Essential Oils vs. Fragrance Oils

 Many people have asked me, “What is the difference between Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils?”  

There is a big difference.  Essential Oils have natural healing properties in them and come from herbs, flowers, and other plant materials that are natural and biodegradable. For example, Litsea is made from seaweed and Oak Moss is a moss. Essential Oils are not cheap. In most distillation processes it takes 100 pounds of bulk fresh herb to make 1 pound of Essential Oil. Herbs have healing properties in them. The more concentrated the resulting oil, the more beneficial it is.  This form is called Essential Oils. They can be added to natural remedy products to enhance healing processes. Fragrance oils cannot do this.  Like for instance the fragrance "Rain". There is no essential oil in "Rain". Rain is water. The scent is made in a synthetic state. Essential Oils are volatile and some of them may even be inhaled to alleviate irritations in the sinus cavity and more.  They also benefit the olfactory sense, which is part of the limbic system of the body. 

Fragrance oils have heavy chemicals in them to make them concentrated so that a little goes a long way.  They may contain as little as 1% or even less of essential oil. The rest is synthetic and can be made from petroleum products, (e.g., Vaseline). The reason for this is that it costs less and produces stronger odors.  Fragrance Oils have no healing properties.  They have certain scents, but the additives make the smell stronger and can last forever-- even after we die.  Here are some links you can check out regarding Essential oils Versus Fragrance oils.

Aromatherapy Essential Oils

Fragrance oils and Essential oils whats the difference?
 
Essential Oils and Fragrance oils whats the difference?

Do Perfumes or Colognes have essential Oils?

Perfumes or Colognes are not made from flowers or essential oils; they are made from toxic synthetic chemicals. They are a health hazard.

There are over 4,000 chemicals used to make fragrances. Almost 99% of them come from petroleum products.

Federal Agencies don't regulate the fragrance industry, even though the chemicals in perfume can damage our health that is very much like the chemicals in tobacco smoke. The chemicals in perfumes can cause cancer just as the chemicals in cigarette tobacco as well as colognes, antiperspirants, lotions, air fresheners, and some laundry products, not to mention chemicals in hair products such as hair color, shampoo, hairspray, styling gel and conditioner--that is why hair care products purchased exclusively from salons are safer than the ones on the retail market. Most salons have done the research for hair and skin.

Constant exposure to chemicals like these can cause a person to become sensitized.  Everyone has a natural barrier to protect them from harmful substances. When this barrier becomes over exposed for a long term, the barrier gradually breaks down and the immune system can no longer protect the body. This is what is called: “sensitized.” When the protective barrier is gone, a person can become very ill, exhibit extreme allergic reactions and even cause some forms of cancer, can appear.

This protective barrier can repair its self if we take away the irritants (chemicals) that are causing this problem but over long terms of exposure, it is possible to destroy it permanently.  Those in the medical profession are seeing this with more people suffering from asthma, allergies, sensitivity to certain clothing fabrics or additives, laundry soaps, deodorants, lotions, shampoos, fragrances, and many more.

We would be much better off with Essential Oils instead of harmful chemicals. Essential Oils are made from natural, growing plants that have healing properties in them.  It makes more sense for us to use natural substances, rather than harmful chemical substances. Essential oils can help to heal not only our sense of smell but our emotions and feelings of well being. People would probably be much healthier without all these artificial chemical irritants.

We choose to live and not die. So why would anyone want to put harmful things into and onto their bodies? This question baffles the mind. Fragrance for profit is a major industry. I don't understand why anyone would want to make a profit on something that could harm others.

I myself have developed what is called occupational asthma as well as being hypersensitive. This was the result of a career as a Cosmetologist for over 30 years.  Early in my career, I applied acrylic nails to clients for over 15 years. Added to these harmful fumes, hair color chemicals and perm solutions 4 to 8 times a day over the course of 30+ years, I have become “sensitized.” This is what happens to people who are exposed to harmful chemicals. It is too bad that there was no form of adequate ventilation back at the being of my career or other protection for people in cosmetology and barber fields, such as masks and efficient ventilation systems that are more prevalent today in salons and for other kinds of jobs that have hazardous chemicals as well.   I have asthma attacks when I am exposed to the following: chemicals: perfumes, fertilizer, pesticides, laundry soaps and fabric softeners, paint and solvents, anything with fragrances in it as well as smoke of any kind.  Please, let us all choose to be healthy. 

For more information click here: http://www.ourlittleplace.com/noperfume.html and here http://www.ourlittleplace.com/mcs.html

Mesothelioma Cancer
and PLeural Mesothelioma patients are using Aromatherapy alternative treatments
as a form of stress and anxiety relief during cancer treatment.

By Jack Bleeker
June 2010
Aromatherapy eases cancer patients’ pain
(Mesothelioma)

For those diagnosed with incurable cancers, such as mesothelioma cancer, there is very little treatment available that can improve their bodies’ frail condition. Clinical therapies, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can take a toll on the body, resulting in nausea, fatigue, and depression. 

Patients struggle to hold onto their lives while their bodies are torn down by the cancer treatment. For those with a poor prognosis, they are aware of their short life expectancy period and have little hope for battling the disease.

 Although scientists and medical groups do not support complementary therapies as a treatment for cancer, there are some that have been able to improve the overall sense of well-being. Aromatherapy is one of these complementary therapies.  

Aromatherapy uses naturally extracted oils from plants to balance and harmonize the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It is a holistic medicine, one which has been used in healing practices for thousands of years.

 Each type of essential oil has a different chemical structure that has its own signature scent, its chemistry affects the way in which it is absorbed and how the body uses it. Once absorbed by the body, these oils react in different ways.  For example--peppermint eases muscle aches, eucalyptus treats respiratory problems, and lavender relaxes the body.

 The oils may be administered in several ways: directly, indirectly, or by means of an aromatherapy massage administered by a professional aromatherapist. In the massage, diluted essential oils are rubbed into the skin.

 Some mesothelioma clinics support the usage of alternative methods to treat the disease. Early studies have shown that aromatherapy may help improve nausea, reduce blood pressure, and lower pulse and respiratory rates--all results of chemotherapy and radiation.

 Mesothelioma, sometimes referred to as asbestos cancer , is a rare and aggressive cancer, one which attacks the body’s mesothelium which is the thin layer of cells lining the body's internal organs. Unfortunately, the disease lies dormant for several decades before it becomes noticeable. Because of this, and because of patients’ lack of information, those with the disease are typically unaware of their condition until they are faced with a short life expectancy period.

 For patients who have incurable cancers, such as mesothelioma, the treatment may ease extreme pain during intense chemotherapy and mesothelioma radiation treatment. Aromatherapy has also been known to relax the mind, and ease depression--a common side effect for those who are diagnosed with incurable cancers, who have little hope.

Source: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/aromatherapy/Patient/page2

http://www.naha.org/top_10.htm

It has been proven throughout history that essential oils have healing properties and also can prevent negative health issues.