I would suggest getting something designed for preserving artwork. I use Krylon Fixative but I spray it outdoors and let it dry there as well. By the time I bring the art inside I don’t smell anything … but then I’m not allergic. I don’t think you can find out if you are sensitive without trying things so perhaps give it a try but do it outdoors.

This is the only brand I tolerate. It’s based on the formulas the masters used for fixing drawings and pastels (just casein and grain alcohol). You can find the recipe for making it yourself online which is a bit cheaper.
http://www.spectrafix.com

The pump sprayer that comes with it is not good…it can leave large drops. So I bought one called Flairosol and it’s perfect with a very fine mist. You do need to spray with the book or sheet upright to get the best coverage. You can get it from Amazon or other stores online.
http://flairosol.com

Blair makes a “very low odor spray fix” but it still bothers me. The problem with hairspray is it is not archival and often will cause yellowing.

Jan

I do almost all my drawing in sketch books – it works best for me right now. (Mainly because with kids and animals I need to be able to close things up and put them out of reach.)

I happen to be extremely sensitive to almost all scents and allergic to many. (yes – they are different reactions and I am aware of the difference – so is my allergist )

A friend recommends using hairspray – but I have never met one that I didn’t react to, including the unscented varieties.

Before I spend $$$ on fixative sprays at the store, I was wondering if anyone had suggestions for brands/types to absolutely stay away from, or for ones that might actually be worth trying.

*****Bonus if you have an idea for something I can make at home which I can be sure doesn’t have scents in it.****

What you draw with? Charcoal or graphite or something else?

I find that fixative is overvalued. If you are not using charcoal neither pastel , fixative is something not really essential.

I have a mask. I still spray in the garage with both doors open and at least one big fan between the spray area and the door. Then I leave the article out there or on the porch until the stink goes away.

You don’t want to take any chances. Repeated exposure to an allergen can, in some cases, increase sensitivity. In the luthiers’ forum where I used to hang out, several guitar builders told real horror stories about becoming suddenly and severely allergic to the oils in the exotic woods they were using.

Eventually the outgassing stops. But you would want to leave the book open until the sprayed pages don’t smell any more.

Would it be possible to insert interleaves in your books?

Maybe you could transfer the drawings to scrapbooks …

Krylon has Acrylic in it,

No. The rest of the post is spot on, but inaccurate stuff like this doesn’t help.

Here’s a link to the safety data sheet for Krylon Crystal Clear, in case anyone wants to know what’s really in it.https://www.krylon.com/document/SDS/en/US/724504113034

This one is for Krylon Workable Fixatif.
http://www.onboces.org/safety/msds/K/Krylon%20Workable%20Fixatif%201306.pdf

Some fixative sprays have acrylic in them, as the spray I use lists it as an ingredient on the can, I should have checked on Krylon, still the vapor isn’t something you want to breath.