Essential Oils, Fragrance Oils, and Why Transparency Matters
Lately, I’ve noticed the same questions coming up again and again - from candle makers and customers alike:
• “Do essential oils contain alcohol?”
• “Are fragrance oils just chemicals?”
• “If fragrance oils are considered safe, why don’t you use them?”
• “What are we actually breathing in when we burn a candle?”
Most of this confusion doesn’t come from bad intentions. It comes from terminology, half-explanations, and chemistry language being taken literally.
So let’s slow it down and explain it properly, clearly, calmly, and without fear-based language.
This article is written for everyone: makers, customers, and anyone who simply wants to understand what’s actually in scented products.
How essential oils are actually made
Essential oils are produced using two main methods:
• Steam distillation (most plants)
• Cold expression (mainly citrus peels)
In steam distillation, plant material is exposed to steam. The heat releases aromatic compounds, which travel with the steam and then condense back into liquid. The essential oil naturally separates from the water.
No alcohol is added or used in this process.
Cold-pressed citrus oils are mechanically expressed from the peel — again, no alcohol involved.
The final oil is a complex natural mixture of aromatic plant compounds. Depending on the plant, this can mean anywhere from 50 to over 200 naturally occurring constituents.
Where the “essential oils contain alcohol” confusion comes from
This is one of the most misunderstood points.
In organic chemistry, the word alcohol does not mean ethanol, rubbing alcohol, or a solvent.
It describes a type of molecule - one that contains a specific functional group (–OH).
Some naturally occurring essential oil constituents fall into this chemical category, including: • Linalool
• Geraniol
• Citronellol
These are aromatic compounds that contribute to scent. They are not ethanol, not added alcohol, and not an alcohol base.
This is the same reason we have: • fatty alcohols in skincare
• sugar alcohols in food
Same word. Very different meaning.
So when someone says:
“Essential oils contain alcohol”
What they usually mean is:
“Some essential oil components are chemically classified as alcohols.”
That’s chemistry terminology -  not formulation reality.
So do essential oils contain alcohol?
In the everyday sense?
No. Essential oils are not alcohol-based and do not contain added ethanol.
In the chemistry sense?
Some of their naturally occurring molecules are classified as alcohols by structure.
Those are two different conversations.
What fragrance oils actually are
Fragrance oils are formulated scent blends, designed for performance and consistency in products like candles, soaps, and cosmetics.
They may include: • Natural aromatic isolates
• Synthetic aroma molecules
• Or a blend of both
Some fragrance oils use alcohol as a carrier. Many do not.
The only way to know is by reviewing the SDS and IFRA documentation for that specific fragrance.
Fragrance oils are not automatically unsafe or “bad”. They are simply built differently to essential oils.
“If fragrance oils are safe, why don’t you use them?”
This is a fair question - and it deserves a clear, honest answer.
I don’t avoid fragrance oils because they’re inherently unsafe.
I avoid them because I don’t know what’s in them.
Fragrance formulas are protected as trade secrets. That means manufacturers are not required to disclose their full ingredient breakdown - even to makers. You’ll receive safety documents and usage guidelines, but not a complete list of every aromatic component.
With essential oils, I know: • the plant source
• the extraction method
• the major constituents
• how those constituents behave when heated or applied to skin
That transparency matters to me.
I like to understand what we’re breathing in when a candle burns, and what’s going on our skin when we use a product. Not because fragrance oils are “evil” — but because knowledge matters.
This is a values-based choice, not a fear-based one.
Essential oils vs fragrance oils - the real difference
Essential oils • Plant-derived
• Highly complex natural profiles
• Can vary with season, climate, and harvest
• Often more volatile and harder to stabilise
Fragrance oils • Engineered for consistency
• Designed to perform well at higher temperatures
• Easier to replicate exact scent profiles
• Ingredient details protected as proprietary
Both: • Are volatile organic compounds
• Release scent through evaporation
• Must be used within safe limits
• Require proper testing
Do both release VOCs?
Yes - and that’s not automatically a problem.
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are what allow us to smell anything at all - eucalyptus leaves, coffee, citrus peel, rain on hot earth.
Context matters. Concentration matters. Ventilation matters.
Candle safety is not “natural vs synthetic”
This is one of the biggest myths.
Candle safety depends on: • Wick size
• Container size
• Fragrance load
• Wax type
• Proper burn testing
Not whether a scent is natural or synthetic.
A poorly wicked candle is unsafe regardless of what it’s scented with.
Why understanding this helps everyone
For makers: • Better formulation decisions
• Clearer customer education
• Less fear-based advice
For customers: • Informed choices
• Transparency
• Confidence in what they’re buying
Understanding doesn’t force anyone to choose one option over another — it simply gives clarity.
Final thoughts
When you hear:
“Essential oils contain alcohol”
That’s chemistry language being misunderstood.
When you hear:
“Fragrance oils are all chemicals”
Remember that essential oils are chemicals too — just naturally occurring ones.
And when you wonder why some makers choose essential oils only, it’s often not about fear or judgment - it’s about transparency, understanding, and personal values.
That’s the choice I’ve made, and I believe people deserve clear information so they can make their own.