Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Fragrant extracts VS Essential oils. Which is gentlest to the skin per unit of scent?

  • Fragrant extracts VS Essential oils. Which is gentlest to the skin per unit of scent?

    Posted by Zink on March 6, 2015 at 4:14 am

    I don’t have the exact figures, but it seems like a significant amount of people are sensitive to various essential oils, so if trying to mask a scent or give your formula a mild, pleasurable one - are there extracts that are less likely to cause contact reactions that also can impart noticeable fragrance to the formula if used at a say >5% concentration?

    In other words, looking for the gentlest way to impart or mask scent in a formula without using perfume to maintain the fragrance free label.

    Zink replied 9 years, 8 months ago 6 Members · 10 Replies
  • 10 Replies
  • heraklit

    Member
    March 6, 2015 at 10:58 am

    Three essential oils without allergens are Chamomile - Peppermint - Eucalyptus. But isn’t >5% too much?

  • Zink

    Member
    March 7, 2015 at 9:13 am

    Yes for essential oils, but extracts are usually weaker in scent :)

  • sainthil

    Member
    March 7, 2015 at 4:11 pm

    Essential oils generally hold up better in a formula. Always 1% or less is what I’ve heard/read.

  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    March 7, 2015 at 5:06 pm

    It really depends on what scent you’re trying to mask? Perhaps best to try to compliment that scent as opposed to overpowering it.

  • belassi

    Member
    March 7, 2015 at 5:14 pm

    Agree with Mark. Actually I think it was Mark who advised me to complement the odour of TTO with herbals. I did that and got rave reviews for the aroma combination.

  • Zink

    Member
    March 7, 2015 at 7:20 pm

    @heraklit That’s very interesting, what’s your source for the info?

    In my case it’s the slight scent of lactic acid, smells a bit like ant pee. Any specific extracts that could compliment or help that?

  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    March 7, 2015 at 7:59 pm

    @Zink:

    You might contact IrinaTudor who is the resident expert on fragrances/scents on this forum.  She may have some ideas/suggestions for you.
  • heraklit

    Member
    March 7, 2015 at 8:09 pm
  • braveheart

    Member
    March 7, 2015 at 9:28 pm

    Yes, I agree with Mark; Recently, I tried to boost a Channel No.5-type scent with palmarosa EO, I was wrong, it overpowered it and ruined the batch. EOs are brilliant at boosting, but one has to pick the right one to boost the scent otherwise, the scent won’t be noticed at all.

  • Zink

    Member
    March 11, 2015 at 5:53 am

    @MarkbBroussard done! will see if she chimes in.

    @heraklit thanks, also surprised how large % limonene a lot of EOs have.

Log in to reply.

Chemists Corner