The summer season calls for a special kind of ambiance that makes one remember of fresh fruit, exotic rainforests, and holidays in the sun. While travel plans and jet setting to a favorite vacation spot may be limited in the current environment, the use of distinctive and customized fragrance oils that delight the senses could very well satisfy these seasonal cravings.
Tropical fragrance oils are those fragrance oils that may be associated with warm weather, golden sunny days, hot beaches, refreshing drinks, palm trees, and luxurious vacations. Their scent families may range from sweet and floral and fruity, to minty, herbaceous, and earthy. Tropical fruity fragrances, including coconut, mango, watermelon, and citrus scents are always popular choices, while those with more woodsy, minty, and spicy notes, such as eucalyptus and spearmint, can add exotic dimensions to cosmetics such as spa products and treatments. Tropical fragrances are often used to indicate indulgence or cleanliness, and they can also be used to evoke a stress-free, relaxing, uplifting, invigorating, or playful mood. The benefits of incorporating such scents are that they can appeal to both male and female audiences, with practically endless applications, including soaps, candles, air fresheners, shampoos, scrubs, colognes, and lotions.
It is well known that fragrance forms one of the most important first impressions of a cosmetic or personal care product. For cosmetic manufacturers and handcrafters, a well-thought-out seasonal fragrance that fits the aesthetic and branding of a product can drive new excitement and interest to your line if it is aligned with what consumers are seeking.
Read on to find out NDA's top 10 most popular tropical-inspired fragrance oils!
A fragrance oil is a synthetic and complex blend of aromatic compounds that are designed to release a dedicated scent. They are manufactured by fragrance experts using a variety of constituents that may be synthetic or partially natural in origin; a single fragrance oil may use as much as 300 different compounds. They are predominantly used to imbue attractive scents into products, but can also be used to disguise a less appealing scent in a formulation.
Fragrance oils incorporate perfume notes to add depth, character, and long-lasting qualities that please the senses. Top notes, such as lemon, limes, and other citruses, are more lightweight and are the first to be registered in a fragrance. Heart notes, such as jasmine and rose, are also known as middle notes. They create the body of the fragrance by adding strength and support to top notes while also creating an aromatic bridge for the base notes to appear. The heavier base notes, such as powder, musk, sandalwood, and vanilla, are essential components that are experienced after the rest of the notes dissipate, thereby adding a sense of richness and complexity to the fragrance oil.
There is an immense variety in the selection of fragrance oils and the popularity of synthetic fragrances can be attributed to their less expensive price points, as well as the consistency in their aromatic qualities. For a more in-depth treatment of the differences between fragrance oils and essential oils, we invite you to read our article here.
Here are NDA's best-selling tropical-inspired fragrance oils. All of our fragrance oils are Paraben free and Phthalate free, and also conform to the international standards set out by IFRA.
Coconut Paradise Fragrance Oil
Coconut-inspired aromas truly make up a classic tropical fragrance. This fragrance oil will remind you of a tropical beach setting, or perhaps a getaway island that is perfect for the holidays. It has a rich, full-bodied scent that opens with real coconut basking in the aromatic notes of fresh peaches, cozy vanilla, and luscious butter, and can make a wonderful addition to a summer-themed line of cosmetic products. Try it in women's and men's travel products or whipped body butter for a delicious tropical touch.
Our Coconut Cream Fragrance Oil is a lush, buttery balance of rich and sweet aromatic notes. Top notes of warm butter are balanced with heart notes of toasted sugar and spice along with a base of elegant coconut, vanilla, and powder. This milky coconut scent is ideal for pampering bath products and cosmetics. Try it in decadent creams, lotions, conditioners, and milk that emulate the rich scent of this fragrance oil.
A must-have summer fragrance, our Watermelon Fragrance Oil is a fresh and delightfully sweet aroma with tops notes of watermelon, strawberry, and pineapple, heart notes of floral and peach, plus base notes of musk, powder, and vanilla. Try this popular fragrance in bath fizzies, candles, shampoos, body milk, and children's products.
Eucalyptus Spearmint Fragrance Oil
A soothing mix of comforting eucalyptus and refreshing spearmint strengthened by earthy base notes of patchouli and musk, this fragrance oil is reminiscent of a summer spa in the tropics. Due to its exotic and relaxing aroma, it is an excellent choice for spa formulations. Its purifying scent also makes it a wonderful fit for men's personal care products, including soap, deodorants, and beard oils.
Citrus Mist is an irresistible citrus fragrance oil that is bright and versatile. It incorporates top notes of ozonic floral, Muguet (lily of the valley), orange, lemon, and lime. Delicate heart notes of jasmine, rose, and eucalyptus plus base notes of sweet violet complete the fragrance. This fragrance oil can also act as a colorant, imbuing formulations with pastel yellow shades.
Lemongrass Verbena Fragrance Oil
Lemongrass Verbena has an intense and invigorating lemonish aroma with spicy, herbaceous overtones. Due to its clean and refreshing scent, it is popular in cleansing products such as soaps, hand wash, and facial cleansers. Its zesty citrus and delicate herbal notes make it a good fit for products targeted towards both men and women.
This is a fruity fragrance oil that captures the fresh, tart scent of real pink grapefruit. Citrus top notes of grapefruit, lemons, and limes blend exquisitely with notes of gardenia, lilac, powder, and vanilla to release a cooling and long-lasting summer scent that works beautifully in cold process soaps. Try it in bath soaks and other bath products, candles, and potpourri for a refreshing tropical twist.
A lush blend of sweet peaches and buttery cream, this fragrance oil is sweet, delicate, and very fruity. The top notes consist of peach, berry, apple, and plum, with mid notes of comforting vanilla, coconut, banana, and pineapple. Powdery base notes tie the light fruity notes all together in a delightful olfactory synergy.
The mood-lifting scent of peaches adds a great backdrop to any room, making it a wonderful addition to a candle, room spray, or diffuser. Alternatively, it adds a delicate summer-themed feminine scent for creams, oils, soaps, body powders, and lotions.
This is a clean fruity scent that is reminiscent of sliced green apples. It has top notes of apple, citrus, and berries, middle notes of peach, and a base of light powdery musk to hold the fragrance together. On its own, it is an invigorating scent that also shows a hint of acidity or tartness, making it a great fragrance for personal hygiene products and deodorizers such as linen sprays, air fresheners, and shower gels. Children may especially take a liking to its simple, crisp, and familiar scent. Apple Green Fragrance Oil can also be a great match when blended with other fruity tropical fragrances such as pineapple, peach, passion fruit, or honeydew melon.
Mango Madness remains another tropical fruity favorite. This fragrance oil is a burst of ripe mangoes and sweet ambrosia that has top notes of citrus, green, mango, pineapple, grapefruit and floral apple, heart notes of jasmine, lilac, plumeria, and peach, and base notes of powder, musk, and coconut. An extremely versatile fragrance, it performs wonderfully in soap, creams, and lotions. Alternatively, try it in a line of mango-scented hair care with shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks.
Learn more about the differences between Fragrance Oils and Essential Oils here.
Check out our in-depth guides on making your own moisturizers, butter, and lotions here.
We also have a beginner's guide on making your own soaps and candles.
As with all other New Directions Aromatics products, Fragrance Oils are for external use only. It is imperative to consult a medical practitioner before using these oils for therapeutic purposes. Pregnant and nursing women are especially advised not to use Fragrance Oils without the medical advice of a physician. These oils should always be stored in an area that is inaccessible to children, especially those under the age of 7.
Those with the following health conditions are especially recommended to be advised by a physician: cancer, heart-related ailments, skin disorders or allergies, hormone-related ailments, or epilepsy. Individuals that are taking prescription drugs, undergoing major surgery, or who are at a greater risk of experiencing strokes, heart attacks, or atherosclerosis are also advised to seek medical consultation prior to use.
Prior to using any Fragrance Oil, a skin test is recommended. This can be done by diluting 1 drop of the Fragrance Oil in 4 drops of a Carrier Oil and applying a dime-size amount of this blend to a small area of skin that is not sensitive. Fragrance Oils must never be used near the eyes, inner nose, and ears, or on any other particularly sensitive areas of skin. Potential side effects of Fragrance Oils, especially with long-term exposure and improper handling, include difficulty breathing, coughing, nausea, cramps, vomiting, headache, rashes, itching, chaffing, a burning sensation on the skin or in the stomach, cancer, lung and/or heart disease, and brain damage. In the event of an allergic reaction, discontinue use of the products and see a doctor, pharmacist, or allergist immediately for a health assessment and appropriate remedial action. To prevent side effects, consult with a medical professional prior to use.