Natural vs. Synthetic Fragrances
Synthetic fragrances are high performance scents that are composed of synthetic materials. The palette of ingredients is vast. The olfactive impressions that are created are endless and can take you from your everyday reality to a world of fantasy.
Each scent is customized and created to work with our brand’s positioning and perform technically in our product formulation. Our experts have developed fragrances that are capable of and have preformed over time.
The ingredients used in synthetic fragrances are man-made. Synthetic aromatic raw materials have either been chemically created (mostly from petroleum), or started as naturals and have had their chemical structure modified.
Synthetic aromatic raw materials fall into the categories of chemically modified natural raw materials, nature identical raw materials and aroma chemicals that do not exist in nature. A synthetic fragrance may have no natural ingredients in it or a combination of some.
The Difference Between Natural and Synthetic Fragrances
The biggest divide between natural and synthetic fragrances lies in the way they are created. Plants, trees or animals comprise the basic elements of natural scents and run the gamut from lilac to sandalwood to deer musk. Synthetic fragrances are created in a laboratory, and although it may not be common knowledge,
Mother Nature has absolutely nothing to do with almost two-thirds of the most popular fragrances made today that are used in perfumes and other scented products.
The modern lab is their source, and basically, there are three different types. These include: full synthetics, which are composed almost entirely from petroleum by-products; semi-synthetics, or natural fragrances that have been modified by artificial means, and natural isolates, which are aromas which fall somewhere in between natural and synthetic because they are developed by isolating one scent from a more complex aroma base such as that of a red rose.
The Benefits of Synthetic Perfumes
Synthetic perfumes last longer than natural fragrances, which fade quickly because they lack the non-synthetic fixatives, which stabilize a scent’s vitality and help to release a scent slowly over a period of time. This renders any fragrance richer and denser than any natural aroma could ever hope to be. In addition, the roster of natural ingredients is limited to florals, botanicals or musks, while synthetic scents can be blended with essential oils to create countless variations. Practically speaking, dozens of compounds comprise natural ascents, which a laboratory can create with just a single molecule.
Synthetic Perfumes
The majority of perfumes on the market these days are synthetic and contain man-made fragrances. In fact, the main difference between synthetic and natural perfumes is simply the way they are made.
Synthetic perfumes were discovered in the late 19th century when perfume makers began to replace natural ingredients like lavender and rosewood with synthetic alternatives. This was mainly for economic reasons. Synthetic perfumes are much cheaper to produce than natural perfumes because they can be mass-produced.
Because they’re man-made and the ingredients can be controlled, synthetic perfumes come in three basic varieties:
• Full synthetics – made almost entirely from by-products
• Semi-synthetics – natural fragrances that have been artificially modified – natural vs synthetic perfumes
• Natural isolates – scents that have been extracted from a natural fragrance
Despite the trendy “green” movement currently happening, synthetic perfumes are still as popular as ever, with almost 70% of all fragrances being man-made. Celebrity fragrances and top names like Dior and Chanel are all synthetic because they offer a superior scent and have a longer lasting fragrance. They contain a fixative that helps extend the staying power of the fragrance and releases the scent gradually over time. This gives it a rich scent that is deeper than almost any aroma found in nature.
Natural Perfumes
If you’re prone to allergies or don’t like the idea of a synthetic perfume, natural fragrances might be a better option for you. It’s good to know you can still smell incredible by choosing essential oils and natural, organic perfumes instead of the synthetic versions.
Natural fragrances are essential oils and isolate derived from botanical ingredients that are harvested from the earth. This includes ingredients such as flowers, fruits, sap, seeds or skin of the plant, as well as the bark, leaves, roots, resins or wood of certain trees. The drawback is that the list of natural ingredients the perfume can be made from is limited to florals, botanicals and musks (whereas synthetics can be blended to make an unlimited number of variations).
Natural fragrances are quicker to fade since they don’t contain any fixatives
Natural perfumes are made using distilled or steamed water. This is a process that does take longer; hence the reason why natural perfumes are more expensive than synthetics. Natural perfumes are more likely to blend with your skin and become unique to you and are a perfect option if you have chemical sensitivities or sensitive skin.
Which One Is Better?
In the comparison between Natural vs. Synthetic fragrances, which is better?
There’s no right or wrong answer. It’s completely down to your personal preference. Synthetic perfumes get a bad reputation because they do contain chemicals. These could be potentially harmful to your body and the environment, although the research to confirm or deny this is limited. Synthetics are easier to make, more affordable, have a richer scent and are longer lasting.
Natural perfumes aren’t necessarily any better for your body or the environment. Natural musk production requires the musk to be extracted from the scent glands of animals, and the production of many plant-based natural perfumes has led to massive deforestation. However, they are great if you have sensitive skin and can’t wear anything else