When I started making soap and skin care products, I didn’t know the difference between a fragrance oil and an essential oil. In my experience with the public, I have concluded that 99% of the population has no idea what the difference is either.
FRAGRANCE = SYNTHETIC Because smells are so important to us, and have an impact on memory, brain function etc., we fall “prey” to the industry of fragrance. Just think about it. We use dish soap, hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, hair products, lotions, creams, masques, and many other daily use products that contain fragrances. Here’s the catch. Fragrance oil companies do not have to divulge their ingredients because they are protected under legislation regarding proprietary recipes. What about OUR protection??? Ever wonder how that smell stays on your skin for soooo long? or how the fragrance “apple” or “peach” is concocted? I can’t buy an essential oil that smells like a yummy granny smith apple or a georgia peach because these essences cannot be captured in nature – only in chemicals.
Our skin is the largest organ of our body and the most susceptible to invasion by damaging chemicals. Just you try to find out what’s in a fragrance oil – good luck.
Essential oils, on the other hand are distilled (preferably by steam distillation) from plants. Sometimes it’s the leaves (as in cinnamon leaf oil) sometimes the flowers (as in lavender) sometimes the roots and branches. Reputable essential oil distillers bring a natural product to skin care that has positive attributes without any of the chemical toxins used in fragrance oils.
Essential oils can be expensive and have a shorter shelf life than fragrance oils. It’s worth the extra investment to use what’s found in nature, especially on your skin.
What we don't see 