Fragrance Oils - what and why?

We're occasionally asked at markets if we use essential oils in our candles. The honest answer is yes and no. We use a blend of synthetic and essential oils to create each unique fragrance. Essential oils on their own are not strong enough to create the scent "throw" you expect from our candles. Keep reading to see why we balance natural oils with synthetic and plant-derived oils created just for candles and skincare products.
 
Fragrance oils are formulated from many aromatic ingredients derived from nature and created by scientific methods. Natural ingredients can include essential oils, resins and absolutes. Although synthetic ingredients are man-made, they are also found in nature and reproduced synthetically using highly refined scientific techniques. Many of our fragrance oils are made using plant-derived ingredients, although they are considered synthetic due to the amount of processing it takes to achieve a specific fragrance.
 
Whether we are using synthetic or essential oils to create our unique fragrances, we always ensure they're safe for your family and home. Each fragrance we create is formulated to be kid and pet friendly and safe for skin contact. We have four animals ourselves, so it's very important to us to use family friendly products. We use International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and FDA guidelines to ensure our fragrance oils are safe to burn in your home. All of our fragrance oils are candle and skin safe, which is why we can offer all of our product lines in all of our available fragrances!
 
The alternative to fragrance oil is pure essential oils. Essential oils are distilled down from the oil of the plant from which they are extracted. Although essential oils are natural and may provide therapeutic benefits, there are several drawbacks to using them exclusively without the addition of other synthetic or plant-derived oils. 
 
Many essential oils lose their therapeutic benefits when burned. They're also typically much more expensive and can fluctuate wildly in price based on many factors including weather, crop harvest, and import fees and restrictions. Essential oils also provide very little scent throw when burned in candles. It takes a much higher concentration of essential oils to create a suitable scent throw, which can be cost prohibitive and not eco-friendly. Some essential oils can also be toxic to children and pets in high enough concentrations. It is also impossible with essential oils alone to create the vast array of fragrance varieties available in our collection.
 
There are a myriad of myths regarding fragrance oils vs. essential oils. While essential oils are natural, they are not sustainable nor effective for exclusive use in our candles and skincare products. Fragrance oil blends are safe, provide a wider array of fragrance options, are more cost-effective than essential oils, and make high-quality scented candles that fill your home with the pleasing aromas you expect from our products. Our goal at Sound to Sea Candle Co. is to provide you with safe and effective products. We do this by combining natural and synthetic oils to create a product you and your family will love and feel safe using in your home! Feel free to contact us with any questions you have or if you'd like to know specific ingredients for any of our fragrances.