Fragrance Oils vs. Essential Oils: The Great Candle Debate
If you're a candle lover like us, you've probably encountered the debate about whether candles that use essential oils are healthier, cleaner, and safer for your home. You may have even seen both at a popup event and wondered whether you should opt for an essential oil candle (this is often used by makers as a selling point) rather than one that uses standard fragrance oils.
What you might not know is that many, if not most, Essential Oils are not formulated or safe for use in candles. Due to low regluation requirements for selling candles, occasionally you may even come across a candlemaker who doesn't realize this, and will still sell you a candle despite lacking a clear understanding of what they're selling.
We're here to set the record straight! Let's dive into why fragrance oils are often the star of the show in candle-making, why essential oils might not always be the safer or cleaner choice you think they are, and what to look for and ask about in an EO candle to make sure they're delivering on their clean, natural promises.
Fragrance Oils: Tried and True
Composition and Variety
The vast majority of candles are made with "Fragrance Oils," rather than essential oils. Fragrance oils are complex mixtures that can include both natural and synthetic aromatic compounds. These oils are specifically designed for their consistent and powerful scents, making them a favorite in the candle industry for performance, safety, and variety. They can create unique and complex aromas by blending multiple notes that are difficult to achieve with essential oils alone (The Candle Land) (CandleScience). Additionally, they're generally safe to blend with each other, giving makers the options to use notes to create new blends of their own.
Safety and Stability
Fragrance oils are formulated to handle the high temperatures of burning candles, ensuring a strong and consistent scent throw. They also undergo rigorous testing to meet safety standards, ensuring they are free from harmful chemicals like phthalates and parabens (CandleScience) (National Candle Association) and are usually labeled as such when sold to candlemakers. Their higher flashpoints make them more stable, reducing the risk of combustion when in pure oil form, and ensuring a steady release of scent (Perfumedom).
Essential Oils: The Natural Contenders
Composition and Challenges
Some people will swear by essential oils (EOs) over fragrance oils, but not all EOs are made equal or safe for use in combustion, even if they're safe for use in other ways. Essential oils are pure plant extracts, often hailed for their natural and therapeutic properties. However, their use in candles comes with challenges. Essential oils can be volatile and degrade under high heat, which compromises their scent and effectiveness when burned (MDPI).
Safety Concerns
Some essential oils can release toxic compounds when heated, posing health risks. For example, eucalyptus oil can produce harmful chemicals when burned if not a variety that is tested and formulated for candle safety. Additionally, essential oils can trigger allergic reactions, making them less suitable for a broad audience (MDPI) (MDPI).
Safety of Burning Fragrance Oils vs. Essential Oils
When properly formulated, both fragrance oils and essential oils can be safe for candle use. Here are key considerations:
Fragrance Oils
- Burn Performance: Fragrance oils with higher flashpoints provide a stable burn with less smoking and sooting. This makes them reliable for consistent aroma delivery (Perfumedom).
- Offgassing: Well-made fragrance oils in candles primarily produce water vapor and carbon dioxide, similar to unscented candles. Reputable manufacturers ensure their products burn cleanly without releasing harmful substances (National Candle Association).
Essential Oils
- Toxicity: Certain essential oils can produce toxic fumes when burned. Proper formulation and careful selection are crucial to minimize these risks (MDPI). As such, candlemakers should source from reputable, tested, documented suppliers that certify their essential oils for candle use.
- Allergens: Essential oils can cause allergic reactions in some individuals, making it important to consider potential sensitivities (MDPI) (MDPI).
What to Look for in Candle-Safe Oils
Fragrance Oils
- High-Quality Formulation: Choose fragrance oils that are free from harmful chemicals and specifically designed for candle use (CandleScience) (National Candle Association). x
- Flashpoint: Opt for oils with higher flashpoints to ensure stability and consistent scent throw during burning (Perfumedom).
Essential Oils
- Purity and Testing: Ensure the essential oils are pure and tested for safe use in candles. Look for reputable brands that provide detailed safety information (MDPI).
- Specific Uses: Some essential oils are safer than others for burning. Research and choose oils known for their safe combustion properties (MDPI).
Note that suppliers are required to keep what is called an "IFRA sheet" on all of their fragrance oils, which provides the range of concentration where it's safe to use the fragrance oils.
The IFRA will then denote whether the mixture is suitable for use in a variety of formats, such as perfumes, facial or body moisturizers, shampoos and soaps, candles, and more, and how much you can use safely. This example from CandleScience for their Pistachio Merengue fragrance oil shows that the oil is safe for use in air fresheners up to 23% and up to 36% in candles. Other ingredients such as wax may impose other limits below that amount, but the concentration should never exceed the limit on the IFRA sheet.
Don't Discount Fragrance Oils
While essential oils have their place in aromatherapy and natural wellness, they aren't a given for a cleaner, safer burn, and can come with unexpected risks. Meanwhile, candle fragrance oils are specifically designed for the demands of candle-making. They offer a reliable, safe, and versatile option for creating beautifully scented candles that perform consistently.
So, the next time you're choosing a candle, don't shy away from those made with fragrance oils. They're crafted to provide a delightful and safe experience, bringing a little extra magic to your space without compromising on quality or safety. And, if you have any doubts about a candle containing fragrance oils, ask the maker whether they're using certified candle-safe essential oils and if you can see their IFRA sheet to be sure.
Here at Second Life, we use both fragrance oils and essential oils in our candles, and label them as such. All of the fragrance oils we use are phthalate and paraben free, along with sourcing with a host of other safety and environmentally- and socially-responsible certifications in mind. If you ever have questions about our ingredients that you can't find, please feel free to reach out through our Contact page here on our site.
For more detailed information on the chemistry and safety of fragrance oils and essential oils, explore the resources on CandleScience and The Candle Land.
Burn bright!
Julie @ Second Life