What are Fragrance Oils?

March 11, 2022
Posted by CHUKS

Emmanuel Chukwunenye | 18-02-2022

Fragrance oils are a mystery combination of undisclosed synthetic chemicals or they are man-made oils, manufactured to imitate a naturally occurring scent. They are created in a lab, meaning all fragrance oils do not come fully from nature. There are two broad categories of fragrance oil: natural and synthetic.

1. Natural Fragrance Oils

Natural fragrance oils get their name because they are made by isolating naturally derived fragrance components from a complex scent. This includes limonene derived from lemons, vanillin derived from vanilla beans and geraniol from roses. Natural fragrances are pure plant extracts.

2. Synthetic Fragrance Oils

Synthetic oils are created from artificial chemical components that are not found in nature. Synthetic fragrance oils also recreate notes of different creative inspiration. Many commercial products go for synthetic oils because they hold their fragrance for much longer than naturally occurring fragrances. Synthetic fragrances are laboratory creations, and while it may not be common knowledge, they comprise almost two-third of the most popular scents we create and other perfume manufactures that are used in perfumes and other scented products. On a cosmetics label, synthetic fragrance oils could be labeled as perfume, fragrance, fragrance oil or parfum.

What Fragrance Oil can be used for

There are many uses for fragrance oils, many of which you may use in everyday life without knowing. Fragrance oils are best used in crafts or at-home scents. Here are ten popular places you can find fragrance oils, many of which you can make yourself

Scented candles
Scented soaps and creams
Scented massage oils
Deodorizing room spray
Scented lotion
Rollerball fragrances
Car air fresheners
Scented laundry detergent
Scented bubble baths
Perfume and colognes

Note: if you plan on making or using any of these that touch your skin or clothes, be sure to use natural fragrance oils instead of synthetic.

How Long Are Fragrance Oils Good For?

The average shelf life of a fragrance oil is anywhere from six to 12 months, depending on what the fragrance oil is composed of, time, temperature, and exposure to air and light. They can last longer if stored under the proper conditions, which is in a cool, dark place.

Common Fragrance Oil Scents

Fragrance oils are a common ingredient in many of your favorite, everyday items. For those wondering just how many fragrance oils are out there, here are ten examples of fragrance oils that you likely come across often: