Scrolling through Facebook, I saw a comment:
" I need some fresh smelling laundry wax melts but I'm allergic to lavender can anyone recommend?"
Someone replied:
It got me thinking – fragrance allergies are way more complicated than that.
Turns out, there's a whole hidden world of chemistry behind our favourite scents. Whether it's an essential oil or a fragrance oil, it's not just about the overall plant.
So have you ever looked at a lavender-scented product and wondered why the ingredient list is surprisingly long, and think hang on if its lavender plant it should be one ingredient “Lavender”
Or how someone with a "lavender allergy" might be fine with certain lavender products, but not others?
Let's satisfy that curiosity and discover the fascinating science behind essential oils!
The Lavender Blueprint
Just like you have DNA that makes you unique, a lavender plant has its own DNA. This DNA is like a special recipe telling the plant how to grow and build its amazing fragrance.
The lavender plant's DNA tells it how to create special chemical compounds. These compounds are what give lavender its unique smell and potential benefits.
Think about it this way:
| A cake isn't just "cake": | Even if a cake looks simple, it's actually made from many things. You need flour, eggs, sugar...each ingredient plays a role in the final cake you enjoy. |
|---|---|
| A stew isn't just "stew": | A delicious stew isn't just one thing either. It has vegetables, maybe meat, and a mix of spices that make it unique. |
Lavender is the same, ANY essential oil is the same, including man-made fragrance oils!
Lavender might look like just a flower but hidden inside the plant are those tiny bits of DNA making those special scent compounds. It's the combination of these compounds, the plant's DNA, that create the lavender experience we know and love.
Capturing the Essence: How Lavender Becomes Oil
We've talked about the secret recipe hidden within lavender flowers, but how do fragrance manufacturers turn that recipe into a bottle of essential oil? Here's a simplified look:
| Gathering the Flowers | The journey begins with a field of beautiful lavender! Farmers carefully harvest the flowers at their peak bloom, when the tiny workshops inside are buzzing with activity and producing the most fragrant compounds. |
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| Steam Distillation | This is where the magic happens! The harvested flowers are placed in a special machine called a still. Then, steam is gently pushed through the flowers. As the steam rises, it carries those amazing scent compounds with it. Think of it like this: Imagine holding a cup of steaming hot tea. The steam carries the fragrance of the tea leaves with it, right? It's a similar principle. The steam carrying the fragrant compounds travels through a tube and eventually cools down. When it cools, the steam condenses back into liquid. But here's the cool part: this liquid is now a mixture of water and essential oil! Clever scientists have designed the still so that these two liquids can be easily separated. |
| The Final Touch | The separated essential oil is then collected and bottled. This concentrated oil is the essence of the lavender plant – a tiny bottle filled with the DNA of the entire plant. |
Decoding the Science: Why Lavender Isn't Just "Lavender"
Remember, the plant's DNA tells it how to create many unique fragrant compounds.
So, even though the main ingredient is lavender, the final oil is a blend of all what's inside that lavender plant!
Lavender essential oil contains over 100 different compounds, but the most prominent ones responsible for its characteristic aroma and potential for triggering sensitivities are:
Linalool: This is the primary component of lavender oil, making up about 25-45% of its composition. It's responsible for the sweet, floral scent.
Linalyl acetate: Another major component, accounting for roughly 25-45% of lavender oil. It has a sweeter, more fruity aroma than linalool.
Other notable compounds found in lavender essential oil include:
Camphor: This compound contributes to the cool, minty aspect of lavender's scent.
Terpinen-4-ol: This compound contributes to the herbal and woody notes in lavender oil.
The concentration of these compounds can vary depending on the species of lavender, the growing conditions, and the extraction method used. It's important to remember that even though lavender is a natural product, its essential oil can still be potent and potentially irritating for some individuals.
Why Your Wax Melt Label Looks Like This
You might wonder why a lavender product label lists all these ingredients, instead of just "lavender." Safety regulations (called CLP) require highlighting specific ingredients that could cause sensitivities in some people, even if they're from a natural source like a plant. This doesn't mean the product is bad, it's just about helping you make informed choices!
You might notice your wax melt label only lists a few key chemicals. This is because safety regulations (called CLP) focus on highlighting ingredients present in concentrations large enough to be potential hazards.
Many other beneficial chemicals may be present, but in smaller amounts, a lavender essential oil from one supplier might have 3 ingredients on the label, but another supplier might list 6 on the CLP.
(You are well within your right to ask for the allergen SDS sheet to help you make a choice on whether to buy the product)
The Allergy Puzzle: Why "Lavender" Isn't Always the Culprit
If someone says,
They're likely reacting to one or more specific compounds within the oil.
A person allergic to linalool might be fine with products using fragrance oils that mimic lavender using geraniol and limonene, but no linalool. This is because they're sensitive to a single part of lavender, not the entire thing.
Sensitivity levels vary! Two people with an allergy might react differently to lavender oil, depending on the compound it contains.
Fragrance Oils: Where Things Get Tricky
Fragrance oils are made in labs, but they can include a tonne of chemicals – including natural compounds found in essential oils. This means even fragrances designed to smell like aftershave, fresh-cut grass, or cookie dough may contain potential allergens.
Let's look at two popular fragrance types and how they're created:
| "Snow Fairy" Inspired | This sweet, fruity scent relies on both natural and synthetic components. You might find vanillin (from vanilla beans), geraniol (found in roses), and synthetic ingredients for those bubble-gum and fruity notes. |
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| "Bedtime Baby" Inspired | This calming fragrance likely uses a mix of linalool (from lavender), coumarin (a sweet, hay-like compound), and synthetic components. A small amount of natural chamomile extract might even be included! |
Important Note:
Not all fragrance oils use natural components like essential oils. Many beloved scents can be created entirely with synthetic ingredients!
Transparency as a Maker
Because of this complexity, I always focus on transparency. While I exclusively use fragrance oils in my products, I never claim my products are absolutely pet safe or free of potential allergens.
Fragrance oils are complex, and responsible makers understand it's best to avoid sweeping "safe for all" statements.
Knowledge is Your Superpower
Understanding this complexity isn't to discourage you from exploring scented products. It's to empower you to make informed choices!
CLP (Classification, Labelling, and Packaging) regulations are like a safety guide for products containing potentially sensitive ingredients. They ensure that labels clearly list any chemicals that might pose a risk for people with allergies or sensitivities.
A Note About Pets: Use Caution with Fragrances
Pets can be even more sensitive to fragrances than humans. If you share your home with furry friends, it's important to exercise extra caution with scented products:
| Essential Oils | Be aware of toxicity many essential oils can be toxic to pets, causing serious health problems even with minimal exposure. It's best to avoid using essential oils in areas where pets have access, and never apply them topically. |
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| Fragrance Oils | Minimise risks while often less concentrated than essential oils, fragrance oils can still potentially cause irritation in pets. Always use them in well-ventilated areas and observe your pet closely for any signs of discomfort. |
| Know Your Pet | As a pet owner, you know your furry companions best. Any changes in their behaviour or signs of irritation after using a fragrance product should be taken seriously – stop using the product immediately. |
| Important | If you're concerned about pet safety with a specific fragrance or essential oil, always consult your vet. |
