Fragrance oils are liquids containing blended aromatic and non-aromatic ingredients, which can include synthetic and/or natural essential oils. They are used to add pleasant scents to various products, such as candles, soaps, and perfumes. However, fragrance oils do not have full ingredient disclosure and are considered proprietary trademarks protected by federal law. They fall under Trade Secret status with the FDA, and simply putting “Fragrance” on an ingredient list is sufficient.
Fragrance oils can be composed of various ingredients, both artificial and naturally-derived. Some of the ingredients that commonly go into the production of fragrance oils include absolutes, alcohols, aldehydes, carrier oils, essential oils, esters, and resins. Some synthetic fragrance oils can be composed of as many as 80 chemical ingredients, so these are the fragrance oils to be wary of if you have any skin or fragrance sensitivities.
In contrast, essential oils are pure liquids containing aroma compounds that are removed from the seeds, flowers, leaves, roots, and stems or bark of plants through methods such as distillation, expression, or extraction. They are 100% oil and are “neat,” meaning they have not been diluted, mixed, or processed, and do not have any additives. Essential oils are frequently used in perfumes, flavorings, and medicines.
In summary, fragrance oils and essential oils are both used to add scents to various products, but they differ in their composition. Fragrance oils can contain synthetic and/or natural essential oils, as well as other ingredients, while essential oils are pure oils extracted from plants.
