Natural Fragrances? You Decide.
- Laetitia Martin
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
Detoxifying the Perspective
Is it toxic? Will it be safe? Is it organic or maybe natural? Something tells me we are slightly consumed with this quest for natural, and it's become more than the simple lifestyle choice it was intended to be. I think it's time for us to pull ourselves up, and rise above the din. Take a top-down view of the whole natural rave, and assess it. Look at it. What do you see? I see fear-blinded people, running after that product guaranteed to clear the air in their house, saving them from taking a last contaminated breath. Then tomorrow they're ransacking their own house removing all the furniture because the filler in the couch cushions is releasing... what? I don't know. You name it. Something toxic.
While most people reading this blog probably aren't at those extremes, take a minute to examine your your pursuit of natural. Are you enjoying it or are you stressing it? If you find yourself stressed over it, try switching your focus a little. Instead of asking "is this harmful, or does that contain toxins", try "how about going to the local farmer's market and getting a some fresh fruit and veggies instead of the prepackaged snacks from the grocery store". And if you're concerned about pesticides and other chemical sprays, find a corner in your yard, and try your hand at growing a few raspberry bushes or strawberry plants, or whatever your favourite fruit is!
Bottomline though - don't ask "is it toxic, or will it harm me". Learn to ask, "what is a simple natural choice I can make today to better myself and those I serve." Learn to look for healthy natural alternatives for cheaper, lesser quality items. Be okay with taking small, incremental steps. You don't have to 'ditch & switch'.
Natural Fragrance Oils? You Decide.
Yes. I want you to decide for yourself. Nobody agrees on the subject of whether or not natural fragrances should be used, or if they are safe. I will do my best to lay out the facts as they are, and then allow you to put your detoxified perspective assessments to work to make an educated decision on what works best and is most beneficial for you.
The Process - How Natural Fragrance Oils Are Made
For the sake of a reference point and ease of understanding, I'll be referring to the process of harvesting essential oils in my explanation of the process of making natural fragrance oils. Actually, I have an even better idea! Let's join a chemist for a little while, and watch the process. Meet me in the lab!
On the lab table the chemist has citrus fruits and herbs. He has two projects today: extracting sweet orange essential oil, and creating a citrus and herbal oil blend. He extracts the sweet orange essential oil first. In the orange are what we call complex scent compounds. He has only to extract these compounds by distillation, and he will have a complete essential oil.
When he is ready to create the fragrance oil, he takes each of the plants and fruits he chooses for his blend and begins to isolate single scent compounds from the different plants and fruits. The complex scent compounds that were in the orange he used before, and in each of the other plants he has picked are made up of single scent compounds, called isolates. He extracts the complex scent compounds from several different plants and fruit. From the complex scent compounds he isolates the single scent compounds, and then putting them together he creates the citrus and herbal oil blend.
Now let's step out of the lab and talk for a minute. You asked if he was going to add more chemicals to the solution. Possibly. He might. Maybe he wants to add a fixative to the solution to preserve the scent. Or in the event of a supply chain issue, he could also replicate any of the scents he used with a lab created chemical compound. The good part is though, often he won't need to replicate scents. When creating scents with different compounds, if the supply of a certain plant is low, the isolate or isolates that were used from that plant can typically be found in other plants.
Well, what did you learn in the lab? Maybe you need to sleep on it before answering. That's okay. And hey, drop a comment below before you leave, and let us know what your opinion is on natural fragrance oils, or any health thoughts or questions you have for that matter.
Natural Fragrance Oils in Skincare
So if you're just not sure whether or not to use natural fragrances, or maybe have experienced health issues that cause you to be intolerant to fragrances, or you just want to be on the safe side, there are lots of skincare products to choose from that will fully support your needs. Look for unscented products, or ones made with essential oils such as the products linked below.
Unscented, Lavender, and Patchouli Soaps
Unscented & Lavender Lotions
If you love scent, and simply want something a little more on the natural side, check out the products linked below.
*Note: all of the products listed above include either an unscented option, or an essential oil scented option, plus several naturally fragranced options.
This is crazy again for me. For the longest time, I was under the illusion that I should read all of the labels and avoid anything unnatural-from Phthalates in the milk to perfumes. But again, that became too busy and stressful. Ironically, doing a project involving online reputation management agencies made me really realize the depth of fear-based information. It taught me to do my research, make a study of it, stay balanced, and spend with practical and healthy choices instead of pursuing wellness as perfection. Thank you for that free and refreshing perspective-it is much needed right now.