Date: 202107
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Tower, US
Aircraft: A319
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Climb
Airspace: Class C ZZZ; Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ; Tower ZZZ
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Flight Attendant (On Duty)
Reporter qualification: Flight Attendant Current
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Physiological - Other
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Flying
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Detector: Person Flight Attendant
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Company Policy
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Right after takeoff; Flight Attendant Name  and myself smelled a strong odor. Smelled like chemical/acetone to me. I went out into cabin; the odor was strong for about 5 rows from back galley. I asked the passengers if they had used anything like nail polish; or anything with chemical base. Everyone said no. I asked if they smelled it; they said yes. I looked and felt in overhead bins found nothing. My eyes were burning. I went and told Name that I couldn't find the source of odor. She called Captain to report what was happening. The Captain said she'd get back to her. We then notified the number one flight attendant. Then the Captain made a PA announcement that we were returning to the airport. And that we'd be landing in about 15 minutes. I'm still out in cabin trying to find anything that was causing the smell. After Captain's announcement; passenger in 25F hands me a open wipe packet with the used wipe in it. She said she used it right after takeoff.  It was the exact smell. It had a concentrated eucalyptus oil in it. I asked her why she didn't tell me this when I first came out into cabin. She said she didn't hear me. There is no way she didn't hear me. To prove my point; when the Captain said we were returning to airport; giving no reason why. This passenger then hands me this wipe packet. She did hear me but for whatever reason didn't admit she had used this product right after takeoff. Now that she realized the repercussions of the situation; she admits to using product. I took used packet to Name to let her smell it; we both agreed this was the odor; F/A called to tell Captain. But everything was already in motion to go back and land. The Captain makes an announcement to passengers that we are returning due to a odor in cabin. And that it needs to be accessed. At the gate firemen came on with meters to test the air. It was all good. Name showed them the eucalyptus packet. We followed procedures in every way.


Second narrative: Climbing out of ZZZ at approximately 12;000 MSL we got a call from the aft flight attendant.  She reported a gaseous odor similar to kerosene; that was making her eyes water.  The Captain and I elected to return to ZZZ. We [requested priority handling] and conducted and overweight landing without any further cause for concern.  Upon arrival at the gate; the flight attendant determined that the cause of the odor was an 'herbal cleaning wipe' that a passenger had brought on the aircraft to clean their respective seat.  The flight attendant's overreaction and hasty response to the cleaning wipe created an unnecessary divert.[Reporter suggested] Flight attendants should be vigilant but also patient and reasonable.


Synopsis: Flight Crew reported an air return due to fumes emanating from sanitary wipes.