The difference between Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils
Many of us are often confused with the terms of Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils as the same thing, because of the fallacious practice of using these terms conversely.
These two oils can sometimes be used for same purposes but they are different in a number of ways; they are chemically different, contrasting properties and the pricing.
What are the Essential Oils?
Essential oils are made of all natural substances. They are concentrated extracts of various parts of plants such as the stem, leaf, wood, flowers, roots and many more. Essential oils are difficult to reproduce synthetically because they can be made up of 50-500 different naturally occurring chemicals found in the plants and may have positive and negative effects. These oils are pure extraction that are made through the process of steam distillation and solvent extractions or cold pressing.
Steam or water distillation - This involves heating the components until a gas is released, then condensing the gas back into a liquid. It’s a gentle process that ensures the sensitive compounds don’t break down.
Solvent extraction or Cold pressing - This process works by mechanically pressing or squeezing plant matter to cause it to release essential juices or oils. A simple example of this would be smelling the fresh scent of lemon after squeezing or zesting a lemon peel.
Health Benefits
Essential oils have many uses in aromatherapy, can be used in body massage, a diffuser or humidifier or in common health conditions like sore muscles, headache, depression, sinus infections, anxiety and other problems that can positively affect physical, emotional and mental health. In fact, it can also be used to kill germs. See our own Linen and Room spray made with essential oils. Click here to SHOP.
Price
Since pure plant extraction is really hard to do, Essential oils are typically pricey than Fragrance oils. Given the fact that we have different season for the flowers and plants to bloom every year, the availability of making essential oils are not easy to recreate. It takes an enormous plant material to produce a small quantity of essential oils, so if you see a cheap and in low price of it, high chances — they are fake!
What are the Fragrance Oils?
Fragrance oils are synthetic products created in a laboratory and doesn’t have the natural properties of essential oils. Manufacturers use chemicals, artificial scents and perfumes to create almost any aroma in a fragrance oils. They are non-volatile and have a strong smell that last longer than the essential oils.
Health Benefits
Fragrance oils don’t provide the same health benefits as essential oils, as they’re designed purely for the giving a strong and longer scent. They are primarily made for colognes, perfumes, cosmetics and flavorings of soaps and candles (they are producing better scent in hot temperature) to enhance the smell of the product.
Price
There is no need for plant extraction in making these oils, so unsurprisingly, it is much cheaper! You can see it everywhere. Many companies are using fragrance oils in their products and this can be produced easily.
Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils are made with different uses, it is up to you whether you choose to use either of them depending on your needs. Remember, if you need to feel more relax and prevent some allergies — go with the Essential Oils. Then, if you want to smell fresh and feel the scent longer — go with the Fragrance Oils.
It’s still best to always read the description of each products that you are going to use since they have each pros and cons. Each of these oils can cause irritations and allergies if there is to much exposure — if it occurs, see a doctor immediately.
We hope this helps you a lot on deciding which one to use. Check other blogs for more information.