Essential Oils vs Synthetic Fragrances

One of the places that we order essential oils from also sells synthetic fragrance oils and they often send us samples with our order.  Since we use essential oils exclusively in our products the synthetic fragrances never get put to use, but the fact that we get samples for free and have never received essential oil samples is telling.  It's the reason synthetics are used so much in the first place; they're cheap.  So why don't we use synthetic fragrances in our handcrafted soap and other products?  There are a few reasons. The first one is that they don't smell as good.  This might seem obvious since creating a lavender scent in a laboratory is naturally going to fall short of actual lavender oil.  But there are some things you can't get with using natural oils.  For example, it would be difficult to achieve a good popcorn scent, or "ocean mist" or lilac etc.  But I find that there are so many wonderful scents that can be extracted from nature that it seems unnecessary to use synthetics.  Some include: Natural  peppermint, lavender, rose, patchouli, eucalyptus, orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, clove.  The simple fact is that synthetics are used because they are cheaper and easier.  Which is generally a good reason to use something provided that they aren't also worse.  Which brings me to the second reason we don't use synthetic fragrances.  They are not healthy to work with, or put on your body.  Not only do they lack the therapeutic properties of essential oils, but they also have many irritating and harmful properties.  When you look at the ingredients on a lotion bottle and it says "fragrance" or "perfume" that one word can represent 200 different ingredients that aren't specifically listed.  Many people have an allergic reaction to synthetic fragrances that can range from a skin irritation to headaches and nausea.  Here is a short list of scents that you know are synthetic when you see them because they don't exist as essential oils:
Cucumber, lilac ( I get a lot of people looking for this kind of soap), Apple, April Showers, Melons, Bubble Gum,
Rainforest. The list can go on and on, but this is just an idea of what to look for when avoiding synthetic fragrances.
 Some companies also use a mixture of synthetic fragrances and essential oils. There are synthetic peppermints and synthetic lavenders. Also, when you see a product scented with vanilla, jasmine, rose and/or sandalwood they are most likely synthetic. These are all available as essential oils too, but are so expensive not many companies use them in their pure form. The price depends on how much plant matter is needed to extract a decent amount of oil. For instance: you need 1,000 pounds of jasmine (3 million flowers) to make a pound of jasmine essential oil and you need 2,000 pounds of fresh rose petals to make a pound of oil. In comparison, you need 100 pounds of lavender flowers to make a pound of essential oil. I have found a reliable source who sells pure jasmine and vanilla oils at a reasonable price so I am able to use them in some of my products but keep it to a minimum because of the price. When buying beauty products it can be hard to know what are essential oils and what are synthetic fragrances. For the most part, avoid any products that list "fragrance" or "perfume" as an ingredient. Look for products only containing essential oils. After awhile, your nose will know what to avoid.
I have found a great company who makes and sells 100% natural and organic flavor oils. I have been experimenting with these oils and currently use some in my products. They are raspberry and coconut. These flavor oils may not contain the many therapeutic benefits essential oils do, but a lot of my customers and my family, love the way they smell. And it is good to know they don't contain the harmful ingredients like synthetic fragrances do. But I love that I have the option to offer these to my customers.

What is your favorite scent? Is there a synthetic scent that you wish was available in an essential oil?

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