A Short Guide to Essential Oils Used in Perfumes

Essential oils are found in many different plants. In contrast to fatty oils, when these essential oils evaporate and mix with the air, they release a distinctive odour, which can be extremely pleasant and appealing, depending on your preferences.

While this process is easy enough to describe in simple terms, their chemical composition and nature is far more complicated. Each plant or animal will have its own distinct essential oil which differs to other species – some may be used to attract animals while others may be used to repel them.

Other studies into these oils have suggested that they have additional functions, such as antiseptic or other physiological processes that have value to a plant or animal. Nevertheless, it is to these interesting essential oils that we look to for the source of our favourite scents and aromas – found in highs street perfume shops around the globe.

Which plants provide essential oils?

Pretty much all plant species that have distinctive aromas will contain essential oils. These oils are secreted by internal glands or in hair like structures and almost any organ of a plant may be the source of the oil such as the flower, leaves, fruits, bark, wood or even roots, as is the case with ginger. We can also extract essential oils from seeds like cardamom.

Perfumes

Many perfumes, from Coco Chanel No. 5 to Calvin Klein eternity for men use essential oils to create their distinctive aromas. While many perfumes today are created using synthetic substances, the history of perfume is inextricable from civilisation’s love affair with essential oils.

Throughout history, the most valuable perfumes have been combinations of several essential oils. However, today, the manufacturing process also relies on alcohol to dilute the concentration of ‘pure’ perfume.

Sourcing essential oils

Perfume plants are cultivated today to give perfume manufacturing companies easy access to the many essential oils they need to create their distinctive aromas. Popular regions for this are areas bordering on the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Most of the natural perfumes we know and love are made in southern France in the region around Grasse and Cannes near the French Riviera. This is partly why many people have assumed that France is the originator of the perfume tradition – along with how it has been such an important part of French culture and beauty traditions.

Flowers used for essential oil extraction are also grown for the perfume industry in places like Reunion, North Africa, England and various European, Pacific and Asiatic areas.

Common essential oils for perfume

Whether you prefer choosing unique, expensive and bespoke perfume or if you are happy to choose more widely popular products such as Marc Jacobs, Daisy, Chance by Chanel, Nina Ricci Red for Women or Calvin Klein eternity for men, it’s interesting to understand which essential oils are used most commonly in perfume. Next time you use your favourite perfume, take a look at its ingredients.

Otto of Roses

Also known as Attar of Roses, it has been one of the most favourite perfumes either in combination with other oils or alone.

Geranium

Geranium oil is widely used as a substitute for Otto of Roses in making perfumes.

Ylang-ylang

Added to almost every perfume, the ylang-ylang tree is an Eastern Asiatic species and is derived by simple distillation or extraction from the petals of fully opened blossoms.

Cassie or Acacia

Almost as valuable as Ylang-Ylang or Otto of Roses and is similar to the odour of violets.

Bergamot

A greenish oil that has a soft sweet odour and has been widely used in the United States for soaps and mixed perfumes.

Orris

An essential oil that has the odor of violets.

Lavender

Popular since the Romans, lavender is still one of the most important scents used today.

Hyacinth

An oil that has a heavy and sweet that some find quite overpowering.

Oak Moss

An oil that comes with a heavy, penetrating odour that blends well with other ingredients.

Sandalwood

An oil that is used throughout the Orient as a perfume and also in medicine.

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P style="text-align: justify;">Perfume Plus Direct is a leading retailer of affordable perfumes with a wide selection of products that range from top end designer.