How Fragrance Oils Can Make You Feel Better
Fragrance oils are made to mimic a natural scent using a combination of aroma chemical compounds. They can be used to add a scent to soaps, hair and skin care products, air fresheners, cleaning products, and more.
These products are usually more affordable than essential oils because they contain only a fraction of the amount needed to create the same scent. Plus, they are less susceptible to batch variation.
They Enhance Your Mood
A few spritzes of fragrance oil can make you feel instantly better, even when you’re feeling overwhelmed by work deadlines or family commitments. Some scents like lavender are known for their relaxing properties, while others – such as cedar wood – are grounding.
Fragrance oils are made by isolating and combining naturally-derived fragrance components such as limonene from lemons, vanillin from vanilla beans or geraniol from roses to create new and unique combinations of scents. The result is a synthetically produced oil that is safe to use in soaps, lotions and other leave-on products. These are the best choice if you have allergies or sensitive skin, but still want to enjoy the benefits of scented oils.
While Essential Oils are derived directly from plants, fragrance oils are synthetically produced and can be found in many products we use every day such as laundry detergents, soaps and hand sanitizers. They can also be used in home-crafted beauty and cleaning products, room sprays and scented candles. They can mimic natural and everyday scents like an ocean breeze, baby powder, tomatoes or fresh laundry.
They Help You Sleep Better
When used sparingly, fragrance oils can help you sleep better by signaling to your brain that it is time for bed. In addition, fragrance can mask less appealing smells like sweat or smoke, which might be keeping you awake. Fragrance oil can also mellow out your mood and reduce stress and anxiety, which makes for a more restful night.
Fragrance oils are a concoction of multiple chemicals that do not come from, nor even resemble their natural sources (think banana candy, instead of real bananas). These are found in a myriad of products, from perfume and body care to scented candle lines and deodorants. Oftentimes, these chemicals are unlabeled fragrance oils and hidden in the ingredient list, so that you cannot tell what they are.
When sprayed or rubbed into the skin, they are picked up by the olfactory sensors in the nose and sinuses and travel to the limbic system in the brain. This part of the brain controls our emotions and can be influenced by scents. Several fragrance oils have been found to calm the nervous system and prepare it for sleep, including lavender, ylang ylang, and chamomile oils.
The best way to use a fragrance for sleep fragrance oils is to create a nighttime ritual that signals your body and mind that it is time for rest. Creating a routine will help you relax and fall asleep at a more consistent pace, resulting in a deeper, more restful sleep.
They Help You Mask Body Odor
The smell of sweat is a natural part of the body’s cooling system, however, chronic body odor can be caused by diet and other health factors. Thankfully, fragrance oils are a great way to mask this unpleasant odour. In fact, a perfume made from a mixture of the right ingredients can leave your skin with a fresh and pleasant scent all day.
Perfumes that contain alcohol linger for much shorter periods of time than oil-based perfumes, meaning you have to reapply them more often throughout the day. Fragrance oils, on the other hand, last longer and can be paired with essential oils to create a more complex scent.
While it’s important to note that fragrance oils are synthetic, they can be formulated with up to 80% Essential Oils and can have many of the same benefits as pure Essential Oils. They are used in scented candles, room sprays, air fresheners and vaporizers as well as cosmetics, soaps, detergents and shampoos.
It’s also important to note that unlike Essential Oils, Fragrance Oils are a safety hazard when heated and should be diluted before using on the skin. They must also be stored properly to prevent oxidation and keep them at their optimal state. This is why they are stored in dark glass bottles. This will help protect the delicate molecules from light and heat.
They Help You Feel Confident
Aside from smelling great, fragrance oils also help you feel more confident. If you use the right scent, it can boost your mood and give you the courage to take on whatever comes your way. Some of the best fragrance oils for confidence include grapefruit essential oil, sweet orange essential oil, and lemon essential oil. These oils help you cope with stress, anxiety, and nervousness. They are also effective in promoting mental clarity and easing depression.
Fragrance oils are made by isolating natural fragrance compounds from different plants and mixing them together in a lab. They are body-safe and can be added to scented candles, household cleaners, room sprays, air fresheners, vaporizers, cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, and other products that touch the skin and hair. They are a good option for people with sensitive skin since they contain less ingredients and evaporate slower than alcohol-based perfumes.
The average expiration of fragrance oils is about 6-12 months, but they can last longer if they are stored in a cool and dark place. They can degrade faster if they are exposed to sunlight and heat.
While fragrance oils are not as natural as essential oils, they do offer many benefits. They are also cheaper than essential oils and they are more stable in low-temperature cold process soap. However, if you want to avoid the synthetic chemicals in perfumes, then it is best to go for 100% essential oils.
