For many years, the word fragrance has left a bad taste in the mouths of people who want cleaner, more thoughtfully made products.
I understand why.
Traditional fragrance oils were often associated with ingredients such as phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing preservatives. Companies were also not always transparent about what was included inside a fragrance blend. Naturally, many of us began believing that essential oils were always the cleaner and safer choice.
But the fragrance world has changed, and I believe it is important to recognize that.
I have chosen essential oils whenever possible throughout my years of formulating. I love their beautiful aromas, their connection to the plants they come from and the way they can add character to a product.
But I have also learned something important. Natural does not automatically mean safer, and synthetic does not automatically mean harmful.
What Is an Essential Oil?
Essential oils are concentrated aromatic compounds extracted from plants through methods such as steam distillation or cold pressing.
They can be wonderful ingredients, but they are also extremely powerful. Certain essential oils can irritate sensitive skin, cause allergic reactions or become unsafe when used above their recommended concentration. Some citrus oils can also increase sensitivity to sunlight.
Essential oils must be carefully selected and properly diluted. They are not appropriate for every product, every person or every area of the body.
What Is a Natural Fragrance?
A natural fragrance is generally created using aromatic ingredients derived from natural sources. This may include essential oils, plant extracts, isolates and other naturally derived aromatic materials.
The term sounds reassuring, but natural fragrance does not automatically mean that a product will be gentle or free from potential allergens. Many naturally occurring fragrance components, including those found in essential oils, can cause sensitivity in some people.
That does not make them bad ingredients. It simply means they must be formulated with knowledge and care.
What Is a Clean Aromatic Blend?
What has traditionally been called a fragrance oil is a blend of aromatic ingredients created to produce a specific scent.
Today, responsible formulators have access to much more sophisticated options. We can choose aromatic blends that are specifically made without ingredients such as phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing preservatives.
At Naturally Linda, I prefer to describe the blends we carefully select as clean aromatic blends.
That does not mean every fragrance oil on the market is automatically clean. It means companies like mine can review the supplier's documentation, ask questions and choose blends that meet our own ingredient standards.
When I consider using one of these blends, I look beyond whether it smells beautiful. I review the recommended usage level, safety information and documentation provided by the supplier. I also make sure the blend is appropriate for the particular type of product I am creating.
Why Would I Choose a Clean Aromatic Blend Over Essential Oils?
Sometimes an expertly created aromatic blend allows me to achieve a beautiful scent using a lower or more controlled concentration than I could achieve using essential oils alone.
It can also allow me to avoid using a high amount of a particular essential oil that may be irritating, sensitizing or unsuitable for the product.
A clean aromatic blend can also create a more balanced and consistent scent, remain stable longer than certain essential oils, offer aromas that cannot be achieved using essential oils alone, reduce pressure on plants that require enormous quantities to produce a small amount of essential oil, and allow more precise control over the finished fragrance.
This is why there are occasions when a carefully selected clean aromatic blend may actually be the more responsible choice.
My Approach at Naturally Linda
My philosophy has not changed.
I will continue choosing essential oils when they are safe, appropriate and add something meaningful to the formula. There will also be times when I choose a clean aromatic blend, either on its own or alongside essential oils, because it creates a safer, more stable or more beautiful finished product.
When I use a clean aromatic blend, I am not simply choosing any fragrance oil. I am intentionally seeking blends made without phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing preservatives, while reviewing the available safety documentation and recommended usage rates.
I do not choose an ingredient simply because it is natural.
I choose it because I have considered how the product will be used, where it will be applied, the appropriate concentration, the supplier's safety documentation, the sensitivity of the area, and the experience I want the product to create.
A clean product can still contain a fragrance blend.
The more meaningful questions are what is inside that blend, how much is being used, is it appropriate for the product, and did the formulator take the time to select it responsibly.
Those are the questions I will continue asking.
Because you deserve products made with both nature and knowledge.
Naturally,
Linda
