NEVER buy 'Fragrance Oils' for perfumery. Buy these instead.

Summary

In this video, the speaker warns against using fragrance oils (fos) for perfumery, highlighting their low quality and reliance on fillers like cheap aroma chemicals. While fragrance oils are cheap and widely available, they lack the refinement needed for high-quality perfume creation. The speaker shares personal experiences and stresses the importance of using high-quality bases or creating custom accords instead. By investing in better materials from reputable fragrance companies or developing your own blends, beginners can avoid wasting money and time, ultimately improving their perfume-making skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 Avoid fragrance oils (FOs) in perfumery as they are low quality and often not suitable for creating high-quality perfumes.
• 😀 Fragrance oils are primarily used for candles, soaps, and home fragrances, not for professional perfumery.
• 😀 FOs are cheap and easy to find online, but their quality is compromised due to filler ingredients and low-cost aroma chemicals.
• 😀 The reliance on fragrance oils may lead to wasted time and money, especially for beginners who mistakenly think they’re a good alternative to natural ingredients.
• 😀 Fragrance oils often contain cheap synthetic musks or fillers that can negatively affect the scent of a perfume, leaving undesirable residues on the skin.
• 😀 Real perfumers use high-quality natural materials and aroma chemicals, not fragrance oils, which are considered 'basement-tier' ingredients.
• 😀 A better alternative to fragrance oils is to invest in pre-made perfume bases from reputable manufacturers, which are designed for perfumery.
• 😀 Spending money on quality bases from respected fragrance companies (e.g., IFF, Givaudan, Firmenich) offers more value and consistency than fragrance oils.
• 😀 Some bases are created by fragrance experts and can be used to enhance a perfume, though they can sometimes be discontinued, so they’re not a perfect solution.
• 😀 Fragrance oils may seem tempting due to their low price, but the long-term results usually lead to disappointment as they don't hold up in professional perfumery.
• 😀 The key to good perfumery is learning to create your own accords or using high-quality bases, rather than relying on low-cost fragrance oils.

Q & A

What are fragrance oils, and why are they commonly used?

Fragrance oils (FOs) are synthetic blends of aroma chemicals and filler oils, often used in products like candles, soaps, and home fragrances. They are inexpensive and can replicate many scents, making them attractive for budget-conscious manufacturers.

Why does the speaker advise against using fragrance oils in perfumery?

The speaker advises against using fragrance oils because they are low-quality, contain fillers, and cannot provide the depth or complexity required for real perfumery. They often leave sticky residues and have an inconsistent scent quality.

What issues arise from using fragrance oils in perfumes?

Fragrance oils can lead to perfumes that smell artificial or overly simplistic. The filler materials and cheap aroma chemicals can degrade the fragrance over time, and their overuse can result in undesirable off-notes or a lack of complexity in the scent.

How do fragrance oils differ from high-quality perfume bases?

Fragrance oils are mass-market products intended for general use, while high-quality perfume bases are carefully crafted by professional fragrance companies. Bases are made using real chemical analyses and are specifically designed for use in perfumery, ensuring consistency and better scent quality.

What is the role of perfume bases in perfumery?

Perfume bases are pre-made accords or mixtures designed for professional perfumery. They are formulated by reputable companies and offer higher-quality ingredients than fragrance oils. Bases provide the foundation for creating complex and refined perfumes.

What are some well-known companies that create high-quality perfume bases?

Reputable companies that produce high-quality perfume bases include IFF, Givaudan, Firmenich, and other well-established fragrance manufacturers that use scientific methods to develop their products.

What does the speaker mean by 'filler oils' in fragrance oils?

Filler oils are inexpensive, non-fragrant oils added to fragrance oils to bulk up the product. These oils do not contribute to the scent and can result in a sticky residue on the skin, making the fragrance experience less enjoyable.

Why do fragrance oils often smell different over time?

Fragrance oils can change in scent due to variations in the formula or because the manufacturer alters ingredients. Since many companies producing fragrance oils are small or inconsistent, the scent of the oil may differ from batch to batch, affecting its reliability.

What is the advantage of using high-quality bases over fragrance oils?

High-quality bases are designed specifically for perfumery and are more stable, consistent, and refined than fragrance oils. They help create complex, professional perfumes, whereas fragrance oils are limited in their ability to contribute to high-quality, lasting scents.

What lesson did the speaker learn from their own experience with fragrance oils?

The speaker learned that fragrance oils, while initially appealing due to their low cost, are ultimately unsuitable for creating high-quality perfumes. They found that the fragrance oils they had used resulted in off smells and poor quality perfumes, leading them to focus on better materials like bases and homemade accords.