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Essential vs. Synthetic Fragrance. What's really in your candle?

Ever flipped over a candle and seen the word “fragrance” with no explanation? That’s because most brands don’t want to tell you what’s actually inside that scent.

 

Spoiler alert: it’s usually not a dreamy field of lavender - it’s a lab.

 

Let’s dive into the difference between essential oils and synthetic fragrance oils, and why it matters for your health, your nose, and your candle shelf.

What Are Synthetic Fragrance Oils?

Synthetic fragrance oils are made in labs to mimic natural scents - think “clean linen” or “vanilla cookie dough on a rainy day in Paris.”

 

They often contain phthalates, stabilisers, and a cocktail of mystery chemicals the brand legally doesn’t have to disclose (thanks, loopholes).

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Why brands love them:​

  • Cheap to produce

  • Scent can be made super strong and long-lasting

  • Easy to manipulate for marketing magic

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Why you might not:

  • Can trigger headaches, allergies, and respiratory irritation

  • Often include phthalates, linked to hormone disruption

  • Smell more like air freshener than actual nature

What About Essential Oils?

Essential oils are the real deal - extracted directly from plants through distillation or cold pressing. They’re natural, subtle, and have been used for centuries for their therapeutic properties.​

​Why we love them:

  • Come from real plants, not synthetic copies

  • Naturally antibacterial and antifungal

  • Offer genuine aromatherapy benefits (like calming lavender or uplifting citrus)

  • No dodgy chemical hangover​

​They’re more expensive and harder to work with, but that’s because they’re the good stuff - not because someone slapped “organic” on the label and added £15 to the price.

So Which Is Better?

It depends on your priorities - but if you care about what’s floating around in your home’s air, essential oils are the clear winner.

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In the UK, brands are legally allowed to use the word “fragrance” or “parfum” to cover a mix of ingredients. Sometimes more than 200, without disclosing what they are.

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So if you're sensitive to scents and don't know why that “Peach Sunrise” candle is giving you a migraine, now you do.

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