Yoga >> Articles >> Aromatherapy Essential Oil

Fragrance Oil Types And Different Uses

Submitted by Kevin Pederson on July 21, 2009

Scented fragrance oils, unlike essential oils, do not contain only the distilled and natural essence of a plant. Artificial fragrances and perfumes are added to fragrance oils to give them their distinct scents. Moreover, scented oils are more commonly used for their fragrance as they do not possess the same therapeutic properties that essential oils do. This is because in scented fragrance oils the essential oil used in it is diluted with artificially created substances and carrier oils.

Types. There are two types of scented fragrance oils available in the market: natural and synthetic. Natural fragrance oils basically contain an essential oil along with a carrier oil. These oils can be used in bath and beauty products and can also be applied to the skin since they contain most of the benefits of aromatherapy oils. However, it is important to read the label carefully before inhaling or applying these oils. Synthetic fragrance oils, on the other hand, are purely artificial. These are made from chemicals in a laboratory to imitate the smells that they are supposed to represent. These are not aromatherapy oils and do not contain any essential oils; they should never be applied directly to the skin.

Uses. While it is true that some scented fragrance oils lack the therapeutic aspects of pure essential oils, they are extremely useful for various purposes. Natural scented fragrance oils, as mentioned before, are often used in beauty and bath products and cosmetics. Some examples include scented body oils, scented bath salts, and scented body lotions. While these do provide aromatherapy benefits to some extent, they are scented primarily for the purpose of providing fragrance. Synthetic scented fragrance oils are used as effective room fresheners. Scented oil candles as well as scented oil diffusers help in providing a pleasant fragrance to the area in which they are lit or placed. Scented oil burners are also another effective method of making your home fragrant. However, these should be used with caution and proper safety instructions must be followed. Remember that synthetic fragrance oils should never be used as aromatherapy oils; in other words, they should not be applied directly to the skin as they are artificial and made purely for the purpose of providing fragrance. When deciding which oil to use, it is always better to opt for aromatherapy essential oils when using it on the skin for therapeutic benefits and to opt for scented fragrance oils when using it as a home or room freshener.

Fragrances. Many different fragrance oils are available, and more often than not, the choice of fragrance is the most difficult one to make. The most commonly available fragrances include lavender, tea tree, rose, jasmine, pine, lime, clove, tangerine, and grapefruit.