The short answer is absolutely not.
Fragrance (scent) Oil v. Essential Oil
The biggest difference between a scent oil and an essential oil is that scent oils are manufactured in a lab and essential oils are made of natural materials.
FRAGRANCE OILS
Scent oils are synthetic and lab-created. They contain potentially harmful chemicals and are fairly inexpensive. They can be found in various household items such as scented candles, room sprays, perfumes and lotions. They can also be found labeled as Essential Oils in stores. But they are not true essential oils. They are chemical laden scent oils.
Some synthetic fragrance oils can be composed of as many as 80 chemical ingredients, so these are the fragrance oils to be wary of if you have any skin or fragrance sensitivities. On a cosmetics label, synthetic fragrance oils could be labeled as perfume, fragrance, fragrance oil or parfum.
Common Fragrance Oil Scents
Fragrance oils are a common ingredient in many of the items you probably have in your home, such as candles, soaps, lotions, room spray, laundry detergent, air freshener etc. While many of these products might smell good, you are actually breathing in synthetic and harmful chemicals and when applied topically, allowing them to soak into your skin. Here are some examples of fragrance oils that you likely come across often:
- Apple cinnamon
- Birthday cake
- Candy cane
- Cinnamon Stick
- Clean Cotton
- French vanilla
- Lavender
- Macintosh Apple
- New car smell
- Peppermint patty
- Pine forest
- Red Rose
- Sea breeze
- Spiced orange
- Strawberries and cream
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils are naturally occurring in nature and derived from the aromatic parts of the plant. They are more expensive and the cost is directly related to the purity of the oil.
Essential oils have been around for centuries, with use cited back to Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. These oils are well-known for their aromatic properties, and have become popular for their usage in aromatherapy and meditation, as well as their medicinal, or therapeutic, benefits.
Instead of using candles, use a diffuser with a few drops of essential oil, you can even make homemade lotions, soaps, room sprays and air fresheners at home with natural and health promoting benefits.
Popular Essential Oils & Benefits
True unadulterated Essential Oils provide healthy alternatives to many drugs and toxic products and they promote health in the body in a natural way. Some of the most common essential oils are as follows:
Peppermint: Boosts energy, aides digestion and releases muscle tension.
Lemon: Has a detoxing effect when taken internally, excellent cleaner, helps uplift mood.
Lavender: Supports better sleep, reduces stress and helps with skin issues.
Copaiba: Anti-Inflammatory, supports pain relief, promotes wound healing.
Tea Tree: Lifts immunity, anti-viral, antifungal & antiseptic properties.
Orange: Increases energy and happiness.
Frankincense: King of oils. Supports cellular function, helps with skin issues and helps relieve pain and inflammation in joints.
Roman Chamomile: Has antidepressant like effects and increases sleep quality.
Grapefruit: Energizes body and mind, uplifts mood and helps with mental fatigue and tiredness.
Rose: Reduces feelings of anxiety and stress and lifts the mood.
What Matters Most When Choosing an Essential Oil?
In a market where every company claims to have “pure” essential oils, how do you really know if the oils you’re using are pure? How do you know if the essential oils you’re buying are worthy of being used by you and your family?
Pure essential oils have an incredible potential to soothe, support, and revive you and your loved ones in a completely natural way.
Purity means an oil has not been adulterated with synthetic agents or contaminated by chemicals. If you use an oil that has been adulterated, contaminated, or loaded with synthetic fillers, you will not receive the full natural benefit of the plant. And in some cases, low-quality oils can even be dangerous and pose serious threats to your health. There are four main factors to examine when figuring out if an essential oil is pure. I will get to those shortly.
Potency means an oil has an ideal balance of chemical constituents because the plants it came from were grown and harvested in ways that produce optimal plant chemistry. Essential oils are the best quality when they are grown in locations where they are indigenous. Meaning, they are grown where they grow best and in some cases, grow naturally. For example, Lavender is native to the Old World, in places like France and others. So essential oils sourced from lavender in France would be considered the highest quality.
If you want the best essential oils, find out if the company you plan to buy from takes the following precautions to ensure the quality of their oils:
1. Plant Quality: Does the company use high-quality plants to produce their essential oils? Are chemicals and pesticides used in plant care?
Avoid essential oils that have been diluted with vegetable oil. To test this, place a couple of drops on a piece of paper. If the drop leaves an oily ring, it likely contains vegetable oil.
2. Production Practices: Does the company have safety procedures in place to guard against contamination during the production process? Are oils adulterated or are synthetic fillers added to cut costs?
You want essential oils that are free of pesticides, chemical residues, fillers, herbicides, extenders, and solvents.
3. Testing Methods: Does the company test each batch of essential oil? Is impartial, third-party testing used? Are test results available to the public?
If possible, buy from companies that will provide test results regarding the unique chemical makeup of each oil they sell. Called a GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) report, these tests are virtually the only way for the vast majority of consumers to have peace of mind that what they’re buying in fact contains the essential oil they intend to purchase.
4. Storage & Handling: Are the oils carefully processed, packaged, and stored to avoid chemical alterations caused by exposure to heat or light?
Essential oils should be sold in dark amber or dark blue glass bottles. Clear glass allows unfiltered light to enter and can cause the oil to spoil.
Never buy pure essential oils in plastic bottles, since the oils can dissolve plastic and contaminate the product.
3 Ways to Use Essential Oils
Aromatically: The aroma of an essential oil can have an immediate effect on body and brain chemistry. Think about the last time you peeled an orange. How did you feel when you smelled the oil from the rind?
Oils can be used aromatically by smelling from cupped hands, diffusing, or smelling right from the bottle. Diffuse Lavender and Cedarwood at night for a knockout combo or sniff Peppermint from the bottle for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Topically: Oils are tiny particles that are quickly absorbed by the skin and distributed through the body. Oils can be used topically by applying neat (undiluted) or diluted to an affected area. I recommend always diluting when you are new to essential oils until you determine your level of skin sensitivity and what works for you.
You may want to decrease the fine lines around your mouth and eyes with Frankincense or treat a burn with Lavender.
Internally: DO NOT use just any essential oil internally. Ensure your oils are both Pure and Potent and have been tested. The oils should also have supplement facts on the bottle. A true essential oil can be used internally in moderation, generally speaking, up to 25 drops per day. Just add a couple drops to a veggie capsule or a glass of water.
A drop of Frankincense daily under the tongue supports cellular health and a drop of Lemon in water helps to detox your liver and kidneys.
If you have been reading my blog for a while, you know that I use essential oils and absolutely adore them. I feel so empowered as a mom and wife, knowing that I can help support the health & wellness of my family using natural solutions. My husband has had 5 hip replacement surgeries, so I can assure that we are fans of the medical community. However, we turn to essential oils first for day to day issues that arise, like bug bites, acne, seasonal issues, headaches, aches & pains, sleep issues, digestion problems, stress, anxiety etc. If you would like to learn more about using essential oils to support yourself and your family, please email me and I will put you on the list for my next free Zoom/Facebook class.
