Fragrance Oils Candles vs. Essential Oils Candles

When shopping for essential oil candles, the terms fragrance oils and essential oils are often mentioned side by side—sometimes even used interchangeably. In reality, these two types of oils are quite different, and understanding their characteristics helps buyers make better choices based on scent performance, stability, and intended use.

The Difference Between Fragrance Oils And Essential Oils

The main difference between fragrance oils and essential oils is that fragrance oils are manufactured in a laboratory, whereas essential oils are extracted directly from plants and other natural sources.

Essential oils were first distilled by the Arabs in their golden age. Over time, the use of essential oils became popular in a wide range of fields, including medicine, aromatherapy, cooking, as well as the fragrance industry.

Fragrance oils, on the other hand, were specifically designed to be used in candles, perfumes, soaps, and other scented products. They were engineered to create a nice, long-lasting "scent throw".

Most candle manufacturers like to use fragrance oils when concocting scented candles, since they're more user-friendly.

Essential oils are more challenging because they're more volatile, meaning they have a lower boiling point and evaporate more quickly when exposed to heat. Typically, essential oil candles don't retain their scent as long as fragrance oils candles.

Pros and Cons Of Essential Oils

Getting the fragrance just right in an essential oil candle can be tricky.

In addition to the volatility of essential oils we mentioned above, the quality of the essential oil may vary depending on factors outside of your control, such as how well the plants the essential oil came from were raised, stored, and transported.

Using only high quality essential oils yields the best results. However, quality essential oils tend to be quite pricey, especially considering how much one goes through when mixing and testing new candle fragrances.

But despite the fact that essential oils candles are pricier and more complicated, some makers prefer this option because the ingredients are all natural and may yield certain health benefits.

Pros and Cons of Fragrance Oils

Fragrance oils, instead of being extracted directly, are made in a lab. They contain a type of chemical called Diethyl Phthalate (DEP), which is used as a solvent that elevates the fragrance and makes it last longer.

Conclusion about Fragrance Oil Candles & Essential Oil Candles

Regardless of whether you prefer essential oils candles or fragrance oils candles, keep in mind that the quality of the oil used matters a lot. If you're making your own candles, you'll get better results if you buy your oil from a reputable supplier as opposed to from a craft store with cheap, mass-produced oils.

If this article was helpful to you, please take a moment to check out our collection of aromatherapy oil candles.

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