The Aromatherapy Scene

The strong scents of plants come from aromatic oils which are in plant cells. Natural fragrances create a beautiful aura easily recognizable to consumers. You can release these oils by soaking the aromatic parts of the plants (they must be dry) in alcohol (for one week), or soaking them in mineral or olive oil (for one-two weeks). When properly prepared, they have not been associated with significant adverse reactions.

Natural fragrances are a complex mix of chemical components. The primary organic compounds are terpenes. They are extracted from odoriferous (strong smelling) things through a distillation process that passes steam over the plants, evaporating the volatile compounds which then condense in water droplets.

Aromatic (highly scented) flowers, herbs and spices, essential oils and incense have been used by people living on this continent for many centuries.

There are 200 commercially produced essential oils that are obtained from oil-bearing leaves, flowers, bark, seeds, or wood of aromatic plants. Natural fragrances tend to be more expensive than synthetic chemicals, resulting in fewer skin care product manufacturers using them. Natural fragrances should be tried on the skin and then sniffed regularly as they develop and change.

Fragrance oils are not perfume oils, they are aroma chemicals which are not diluted, and like essential oils, should not be placed directly on the skin in concentrated form. They need to be diluted into final product use.

Fragrance oils are very complex mixture, containing hundreds of aroma chemicals. The mix can either be part artificial and part synthetic, or all synthetic.

One of the major ingredients in making soap, lotion, shampoo, bath bombs and many other personal care products are fragrance oils.

The amount of fragrance oil is used is usually between 0.5% – 5%, and used in. Fragrance oils do not disperse well in water without the aid of a solubilizer.

When you want to bring some wonderful smells to your home it may be as easy as the addition of some luscious home fragrance oils such as Blue spruce, pumpkin nectarine, vanilla spice, cranberry and even rich plum.

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