A GUIDE TO FRAGRANCE OILS
Artisan Fragrance Oils from Luxaroma
Fragrance oils are what truly bring your range to life and can easily become the heart of your brand. That's why we take fragrance very seriously. Luxaroma produce high quality fragrance oils right here in Australia only using the finest raw materials and EROMA are proud to be working alongside them to bring Australian candle and home fragrance makers the best fragrances in the world.
For over five years, Luxaroma has helped us to test and create hundreds of new fragrances. All of our fragrance oils are designed and tested specifically relevant to applications such as candle making, reed diffusers as well as soap and body products. We have over 500 fragrances to suit any palate and mood.
About our Fragrance Oils
Fragrance oils are synthetic in substance, in that they are not formulated directly from plant origin. Having said this, many fragrance oils do contain a high percentage of essential oils. In general, fragrance oils work better in candles than essential oils, the reason being that many are fine-tuned for the type of wax, whereas essential oils are fixed in composition and can be difficult to work with.
Please read some of the following facts we are proud to relay about our fragrances:
- All of our fragrances adhere to RIFM and IFRA standards for safety and purity.
- All of our fragrance oils are packaged in phthalate-free, recyclable, PET plastic bottles.
- All of our fragrances are manufactured in Australia.
- None of our fragrances are tested on animals.
Quality Assurance
All of our fragrances undergo a rigorous triple-check quality assurance program before they are ready to sell. This is undertaken at every step of production from testing raw ingredients to completing the final batch. Every batch of fragrance oil is tested to ensure quality, scent throw and consistency between batches. This is to ensure that the fragrance always stays exactly the same. If we ever decide to modify a fragrance - we will let you know!
Fragrance Loading - Measuring and Adding Fragrance Oils
Fragrance loading is a term which refers to the amount of fragrance you have in your candle compared to your wax. Typical usage is around 10% or 100 grams of fragrance oil per 1000 grams of wax. However, we do recommend that own testing is conducted. The fragrance load you decide on can effect the fragrance throw in both cold and hot forms as well as the surface finish and overall appearance.
- Fragrance Potency Tip: If you know you are using a lighter or more subtle scent, consider adding a slightly higher ratio (e.g. 9 - 10%) in comparison to a strong scent where you could add a smaller percentage (e.g. 6 - 8%).
- Wax Appearance Tip: Most waxes will only allow up to 10% fragrance loading before it starts to negatively impact the stability of the candle. This means the candle can start to sweat, discolour and other negative appearance flaws. Some companies reduce their fragrance loading so they can be sure they can provide a product with a consistent appearance. It is important to get a good balance between consistency and a strong fragrance throw.
RULE: Calculate using Weight, not Volume!
It is very important to remember to calculate all your values for home fragrance creations using weight values (e.g. grams) rather than volume (e.g. millilitres). This is because every fragrance will have a different relevant density to another. This means measuring 30mls of two different fragrances may not always weigh exactly the same which highlights how easy it could be to ruin your calculations and testing. Measuring fragrance oils in grams is the most effective and precise method.
Once you have decided on some fragrance loading values, you can measure your fragrance oils:
- Find the Total Wax Quantity for your Container - Check the product page of the candle glass you purchased to obtain the total wax quantity the container will allow.
- Measure out your Fragrance according to your Loading - for example, if your fragrance loading is 10% and your total wax quantity is 250 grams, measure 25 grams of fragrance.
- Weigh your wax up to the Total Wax Quantity after accounting for Fragrance - for example, if your total wax quantity is 250 grams and you are included 25 grams of fragrance (10% loading) deduct the fragrance from the wax. You would need 225 grams of wax and 25 grams of fragrance
- Combine your wax and Fragrance - Add together and stir slowly and thoroughly and voila!
For more on fragrance loading, check out our blog post - A Guide to Fragrance Loading
Fragrance Oil Flash Points
When you are browsing and deciding on scents to use with your products it is important to consider the individual fragrance oil's flash point. This refers to the temperature at which a particular organic compound gives off sufficient vapour to ignite in air, but in our context, this could also relate to the level at which the fragrance oil may diminish in quality after they are exposed to a particular temperature.
This is usually an uncommon occurrence however occasionally a wax may have a higher melt point than a fragrance's flash point. So essentially, this can become a problem when the fragrance oil you are using has a low flash point (evaporates at a lower temperature).
Please take note of a fragrance's flash point and include this data in your testing.
Vanillin
One of the most commonly found ingredients in many fragrance oils is vanillin (derived from the vanilla bean), which can have the potential to discolour your products, particularly bath and body products and soaps. If discouring becomes a persistent problem in your finish, we recommend reducing the fragrance loading of any oils you're using that contain vanillin.
In order to check whether a fragrance contains this ingredient, simply visit a fragrance product page. It will outline whether or not vanillin is included as part of the fragrance oil.
Synthetic vs. Natural
When researching fragrance oils for the first time, you may be wondering what your options are regarding natural (essential) oils. Here's an overview of synthetic fragrance oils compared with natural:
- Cost- Essential oils are the ingredient of choice when developing a 100% natural fragrance, but are very expensive to use
- Availability - Essential oils are not always readily available as they are extracted from plant sources that are susceptible to ever-changing climate conditions. This factor can also lead to high prices.
- Stability and Consistency - As essential oils come from many different sources/countries, their composition can vary from batch to batch. This makes production consistency very difficult
- Restrictive Creativity - The number of raw, natural materials available is limited compared to synthetic. This can restrict the variety of fragrances that can be created.
PRO TIP: Essential oils are called essential oils because they contain raw essence. Not because they are essential to health/well being.
Conduct your own testing!
Our testing notes should never take the place of your own personal testing. Always test fragrance in all applications. We do not take responsibility for our test results differing from your test results. EROMA is not responsible for any finished products made with our raw ingredients.
Need Help? Talk To Us!
Luxaroma is always eager to hear what our customers want so they can produce new and exciting products! Having created over 550 fragrance oils, Luxaroma is sure to have something to suit your needs! Custom crafted fragrances are also available by special appointment. We can also make up some of your old favourites, there is simply a minimum quantity purchase. So if you cannot find what you are looking for, please contact us as we are confident we will be able to help. Get in touch now!
If you would like to find out further information about our fragrances, please browse our fragrance frequently asked questions.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team. You can call our customer service teams in Sydney on 02 8316 5530 or in Melbourne on 03 8372 1200, use the 'Live Chat' function on our website or fill out a query form on our 'Contact Us' page.
