WHAT IS FRAGRANCE OIL USED FOR?
Fragrance Oils are the scented oils that are created to be added to products such as scented candles, household cleaners, room sprays, air fresheners, and vaporizers in order to give them pleasant, distinctive aromas or to enable them to diffuse pleasant aromas. Fragrance Oils that are body-safe can also be added to cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, and other products that make contact with the skin and hair.
Virtually all fragrances, natural or manmade, in an environment can be imitated in a laboratory, and there are limitless variations of oil groupings that can synthetically produce each of these countless scents. Fragrance Oils may be composed of one to two Essential Oils while others may have many more, and although combining the same combination of oils will repeatedly produce the same scent, simply adjusting the percentage of each oil could alter the final scent considerably, creating one that is completely original compared to previous iterations.
HOW ARE FRAGRANCE OILS MADE?
In a careful process, fragrance designers develop each Fragrance Oil by selecting the Essential Oils or other aromatic chemical compounds that blend well together and then by determining the ideal amount of each oil for the particular theme that is intended to be captured for the resultant blend. To illustrate, for a scent inspired by the feeling of spending a sunny summer day at the beach, the ideal aromatic compounds would likely have light, refreshing, and uplifting qualities.
Some of the ingredients – both artificial and naturally-derived – that commonly go into the production of Fragrance Oils include Absolutes, Alcohols, Aldehydes, Carrier Oils, Essential Oils, Esters, and Resins. Though some Fragrance Oils might not necessarily be entirely natural or volatile, they can still have the ability to uphold the same quality as Essential Oils and can sometimes exude stronger, longer-lasting aromas. Fragrance Oils can be either 100% synthetic or they can be comprised of up to 80% Essential Oils.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FRAGRANCE OIL AND AN ESSENTIAL OIL?
Although the term Fragrance Oil is sometimes understood to be a substitute for the term Essential Oil, there are several differences between these two distinctly different types of oils even if they can both be applied similarly:
| ESSENTIAL OILS | FRAGRANCE OILS |
|---|---|
| Natural and pure | Sometimes manufactured with natural aromatic components and other times manufactured with chemical components (not entirely pure) |
| Derived from various plant parts, including roots, leaves, herbs, grass, flowers, and resins | Could be composed of either several natural oils or of artificial/synthetic aromatic compounds |
| Retains the authentic essence/aroma and beneficial properties of the plant | Replicates Essential Oil scents; numerous scents are combined to produce a new, unique scent |
| Examples of Essential Oils: Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Eucalyptus | Examples of Fragrance Oils: Pumpkin Patch, Christmas Eve, Bubble Gum, Sun and Sand, Dragon’s Blood |
| Traditionally used in aromatherapy for therapeutic properties | Not commonly used in aromatherapy, due to absence of therapeutic properties |
| Reputed to have various health benefits | Not known to have any health benefits |
| Can be used in scented candles, household cleaners, room sprays, air fresheners, vaporizers, cosmetics, detergents, perfumes, soaps, etc. | Can be used in scented candles, household cleaners, room sprays, air fresheners, vaporizers, cosmetics, detergents, perfumes, soaps, etc. |
| Pricing depends on the source botanical as well as the extraction method | Compared to Essential Oils, pricing is typically less expensive |
| Quality, scent, appearance, and potency of oil depends on quality of growing conditions of the crop from which it is derived; inconsistencies are possible from batch to batch | Quality, scent, appearance, and potency of oil remain consistent |
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FRAGRANCE OILS?
Similar to their Essential Oil counterparts, Fragrance Oils contribute pleasant scents to products and often conjure positive memories or trigger positive associations with their scents. Furthermore, they capture unique as well as everyday scents that cannot be found in nature. Through a blend of various aromatic compounds, they are able to synthesize scents that are human-made, such as the aromas of foods, both the naturally aromatic foods as well as the odorless ones. Unlike Essential Oils, only Fragrance Oils can offer the scents of an ocean breeze, baby powder, tomatoes, mountain rain, or clean laundry.
NDA’S TOP 10 BEST-SELLING FRAGRANCE OILS IN 2019
1. Coconut Paradise Fragrance Oil: The crisp, refreshing aroma of this oil is reminiscent of the tropics, summer, and youth. Creamy top notes of Coconut blend intricately with the scents of Peaches, Vanilla, and base notes of rich butter.
2. Amber Romance Type Fragrance Oil: This warm, sensual, haunting aroma exudes nuances of Vanilla, Sandalwood, Patchouli and Blackberry, which blend with Musk at the base for a rounded, romantic scent.
3. French Lavender Fragrance Oil: This scent is reminiscent of a lovely, fragrant bouquet of Lavender flowers picked fresh from the French countryside. Its floral and herbaceous qualities combined with its balsamic, woody undertone are reputed to produce a peaceful, soothing, and grounding effect.
4. Tahitian Vanilla Fragrance Oil: The warm quality of this multifaceted and exotic fragrance gives it a mysterious, sultry, and seductive element. Its luxurious, creamy nuances are trailed by a hint of heavenly tropical flowers.
5. Lavender Fragrance Oil: This sweet-smelling scent is reminiscent of a walk in a Lavender field. Base notes of soft, mild French Lavender give this oil a soothing quality. This scent is often considered to be classic and timeless.
6. Ruby Grapefruit Fragrance Oil: The juicy quality of this scent is mouth-wateringly refreshing. With top notes of pink Grapefruit, Lemon, and Lime that meld into notes of Gardenia, Lilac, powder, and Vanilla, this scent is light as well as playful.
7. Coconut Cream Fragrance Oil: Delicious, sweet, and creamy, this fragrance exudes buttery top notes with nuances of sweet burnt sugar, Cinnamon, and Peach at its heart. Base notes of Coconut, Vanilla, and powder give it an exotic quality.
8. French Vanilla Fragrance Oil: This sweet, creamy fragrance has buttery top notes with nuances of Coconut and heart notes of sweet, burnt Coconut. Base notes of Vanilla and powder help to round it out.
9. Japanese Cherry Blossom Fragrance Oil: The light, sweet, and refreshing scent of this oil is reminiscent of spring air. Fused with top notes of Asian Pears, Rose, Mimosa petals, and Fuji Apples, it is further enhanced with seductive notes of Jasmine and Peony, which accentuate the floral notes. A combination of Vanilla, Musk, and creamy Sandalwood base notes help to round out this fragrance.
10. Vanilla Fragrance Oil: The classic, rich, creamy Vanilla scent of this oil is associated with calmness, warmth, softness, and purity. Vanilla scents are often reminiscent of desserts and positive memories linked to holidays.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH FRAGRANCE OILS?
- Create a scented candle
- Create a unique perfume/cologne
- Create a natural room spray/air freshener by diluting the Fragrance Oil in a spray bottle of water
- Give a new scent to or refresh the scent of old potpourri, car air fresheners, artificial plants, real live odorless flowers, and fabrics with stale odors
- Soak a cotton ball and leave it to lightly diffuse in areas that can benefit from freshening, such as behind garbage bins, under car seats, and inside gym bags, purses, or shoes
- Dab a small amount on letters, gift wrapping, or wooden jewelry to add a romantic touch
- Dab a small amount on wooden or fabric furniture
- Diffuse during spiritual practices, such as meditation or prayer
- Pour some down a foul-smelling drain and allow it to sit overnight
- Create scented soaps (use only skin-safe FOs)
- Create scented massage oils (use only skin-safe FOs)
- Add to a regular, unscented lotion (use only skin-safe FOs)
- Create a unique personal roll-on scent (use only skin-safe FOs)
- Create a comforting scented bath (use only skin-safe FOs)
- Add it to the wash during the rinse cycle (use only skin-safe FOs)
For more information about using Fragrance Oils to make scented candles, check out our How to Make Candles blog.
CAN I PUT FRAGRANCE OIL IN A DIFFUSER?
Because Fragrance Oils are highly flammable and thus pose a safety hazard when heated without dilution, it is highly recommended that the intended use be matched to an IFRA product type/category. For this, the IFRA Information Booklet can be a helpful resource. Once the category for the intended use has been determined, it is advisable to check the particular Fragrance Oil’s maximum dilution rate as well as the product’s flash point.
CAN FRAGRANCE OILS BE USED ON SKIN?
It is imperative to ensure that Fragrance Oils are skin-safe before they are incorporated into recipes for cosmetic products. For more information about adding Fragrance Oils to moisturizers, check out our blog titled How to Make a Natural Moisturizer.
FRAGRANCE OILS SIDE EFFECTS
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, as they may have effects on certain hormone secretions and it is unclear whether these effects are transferable to babies at these stages of development. 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.