Are you also wondering what the difference is between Fragrance oil and essential oils? A common question that comes up is whether we use fragrance oil or essential oil. The answer is a bit fuzzy because it's not as simple as neither boo nor bé. Some of our fragrances are 100% essential oil, for example Soothing Spa. The others are usually a mixture of fragrance oils and essential oils. But as you continue reading, keep in mind that there are cheap fragrance oils, there are cheap essential oils, but there are actually high-quality fragrance oils just as there are high-end essential oils.
What is a fragrance oil?
Quite simply, it is a combination of aroma chemicals and natural essential oils and extracts. The combination does not occur naturally but is produced in a laboratory.
What is an essential oil?
An essential oil is naturally occurring oil from, for example, plants. The oil contains the natural molecules that make lavender smell lavender. The production of essential oils does not take place naturally either, but via distillation, pressing, carbon dioxide extraction or with the help of solvents which are then removed from the oil.
So what is the difference then?
The first thing you just read is the petition. The other difference is the natural benefits that you can have with essential oils, they are not found with regular fragrance oils.
Advantages and disadvantages of the different oils?
Essential fragrance oils are often marketed as natural, healthy and sometimes even beneficial. Yes, there is both research and science around the positive properties of oils. But you almost have to break this down into an even more in-depth analysis of what the essential oils actually contain.
We can take lavender as an example. Among other things, lavender contains the molecule (R)-Linalool, which is one of the components that gives lavender its special scent. Here, many people misunderstand that the molecule (R)-Linalool is different depending on whether it is naturally produced or not. The pure molecule is the same in both essential oil and fragrance oils.
But the natural lavender scent also contains Linalyl Acetate, (R)-Lavandulol and Lavandulyl Acetate. The combination of these substances is what contributes to the healthy effects. It has long been known that lavender can have a calming and anti-anxiety effect. So you cannot get that effect with clinically produced fragrance oils as the trace elements are not included.
Which is best for the environment?
There really isn't that much to consume that is actually best for the environment!? But regarding the oils, more research is needed and, to our knowledge, there are no concrete facts on which is best or worst. But after reading up on the subject for over 6 months, we've come to the conclusion that it's pretty much cut and dried. The sad thing about fragrance oil is that they are made with other chemical substances. Equally sad is with essential oils, the amount of crop required to create a small amount of oil is insane. 1 kilo of lavender oil requires over a TON of lavender flowers. You can imagine the water consumption yourself. The advantage of the fragrance oils we use is that we work with serious producers who only use vegan ingredients that are also not tested on animals.
The conclusion we draw
We have come to the conclusion that the safest thing for our products is the mixture of fragrance oils and essential oils that we have used since the beginning. We are proud of the producers we have who manufacture everything within Europe in a safe and professional manner.
Finally, I would like to recommend a good article for those of you who are still interested.
https://bottegaolfattiva.com/2016/06/23/eteriska-oljor-doftoljor-absoluta-och-syntetiska-sattare/
