Decoding Fragrance Options
Co-authors: Auclair Walters and Jessica Brandt
DECODING ORGANIC SCENT OPTIONS
Why Choose Organic?
There are many reasons consumers prefer organic ingredients in their products. In addition to concerns over what we’re putting in, and on, our body, the environment is also a major factor in that choice for many of us. One of the main benefits of using organic ingredients is that their production assures environmental sustainability through eco-friendly practices. Simply put: the more organic products that are purchased, the more farmers are able to continue growing the organic crops that they specialize in.
Concerns with Synthetic Fragrance:
In the conventional world perfumes are mostly synthetic, often petroleum based. The International Fragrance Association (IFRA) has a list of over 3,000 materials that are being used as fragrance compounds. They may contain solvents, stabilizers, preservatives, phthalates, among many other ingredients. Some of those have been linked to some pretty serious health concerns such as migraines, asthma, endocrine disruption, and the list goes on. Something we have to consider as well is that when we wear perfume, we’re not just exposing ourselves to them, we’re exposing everyone around us to them as well. And some people are extremely scent sensitive. So making a healthy choice in this department is beneficial not just to us, but also to those around us.
What is Fragrance?
On a very basic level, fragrance generally refers to a sweet, delicate, and often flowery or fruity smell. It basically encompasses various scents often derived from fresh flowers, or others things that grow. Fragrance is a powerful thing; it has the ability to evoke memories. We associate certain fragrances with childhood memories for example. It’s creation is the result of both science, and art. And perfume has a long history, dating back a couple thousand years to the time of the Ancient Egyptians.
So what is a fragrance oil made of in our modern society? This is how it is explained by a major industry supplier of organic scent options: Our organic fragrance oils are made with the best certified organic ingredients that are kosher and vegan. These oils are extracted from plants, flowers, and fruits. They are also typically formulated with a base that includes either a carrier oil or alcohol and essential oils. Some of the organic fragrance oils are water-soluble, oil-soluble, or alcohol-soluble. There are a variety of products available to use for scenting a final product. Essential oils are probably the most well-known option to those in the natural world. But they’re not the only option.
Here are some of the scent options you’ll find giving Poofy Organics products their wonderful, organic scent properties:
Organic Essential Oil:
Source: Derived from various parts of plants (such as flowers, leaves, roots, and other tissues).
Extraction Method: Typically obtained through steam distillation (cold-pressed for citrus oils).
Components: Consists of natural aromatic compounds from botanicals.
Properties: May have therapeutic benefits and is commonly used in aromatherapy.
Organic Fragrance Oil:
Source: Processed in laboratories from organic natural compounds.
Ingredients: These oils are made without synthetic chemicals like phthalates, parabens, or artificial fragrances, but they include some natural ingredients.
Components: Created by isolating organic natural ingredients from complex scents (e.g., vanillin from vanilla beans, limonene from lemons). Ideal for sensitive skin.
Purpose: Primarily used for fragrance, not therapeutic properties.
Organic /Natural Perfume Oils:
Source: Natural organic perfume oils are made from natural ingredients. They avoid synthetic chemicals altogether.
Components: They use oil as their base, which is typically a neutral carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil or jojoba oil.
Scent Intensity: Perfume oils tend to have a more concentrated scent compared to traditional alcohol-based options.
Use: They are applied directly to the skin and are often used with an Oil roller ball.
Safety: Since they are natural, they are generally considered safer for sensitive skin.
Example: An organic perfume oil might consist of pure rose essential oil diluted in jojoba oil.
Organic Flavor Oil
Source: Extracted from organic natural ingredients (e.g., vanilla extract from vanilla beans).
Components: Concentrated flavor or scent compounds.
Usage: Commonly used in cooking, baking, and flavoring.
Examples: Flavoring oils used in baking, candy-making, or lip balms.
In the case of an organic, oil soluble grapefruit fragrance oil for example, it is simply the essence /extract /compounds from grapefruit in an organic base oil which is extracted using a process that is different from the essential oil distillation process or other extraction processes used for essential oils. They must meet the strict USDA guidelines for organic certification, so we know they only contain natural organic ingredients. Also important to note is that there are only a few companies out there offering organic fragrance oils.
Organic Fragrance Oil vs Organic Essential Oil:
Organic fragrance oils differ from their organic essential oils in that the fragrance oils are typically developed in their flavor and fragrance lab using certified organic ingredients and an organic carrier oil as the base while essential oils are directly extracted from plants. An oil is essential because it carries a distinctive scent or the essence of the plant it is extracted from. Although they are generally extracted by distillation, other processes may be utilized including expression or solvent extraction. Another key difference is that our organic fragrance oils are significantly more concentrated than essential oils.
Potential Downsides to Organic Fragrances:
There are some downsides which include the fact that these fragrances are not the strongest and require using more in product creations, plus they are already quite expensive so they can present a cost issue. Of course, we can still experience allergic reactions or sensitives even to natural and organic ingredients. But in general, there is far less risk than with synthetic ingredients. Some have concerns with overuse of essential oils. When you’re using multiple personal care products daily (shampoo, conditioner, lotion, deodorant, etc) and each & every one of them contains multiple essential oils, there’s a real cumulative effect throughout the day. Also, the fragrance does not last as long as regular fragrance oils. However, we believe the benefits of offering these safe scent options far outweigh any downsides.
The Poofy Peace of Mind:
Our fragrances and essential oils contain pure ingredients sourced from nature and no harmful additives. Not all scent options are created equal, and the key for Poofy Organics is our reliable, reputable, certified world class organic suppliers. They craft their natural plant-based perfume oils in-house using organic ingredients to create unique fragrances designed to inspire. These aroma oils are formulated in-house by their certified aromatherapists to create a range of product options.