What The Heck Is Fragrance Oil?
When you poke your nose into the wacky world of designer scents, you bump into a lot of strange terminology. Essential oils are a common term you'll come across, and the base for perfumes and other cosmetics. Essential oils are made from natural plant based substances like flowers, roots, spices and herbs. Aromatherapy is based on therapeutic grade essential oils. They are not the same as fragrance oils.
What's The Difference?
Fragrance oils smell great, but beyond the smell, do not have any medicinal value whatsoever, unlike essential oils. Fragrance oils are also so super concentrated, that they need to be blended into some other substance before it can touch the skin. Fragrance oils aren't restricted to the realm of Nature - you can find fragrance oils in scents like coffee, chocolate, tobacco and leather. There are also some companies who make fragrance oils that smell like fresh dirt, baby powder or popular name brand laundry detergents.
What Good Are They?
Fragrance oils make fun additions to many crafts and supplies like candles, potpourri, soaps, lotions and incense. Some people like to place a drop on the envelopes or letters to a special someone. They are also what large companies use in order to various items like air freshening candles, laundry detergent, fabric softener sheets and scented body care products. They are incredibly concentrated, so a little bottle can stretch a long way.
Never drink any of these oils. If you accidentally do, call an ambulance. Don't let your pets or kids drink the oils, either. Some fragrance oils might be way too strong for animals or children to handle, but perfectly fine for adults. Keep the fragrance oils in dark colored glass bottles and store in a cool, dry place. People have different reactions to fragrance oils.
Suppliers of fragrance oils can be found online easily. Be sure to find one that doesn't supply businesses, but to individuals. Make sure it has a privacy policy and a return policy that you can understand before you buy. If you are not sure about the ingredients in any oil that you are considering buying, a reputable supplier will inform you of what's in it.
The making and selling of these highly sought after oils is a self-regulated business, because making any kind of perfume falls under "trade secrets". Because oil makers and resource suppliers are so intertwined, with many suppliers selling to many oil makers, that eventually any bad apples are soon sniffed out,
