Are Essential Oils Or Fragrance Oils Better For Candles?

ByAria Parker

Essential oils and fragrance oils are both commonly used to scent candles, but they have some key differences. Essential oils are extracted from plants and contain natural aromatic compounds, while fragrance oils are synthetic recreations of scents. When making candles, crafters must decide whether the purity and complexity of essential oils is worth the higher cost compared to cheaper, stronger synthetic fragrance oils.

This article compares essential oils and fragrance oils for use in candle making. It examines fragrance strength, complexity, variety, burn properties, safety, and cost to help candle makers determine which option is better suited for their needs.

Defining Essential Oils

Essential oils are natural oils extracted from plants through distillation or mechanical methods like cold pressing. According to Healthline, “Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. The oils capture the plant’s scent and flavor, or ‘essence.'” (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-are-essential-oils). The key compounds that give each oil their unique aromatic properties are naturally present in the plant source.

As Young Living explains, “In purely practical terms, essential oils are concentrated compounds extracted from aromatic plants to capture that plant’s scent, flavor, and therapeutic properties.” (https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/learn/what-are-essential-oils). Essential oils are generally more expensive than synthetic fragrance oils due to relying on natural plant sources.

Defining Fragrance Oils

Fragrance oils are synthetic oils that contain both natural and synthetic compounds. As explained by Sensoria, “the phrase ‘fragrance oils’ are synthetic oils most of the time. They are man-made oils manufactured to imitate a naturally occurring scent or create a completely new fragrance.”

Fragrance oils are designed to mimic natural scents like fruits, flowers, and spices, or they can create unique fragrances that don’t exist in nature. According to Carvansons, “Fragrance oils are a blend of speciality aromatic chemicals which are developed for their unique odour.”

One of the main differences between fragrance oils and essential oils is cost. As AromaWeb states, “Generally less expensive than essential oils, fragrance oils allow manufacturers to attain a certain scent for less money.” This makes fragrance oils a more budget-friendly option for products like candles.

Fragrance Strength

Essential oils have a light to medium strength. They are limited by what the natural plant materials can provide. Fragrance oils on the other hand can be formulated for very strong scents since they are artificially created in labs. According to FragranceX, fragrance oils tend to have much more concentrated scents than essential oils.

If you need a very strong or long-lasting scent, fragrance oils are the better choice. Essential oils will provide more subtle, delicate fragrances. It depends on the intensity you prefer for your candle. Strong candle scents may work better in large open spaces, while essential oils can provide pleasant mild aromas for home use.

Fragrance Complexity

Essential oils have complex natural scents that can contain hundreds of different aromatic compounds. For example, bergamot orange essential oil has over 300 individual components that combine to create its unique citrus, fruity, spicy profile (https://www.fragrancex.com/blog/fragrance-oils-vs-essential-oils/). It’s impossible to truly recreate the complexity of essential oils in a lab.

Fragrance oils, on the other hand, can mimic complex scents by blending aroma chemicals, or create simple singular scents focusing on just one or two notes. While fragrance oils can approximate certain complex essential oil scents, they lack the nuances and depth of the real thing (https://calmoura.com/blogs/stories/essential-oils-vs-fragrance-oils). Fragrance oil producers have gotten better at creating more multi-dimensional synthetic scents, but essential oils still lead in terms of fragrance complexity.

Scent Variety

Essential oils offer a limited range of natural scent options, usually derived from botanical sources like flowers, fruits, trees, roots, and spices. Common essential oils used in candles include lavender, lemon, bergamot, patchouli, jasmine, rose, and cinnamon. In total there are only about 300 essential oils available (source).

In contrast, fragrance oils provide nearly endless synthetic scent options. Fragrance oils can replicate natural scents as well as imagined aromas like cotton candy, caramel, and vanilla cake. Fragrance oil manufacturers blend aroma chemicals and natural extracts to produce complex scents. There are over 3,000 fragrance oils for candle making currently on the market (source).

If you want to create candles with unique or specialized scents like blueberry muffin or ocean breeze, fragrance oils offer far more versatility. Essential oils are limited to naturally occurring botanical aromas.

Burn Properties

One of the key differences between essential oils and fragrance oils is how they burn in candles. Essential oils tend to burn cleaner and produce less soot according to CandleScience. The natural properties of essential oils allow them to burn cleanly without leaving much residue behind. Fragrance oils, on the other hand, can produce more soot because they contain synthetic ingredients and added chemicals. The composition of fragrance oils makes them more likely to leave soot marks and residue behind after burning, compared to the more natural makeup of essential oils.

When burning candles, essential oils can provide a cleaner experience because of their minimal soot production. Those looking for candles that burn cleanly may want to opt for essential oil-based options. Fragrance oil candles can still be enjoyed but may require a bit more maintenance and cleaning due to their higher soot output.

Skin Safety

Essential oils are generally considered safer for skin contact than fragrance oils. According to Malee Boutique (source), essential oils are made of natural plant-derived compounds that are less likely to cause irritation. However, fragrance oils contain synthetic ingredients that can potentially sensitize and irritate skin for some people.

According to Dr. Nick’s (source), fragrance oils are a common trigger for contact dermatitis and other skin issues when used undiluted or in high concentrations. Certain fragrance oil ingredients like phthalates and synthetic musks have been linked to skin irritation and allergic reactions in studies. However, most fragrance oils are safe for the skin in low concentrations in products like soaps and lotions.

When using essential oils or fragrance oils in skincare products or candles, it’s important to follow usage guidelines and dilute them properly. Essential oils are generally safer for direct skin contact, while fragrance oils may be a concern for people with sensitive skin unless diluted significantly. Testing oils on a small patch of skin first is advised to check for any irritation before wider use.

Cost Comparison

Essential oils often cost significantly more per ounce compared to fragrance oils. According to CandleScience [1], fragrance oils are generally inexpensive, especially when purchased in bulk quantities, whereas essential oils can be quite pricey. For example, a 5ml bottle of rose essential oil may cost $200-$250 because it takes 22 pounds of rose petals to produce that small amount [2].

various essential oils and fragrance oils in different colored bottles

The reason for the price difference is that fragrance oils are synthetic and can be manufactured efficiently at scale, while essential oils require a large quantity of plant material. As a result, fragrance oils are cheaper for candle makers, but you need a higher concentration of fragrance oil to achieve the same scent intensity as essential oils [3]. Ultimately, fragrance oils provide cost savings, but essential oils may allow using less oil for a strong aroma.

[1] https://www.candlescience.com/the-difference-between-essential-oils-and-fragrance-oils
[2] https://www.scenteddesigns.com/blogs/scented-candles/fragrances-oils-vs-essential-oils
[3] https://www.bmvfragrances.com/blogs/fragrance-oils-vs-essential-oils-which-is-best

Summary

In recap, essential oils and fragrance oils both have their pros and cons for candle making:

Essential oils:

  • 100% natural
  • More complex, layered scents
  • Limited scent varieties
  • More expensive
  • May not have strong scent throw

Fragrance oils:

  • Artificial synthetic scents
  • Very strong scent throw
  • Huge variety of scents
  • Less expensive
  • Not as complex or layered in scent

For candle making, fragrance oils often work better to ensure candles have a strong hot and cold scent throw. Their variety and affordability also makes testing and exploring new scents easier. However, for those who prefer natural ingredients, essential oils can provide beautiful layered scents, albeit for a higher price. Testing different dilution ratios is recommended when using essential oils in candles.

Overall, fragrance oils are usually the best choice for beginner candle makers looking for reliable cold and hot scent throws at an affordable price. Essential oils can provide a worthwhile candle-making challenge for more advanced crafters who enjoy natural scents and don’t mind a weaker throw.

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