If aromatherapy or scented products have been a part of your ritual, you've likely come across two types of oils: essential oils and fragrance oils. While they may seem similar at first glance, there are various differences between the two that can affect their scent, properties, and uses.

We'll be exploring the differences between essential oils and fragrance oils, and how they are sourced and composed. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced user, understanding these differences can help you to make informed decisions on products with the right oil for your needs and preferences.

Source

Essential oils are derived directly from plant materials such as flowers, leaves, stems, roots or seeds. The oil is extracted from the plant through methods such as steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction. Essential oils can be sourced from a wide variety of plants, including herbs, spices, and flowers, and each plant species can have its own unique scent and therapeutic properties.

Fragrance oils, on the other hand, are typically made from synthetic chemicals or a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients. These oils are designed to mimic the scent of natural materials, such as flowers, fruits, or spices.

Scent

Essential oils contain the natural scent of the plant from which they were extracted. Each essential oil has a unique and complex aroma that can vary depending on factors such as the plant species, growing conditions, and extraction method.

Fragrance oils are designed to mimic the scent of natural substances, and can be made to smell like anything. They are often more intense than essential oils, and can be used to create a wider variety of scents that are not found in nature. However, they could lack the complexity of natural scents as compared to their essential oils counterpart.

Therapeutic Effects

Essential oils contain natural aromatic compounds of the plant they are extracted from and are believed to have therapeutic properties that can help improve physical and emotional well-being. 

Fragrance oils create pleasant scents, but they do not contain the natural therapeutic properties that essential oils have. Mother Nature gives in such a complex manner, which makes essential oils so difficult to recreate.

Composition

Essential oils are composed of a complex mixture of natural chemicals that are unique to each plant species, and are pure and undiluted.

Fragrance oils, however, are typically composed of synthetic aroma chemicals and other ingredients, such as carrier oils or solvents.

Transparency

Essential Oils are typically labeled with their botanical name and country of origin, which can provide valuable information about the quality and sustainability practices behind derivation of the oil.

In contrast, fragrance oils are made from synthetic chemicals, and may not provide the same level of transparency when it comes to their ingredients. While some Fragrance Oils may be labeled with the scents they are designed to mimic, they may not provide information about the specific chemicals used to create the scent.

Cost

The extraction of essential oils can be a labor-intensive process, and often takes a large amount of plant material to produce a small amount of essential oil, which can drive up costs. The quality of essential oils can also vary depending on factors such as the growing conditions, harvesting methods, and distillation processes used to create the oil. High-quality essential oils are often more expensive due to the time, effort, and expertise required to produce them.

Fragrance oils are typically made in laboratories from synthetic chemicals, which can be produced at a lower cost than natural plant materials. This makes fragrance oils a more affordable option for creating scented products.

That being said, there are exceptions depending on the type of fragrance oils and essential oils in question.

Consistency

The scent of Essential Oils can vary depending on factors such as plant species, growing conditions, and extraction method, while Fragrance Oils are created in labs and hence have the ability to ensure consistency of each batch of scents.

At Eartha, we take pride in using pure, high-quality essential oils sourced globally for formulating all our rituals. We believe that the natural scents and aromatherapeutic benefits of essential oils provide a superior experience, and strive to use the aromatherapeutic purpose of essential oils to create a natural and holistic experience that can support our Community's well-being.