Here at Branru Farm, we use oils in several of our products. The types of oils vary. For example, our lotions often contain either essential oils or fragrance oils. You may be wondering what the difference is between each oil type. Let's explore those differences, beginning with definitions of each.
What is Essential Oil?
Essential oil is concentrated oil extracted from a plant that retains the essence (scent and flavor) of that plant. They have several potential benefits like:
Helping People Sleep Better
Reducing Stress
Improving Concentration and Focus
Reducing Headaches
Treating Nausea
For those reasons and others, essential oils are commonly used for aromatherapy purposes. Often, they are used in candle making because they have strong odors that diffuse well into a room as candles burn. Lavender is a particularly popular choice, which is why we offer several lavender-scented products here at the farm. Other popular aromatherapy essential oils commonly used by natural remedy enthusiasts include:
Eucalyptus
Peppermint
Lemon
Rose
What is Herbal-Infused Oil?
When an herb is placed in a base oil (more commonly called a carrier oil ) the properties of that herb slowly permeate the oil over time. The process creates an herbal-infused oil, which can then be used for various purposes. The two most common purposes are cooking and creating herbal remedies or skincare treatments. In the case of an herbal-infused oil, the base oils are not the same as the common plant-extracted essential
oils. Instead, carrier oils like grapeseed, coconut, almond, or olive oil are used. herbal-infused oils are often used by herbalists in products like body lotions.
What is Fragrance Oil?
Fragrance oils are typically completely synthetic, or man-made. However, some users do refer to diluted essential oils as fragrance oils as well. Synthetic fragrance oils often offer a wider range of available scents because they can produce scents or scent combinations that do not originate from a single plant. Skincare products with names like “pumpkin spice latte” are most likely produced using fragrance oils. At Branru Farm, we use fragrance oils to bring you stunning scent creations like Black Dragon.
Reasons to Use Different Oils
The three oil types above each have their uses. The first two are particularly attractive if you are looking to avoid synthetics. One reason you might wish to do so is if you suffer from allergies. Often, natural products are more soothing to skin prone to allergic reactions. Although, it is possible to also be allergic to certain natural products. Additionally, it is important to choose fragrance oils carefully because many fragrance oils do contain potentially harmful chemicals.
Although we love all-natural products here on the farm, we do recognize that there are valid uses for the right types of synthetic fragrance oils. They allow us to provide you with scented products that would not otherwise exist. In addition to unique scent blends, certain specific fruit scents are only achievable using fragrance oils because essential oils with those scents do not exist. Apples, peaches, and cherries are good examples of fruits that do not produce essential oils with the scents we all know and love. That's why the limitless aroma options of fragrance oils can be quite attractive.
Another reason we use different oils for different purposes here at Branru Farm is practicality. For instance, undiluted essential oils are quite strong. Some can even be harmful when they come in direct contact with skin. When we use them in products like our goat milk soaps we have to dilute them. We also sometimes use gentler alternatives like herbal-infused oils or fragrance oils in some of our products.
The three oils also differ in a few more important ways. Fragrance oils are often less expensive, but they also don't keep as long. They have a shelf life measured in months, while the shelf life of essential oils is measured in years. Some essential oils, when stored properly, can keep for more than a decade. Essential oils and herbal-infused oils can also have potential medicinal benefits, while fragrance oils only provide great scents.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is we like to keep all three oil types at our disposal. We use them in varied products and for varied purposes. As you can see from the information above, there are good reasons for that. If you ever have a question as to which oils are used in our products , don't hesitate to reach out and ask for clarification. We will be happy to assist you!