Question 1

What fragrance oil dosage should I choose for candles and cosmetics?

Accepted Answer

Follow the IFRA limits of the particular fragrance for the given type of product. In cosmetics it commonly runs at 0.1 – 1 % for leave-on and 0.3 – 3 % for rinse-off products. With candles, always test the fragrance load together with the type of wax and the wick — the deciding factor is the resulting hot and cold throw.

Question 2

Why are fragrance oils used in candles more often than essential oils?

Accepted Answer

They offer a considerably wider range of scent profiles, including notes that plant oils cannot cover — food, drinks or fantasy accords. As designed compositions they also have a constant make-up, so the scent of the product is the same from batch to batch, and they tend to be cheaper. Even so, always test the fragrance load on the specific wax and wick.

Question 3

Can fragrance oils be combined with essential oils?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is common practice. Keep an eye on the IFRA limit for the total content of perfuming ingredients in the product and test the combination directly in the target base — phase stability, any discolouration and the resulting scent profile.

Question 4

What documentation is supplied with fragrance oils?

Accepted Answer

An SDS (MSDS), a certificate of analysis (COA), an IFRA statement and an allergen list are available for every fragrance. You need these documents to assess the safety of the recipe and for the mandatory labelling of the finished product.

FRAGRANCE OILS