Fragrance Oils vs Essential Oils
What's the difference and what's safe?
With the increasing focus on natural, non-toxic products, you may be searching for scented candles that are safe for you and your family.
However, there's often confusion around scented oils for candles. The main questions include: are essential oils and fragrance oils the same? Are fragrance oils natural and are they safe?
Essential oils and fragrance oils are not the same. Many top-quality fragrance oils are infused with essential oils. Even though fragrance oils aren't "natural," the high-quality ones are thoroughly tested and scientifically approved for use in candles and topical bath & body products.
What are Fragrance Oils?
Fragrance oils are synthetic oils developed for their scent for use in candles and body products. Their safety is governed by the RIFM (Research Institute for Fragrance Materials) and the IFRA (International Fragrance Association).
There's a difference between fragrance oils used in candles. Cheaper fragrance oils often use heavy synthetic oils diluted with alcohol or other additives. These can smell artificial and overpowering, fade quickly, change over time, and cause allergies or irritations.
However, luxurious candles use high-quality fragrance oils that are carefully selected and blended to create balanced scents. These fragrance oils are pure, concentrated, and retain their aroma longer.
What about Essential Oils?
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years to improve physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. However, candles made exclusively with essential oils are limited and expensive.
While these oils are all-natural because they're extracted directly from the plant, they're not automatically good for you or sustainable for the earth. They are chemical compounds and should be treated with care.
For example, it takes around 23 kgs of eucalyptus to create 450 grams of eucalyptus oil, 115kgs of lavender for 450 gms of lavender oil, and a whopping 4,500 kgs of roses for 450 gms of rose oil.
Essential Oils vs. Fragrance Oils in Candles
Using essential oils to scent candles purely presents some problems:
#1. Affordability: A tiny 5ml jar of Rose essential oil costs around $200-$250. The amount of oil you would need for a candle to have any fragrance when it burns is expensive.
#2. Heat reaction: Not all essential oils can survive the heat of a candle burning. The oil can burn up and you won't smell the expensive essential oil. Also, essential oils have a low flashpoint and can combust if in high concentration.
#3. Sustainability: Growing and harvesting 4,500kgs of roses for one pound of rose oil is not eco-friendly. A fragrance oil infused with smaller amounts of essential oils is much more sustainable.
The Bottom Line
While essential oils are great, they're not cost-effective or sustainable in large quantities. Fragrance oils approved by the scientific community (RIFM and IFRA) are a more budget-friendly, eco-friendly alternative.