Is it possible for natural and synthetic fragrances to have a memorable personality? Absolutely. Many popular fragrances use one or the other (and sometimes a blend of both) to create iconic scents.
Even so, you may be wondering…
Why choose one type of fragrance over the other? Is one better or worse?
We have the answer to these questions. By the end of this article, you’ll understand what natural and synthetic fragrances are, where essential oils fit in, and how to blend these scents to create a beloved fragrance.
What are Natural fragrances?
Natural fragrances are scents created from nature, including trees, and plants, and extracted from animals. Those flowery and musky scents you love? Often, these scents are often derived from natural properties. However, natural notes don’t last long. And recreating the same natural fragrances is difficult, even if you get the notes from the same sources. This is why much of the world of fragrances uses synthetic notes and bases; natural scents give inconsistent results.
Natural fragrances are beautiful, but they do take a toll on the environment. The process of harvesting scents from trees and plants has caused deforestation throughout the world. And extracting scents from animals isn’t much better — it’s a long, painful process.
Additionally, the state of natural scents fluctuates based on human interaction and climate change. If something affects the natural sources, such as a heatwave or pesticides, it may be impossible to recreate the fragrance. Synthetic fragrances aren’t susceptible to the same issues as natural notes.
What are Synthetic fragrances?
Synthetic fragrances are ‘chemical’ combinations that are used to provide a unique Scent to the products they are used in. They are present in most cosmetics and cleaning products. About 95% of the ingredients in them are derived from petrochemicals. The commonly used chemicals contain phthalates, benzine derivates, and aldehydes.
They are present in detergents, shampoos, floor cleaners, air fresheners, perfumes, handwashes, and scented candles, just to name a few. We get exposed to them either by
(i) Inhaling (since they are volatile) or by
(ii) Direct Contact (applying on the skin or touching something cleaned by such products).
Why are they used?
They are used to such an extent in our household items because of some simple reasons as follows: –
- They are Cheaper: Finding a natural alternative will cost more and add up to the MRP of the product.
- Same Smell Always: ‘Chemically’ manufactured fragrances will smell the same because they are made with the same formula. On the other hand, natural fragrances’ smell will differ depending on the process of extraction, cultivation of raw materials, and some other natural factors which humans can’t control.
- Cover-up the odor: Some products don’t smell good on their own due to the chemical already present. So, these are used to cover up that unpleasant odor.
- Adding Aroma- Sometimes, these fragrances are not required at all. They are just added to introduce an aroma that will be used as a ‘marketing feature’.
But synthetic perfumes are harmful to our health. So, to overcome that one solution will be to use essential oils, which are extracted from natural raw materials such as flowers, herbs, spices or barks. They are pure and of therapeutic grade. It is just required to do some research before using them. And instead of artificial perfumes, you should go for Natural Attars, which are made from these essential oils. Oils are diluted to make attars for making them ‘skin-friendly’. They are long-lasting as well.
It is not easy to ditch such products and switch to a better option because that will be a tedious task and also heavier for our pockets. But try to make some smart decisions wherever you could and find some new ways to prevent you and your family. So, that’s why we come up with the most affordable natural attars which have no chemicals in them.
