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IFRA for Beginners: How We Keep Your Favorite Scents Safe to Use
New to IFRA? This simple guide explains basic fragrance safety, usage limits, and how to choose oils for candles, soap, body care, perfumes, and home fragrance.
Learn moreWhat Counts as a “Natural” Fragrance? A Closer Look
At The Essential Oil Company, we’ve always celebrated the art and science of scent. For decades, we’ve sourced pure essential oils from trusted farms around the world—and now, we bring that same integrity to every fragrance we craft. A question we often hear is: “Is your fragrance 100% natural?” Yes, but often the answer depends on how you define natural. And that’s exactly where the conversation gets interesting. 1. Fragrance Is a Formula, Not a Single Ingredient A fragrance isn’t a single oil or extract. It’s a carefully balanced blend of multiple components: aroma materials (natural or lab-crafted), solvents, stabilizers, and fixatives. Even essential oils need to be diluted or stabilized before they can be used in perfumes, soaps, or candles. Once that happens, it’s technically no longer “100% natural” because it becomes a formula. In short: fragrance is always a blend, not just one extract. 2. Defining “Natural”: ISO Standards and Global Perspectives Here’s where the confusion often begins. While the U.S. doesn’t have a legal definition for “natural fragrance,” the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) provides globally recognized criteria for what qualifies as natural or naturally derived. According to ISO standards, a fragrance can be considered 100% natural if all its ingredients come directly from plant, animal, or microbial sources through physical, enzymatic, or microbiological processes without intentional chemical alteration. At The Essential Oil Company, our Natural Fragrance Line meets those standards. Every material used is of natural origin, and every formula is certified accordingly. However, not all brands follow ISO definitions. Many develop their own internal criteria for “natural,” which is why consumers often see inconsistent or misleading labels. This is also where greenwashing comes in—when a brand markets a product as “natural” even if it contains mostly synthetic ingredients. The lack of a universal legal definition makes it easy for this confusion to spread. 3. Why Not All Fragrances Are Natural (And That’s Okay) Some fragrances (especially those inspired by flowers like lilac, peony, or violet) can’t be extracted directly from the plant. Their aromatic compounds are too delicate or unstable to capture naturally. To recreate these scents, perfumers use nature-identical molecules: lab-crafted versions that replicate what exists in nature without being derived from it. These ingredients allow us to enjoy the full range of olfactory experiences while protecting the planet and ensuring consistency. Other materials, such as musk or ambergris, are no longer sourced naturally due to ethical or environmental concerns. Science helps fill those gaps responsibly. 4. Safety First: IFRA and FDA Standards Both natural and non-natural fragrance ingredients are subject to safety standards set by organizations like the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) and monitored by the FDA. Some natural oils (especially citrus and spice) can be irritating or phototoxic at higher concentrations. Likewise, many synthetic materials are also regulated for safe use. That’s why our fragrances are formulated by expert labs that follow strict IFRA and ISO compliance to ensure balance, performance, and responsible use of all ingredients.5. Understanding the Spectrum: Natural, Naturally Derived, and Synthetic Fragrance exists on a spectrum: Natural: All ingredients come directly from nature (as defined by ISO standards). Naturally Derived: Ingredients begin in nature but are modified for performance or safety. Safe-Synthetic: Ingredients are fully lab-created, often used to replicate scents that can’t be extracted naturally. Each type offers unique benefits, and none is inherently “better.” The goal is understanding what you’re buying—and choosing what aligns with your values and needs. The Safe Science Advantage When you choose a fragrance from The Essential Oil Company, you’re choosing formulas crafted with the same care we bring to our essential oils, with a little help from modern science. Our fragrances are: Consistent: stable and long-lasting, batch after batch Ethical: free from animal-derived and wasteful materials Beautiful: crafted to perform in soaps, candles, diffusers, and beyond We call it “Nature, Perfected.” It’s how we honor the essence of the earth while creating fragrances built to last in the modern world. Rooted in Nature, Elevated by Innovation The Essential Oil Company began with farms and fields. Today, our story continues with science, applied responsibly and transparently, and always in service of the same mission: To connect people to scent in its purest, safest, and most beautiful form. Because true sustainability isn’t about being “all natural.” It’s about being all thoughtful.
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