Fragrance oil vs essential oil, what is the key difference?

Have you ever come across a discussion about the difference between essential and fragrant oils? It seems that the difference is the two names of the same thing. Well, that is not true, except that they are both oils. 

In this post, we are going to discuss both oils in detail. Read till the end to know more.

What is Fragrance Oil?

Man manufactures fragrance oils to create a mirror copy of the aroma of a natural ingredient like rose essence. These are fabricated in labs by blending fragrance chemicals and aroma-rich natural elements. Almost all of the commercially reclaimed brands use fragrance oils in their perfumes.

Many different synthetic fragrant products are made with one type of fragrant oil. That's why many elements are used to create one fragrance oil. 

The chemical reaction on natural ingredients makes them less volatile and increases that ingredient's fragrant life. However, chemical products can harm the human body and result in chemical reactions like skin burns or allergies.

There are two main types of fragrance oils:

Synthetic Fragrance Oils

As the name suggests, synthetic oils are produced artificially with the help of chemical elements which doesn't exist in nature. They are widely used in many perfumes to retain their fragrance for longer. As these oils are artificial, there is a chance that many chemical components create a specific fragrant oil.

Although synthetic fragrance oils seem to be a better alternative to natural oils in terms of longevity, they are unsafe to use. These are particularly dangerous for people with sensitive skin. Further, you can never judge the quality of synthetic fragrance oils because a perfumer might use cheaper chemicals for aroma retention.

Natural Fragrance Oils

Although natural fragrance oils are from natural elements, the extraction process is still conducted in labs following the isolation process. When the complex isolation process is initiated, the fragrant components in any natural scent come to form the oil.

Many users believe that natural fragrance oils are similar to essential oils. This is untrue as the aroma component is with a non-fragrant oil to make fragrances. Examples of extractions are limonene from lemons or geraniol derived from roses. These oils are best for people with sensitive skin or people who are allergic to the certain aroma. 

What is Essential Oil?

Essential oils are the purest oil created from all-natural ingredients without any synthetic mixture. These are extracted from the earth using different parts such as flowers, roots, or herbs. Steam distillation is a process of extracting oil from aromatic plants. This type of extraction not only retains the aroma of that particular plant but also keeps the beneficial elements intact.

It is safe to say that essential oils have been extracted for centuries. Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks extracted essential oils for fragrance. As no artificial processing is involved, sometimes the extraction process to make an essential oil becomes complex. Many essential oils are seasonal due to the right chemical composition of the plant to extract the oil. This causes the consistency of the oil to be equal throughout the year.

Fragrance Oil vs. Essential Oils: What's the Difference?

Let's see the differences between fragrance oil and essential Oils.

What Are They Used For?

Fragrance Oils are common in most of our daily use items, and we don't even notice that. From our discussion, you can easily guess that most perfumes, colognes, and deodorants have fragrance oils.

Apart from that, fragrance oils are also used in the following products:

- Fragrant soaps and body lotions

- Aroma candles

- Fragrant massage oils

- Air Fresheners

- Fragrant hand sanitizers

- Aromatic floor wipes

- Shampoos

- Laundry detergents with fragrance

- Crockery washing soaps and liquids

- Fragrant bubble baths, etc.

You can use fragrance oils to make your fragrant products like soaps, candles, homemade massage oils, etc. However, if you are sensitive to some scents or have overall sensitive skin, then keep an eye on products with synthetic fragrance oils because you have to avoid them.

Essential oils, one of the oldest ways of fragrance, are used in a lot of product categories. As the extracting methods retain the natural benefits of the scented ingredient, using essential oils is beneficial for health. That's why most essential oils are for meditation and aromatherapy.

Essential oil experts bifurcate its uses into three main categories.

Odorant

Due to their aromatic qualities, essential oils are ideal for daily use as fragrant items to create a positive impact on your surroundings. A few honorable mentions are:

- Colognes and perfumes

- Organic soaps

- Diffusers

- Massage oils

- Aroma candles

- Moisturizing oils

Flavors

Since essential oils are all 100% natural, they are safe to use in any food product to create a flavor. In some countries, essential oils such as olive oil or mustard oil are great for cooking.

Medicinal 

Another benefit of essential oils is their use in medicine. These oils' natural properties identify as antidepressants to cure headaches and migraines, relaxing agents during pregnancies, a cure for eczema and other skin conditions, etc. Some essential oils even cure chronic muscular pains.

What Is The Life Span of These Oils?

Comparatively, Essential Oils have more life span than Fragrance Oils.

However, the life span of Fragrance Oils also depends on their type. For example, synthetic fragrance oils have more life span than natural ones. However, the difference is not huge; it may be a couple more months.

On average, a fragrance oil lasts from six to eighteen months. Their life span depends on the storage conditions. Keeping them in a cool and dark place is ideal for storage. 

You can identify the expiry of fragrance oil if the color fades away or the smell is off or different. If you have fragrance oil, use it before its expiry date. 

On the other hand, Essential Oils have a tremendous shelf life, which is 100% natural. Their life span can range from 2 to even 15 years. Moreover, the life expectancy of any essential oil depends upon the storage conditions, better storage, and longevity.

Eventually, essential oils will expire due to the natural oxidation process. This process reduces the beneficial elements with time. If you find your essential oil to change color, lose aroma, or become less thick, it's time to replace your essential oil because it has expired. 

Common Oil Scents

So far, we know that Fragrance Oils are very common in household items ranging from air fresheners to cleaning detergents. There are a huge variety of fragrance oils available for you to use. Some of the honorable mentions are:

- Sweet Rose

- Apple Cinnamon

- New car smell

- Sea breeze

- Peppermint patty

- Spicy orange

- Candy cane

- Pine forest

Following are some of the famous plants to extract Essential Oils. Their benefits are as follows:

- Jasmine Oil. This oil can reduce your stress and anxiety by relaxing you. Its aroma is mildly sedative as well

- Roman Chamomile. This plant is rich in antidepressant qualities, and its oil can improve your sleep.

- Sandalwood. The sandalwood essential oil is perfect when you need extreme focus and mental clarity.

- Lavender. If you have trouble sleeping at night, diffuse some lavender essential oil. This will help you sleep, reduce stress, and relax you. 

- Tea tree. Tea tree-based essential oil is perfect for improving your immunity and preventing your system from infections.

- Grapefruit. The grapefruit-based essential oil is an ideal energy booster. Further, its scent keeps you happy, stress-free, and active.

Where Do These Oils Come From?

Synthetic Fragrance Oils are manufactured in labs on a high scale with the help of chemicals to create an aroma similar to a natural one. Most perfume makers and other confectionery item manufacturers use them. 

Natural Fragrance Oils, on the other hand, are from natural ingredients. However, labs process them to isolate the fragrant elements from natural ingredients. Just like synthetic fragrance oils, these oils are also part of perfume-making and other aromatic products.

All Essential Oils come directly from nature. The oil creator extracts the oil from the plant through a steam distillation process and gives you in a bottle.

Are These Oils Safe?

If you have any allergy or your skin is sensitive, then it's better to avoid all those products with Synthetic Fragrance Oils. These oils have chemicals, and any skin contact can harm you. Further, if their use is difficult to avoid, then at least cover yourself completely before using them. For example, wearing gloves and a face mask is better before using floor cleaning detergent. The same precaution is crucial if you use a fragrant insect spray.

Above all, the most secure, rather beneficial oils are Essential Oils. They are natural and in their purest form.

FAQs:

Which is better essential oil or fragrance oil?

Essential oil is better than fragrance oil. The reason is their purest natural form which has a long shelf life, is extremely aromatic, and is even beneficial for health.

Can I use fragrance oil instead of essential oil in my diffuser?

The physical appearance and aromatic properties of both these oils are the same. So, in that case, you can swap essential oils with fragrance oils for your diffuser. However, do read the instruction manual of your diffuser before swapping.

Can I use fragrance oil on my skin?

You can use fragrance oil on your skin. However, it is mandatory to dilute it first to see how your skin reacts to the fragrance. This step is essential for the synthetic fragrance oil. However, the natural fragrance oil is completely safe to use.

Where do you put fragrance oil on your body?

Generally, you use fragrance or fragrance oils on the wrists, neck, and back of the ears. However, you can put it on your clothes, under your arms and chest.

Conclusion:

The difference between fragrance and essential oils is not just the name. They both have different procedures and usage. 

Most of our perfumes and other aromatic products contain fragrance oils. On the other hand, essential oils are for massages and aromatherapy.

Now the question is, which one is better? Well, the answer is whichever you like.

May the good fragrance be with you!