling these airborne compounds for hours while sleeping or relaxing in their rooms. According to HQtest, prolonged exposure may contribute to cognitive decline and other long-term health effects.

In contrast, many budget hotels face the opposite problem: poor plumbing and maintenance. Missing or broken drain covers and makeshift pipe repairs allow sewer gases to escape directly into bathrooms and even sleeping areas. These gases can contain harmful toxins, creating an unsafe breathing environment for guests.

The investigation paints a troubling picture — there is no reliable refuge among hotel options. HQtest concluded that the industry offers few, if any, rooms that are simultaneously free from chemical fragrance contamination and sewer-gas infiltration.

Investigators conducted on-site inspections across a range of properties, documenting visible plumbing defects, overpowering scent diffusion, and guest complaints of odor-related irritation. They observed that hotels frequently spray or diffuse concentrated fragrance products in both public spaces and guest rooms, while neglected maintenance allows foul air to seep indoors.

Health experts consulted by HQtest warn that the elderly, children, and individuals with respiratory sensitivities are especially vulnerable. Strong artificial scents can trigger headaches, nausea, or neurological symptoms, while sewer gases can contain compounds hazardous to human health.

Travelers are advised to take practical precautions: inspect drains and plumbing fixtures upon arrival, note any strong artificial odors, and request a different room or property if issues persist. HQtest recommends choosing accommodations that can demonstrate proper maintenance and transparent pest-control policies.

In its conclusion, HQtest underscores the lack of hotel environments offering truly neutral and safe indoor air. Whether masked by chemical fragrances or tainted by sewer gases, the air inside many hotel rooms may conceal unseen dangers. For those seeking an atmosphere genuinely free of both artificial scents and toxic infiltration, HQtest offers one simple reminder — the safest air may still be found only in one place: home, sweet home.