Have you discovered using fragrance oils for skin care products and toiletries yet? Did you know you can use VINEVIDA fragrance oils to make so much more than just soaps and candles? Join us and discover with just a handful of ingredients like Aqueous Cream, Shea Butter and Sweet Almond Oil that you can create our Skin Cream, Skin Softening Body Lotion, and Skin Nourishing Body Oil.
For years I was skeptical of fragrance oils, mainly due to their lack of regulation and the industry’s general disregard for using unnecessary chemicals. For me, as an aromatherapist, I questioned their skin safety and benefits versus using essential oils.
But the industry has come a long way. The drive toward more naturally derived ingredients seems to be changing the face of the fragrance oil industry as a whole. It takes a lot for me to change my mind but my mind has indeed been changed!
VINEVIDA Fragrance Oils for Skin
VINEVIDA fragrance oils never contain Phthalates, Parabens, SLES or SLS. This is BIG news and it means that you can have a little more trust and faith in our products.
While skin safety is at the forefront of what we do, we also want to keep our fragrance oils cruelty-free. Therefore, we never test our fragrance oil on animals.
Use The Right Type Of Fragrance Oil
You may have noticed that VINEVIDA stocks two types of fragrance oils. When making products that you can apply to the skin, always choose the Soaps & Candles option which is specifically designed for topical applications.
(By contrast, the Diffuser variation is designed to be used in Cold Air Diffusers not skin care.)
The Best Fragrance Oils For Skincare Products
You want to know the secret to finding the best fragrance oils for skincare products?
Common sense.
Yup, that’s it! No mystery, no big secret.
Your common sense tells you that most women would rather have skin care products that smell of Roses rather than a smokey campfire or a glass of Bourbon. While most men would rather pick the smoke and Bourbon over the Roses!
The Art Of Blending Fragrance Oils
Common sense tells us to blend it with something that compliments it beautifully.
Blending your fragrance oil with another complimentary fragrance oil, or an essential oil, allows us to create something that suits our needs perfectly. Be that in developing amazing aromas or harnessing the active benefits of essential oils. It gives us the tools to create products that are truly bespoke and serve our needs entirely.
The truth is all of our Soaps and Candle fragrance oils are suitable for your skincare projects and products. It just depends on your individual needs and preferences.
That said, there are guidelines of how much of each one you should use, and that is detailed on each one by an IFRA safety standard. So let’s talk about that next…
IFRA
IFRA stands for the International Fragrance Association and when it comes to using fragrance oils for skin products, it is these guys who set the standards and tell us what is and is not considered safe. It tells exactly how much fragrance oil you can use before it is is no longer skin safe based on what natural chemicals have been used to create it and how these affect the skin and various internal organs.
Every fragrance oil we sell comes with its own set of IFRA standards called an ‘IFRA Statement’, to guide you in its usage. This sets out different types of products in different categories, like deodorants, face creams, baby lotions and shampoos. Let's look at part of one now, so you can see what I mean.
IFRA Statement
I chose the IFRA Statement for fragrance oil that comes at the top of our bestsellers list in the Soap category - NO. 1304 - Inspired by: Santal 33 by Le Labo.
Take a look at the whole document here: NO. 1304 - IFRA Statement
We can see that it gives us the maximum skin safety dilution limit for using fragrance oils for skin products.
If I want to make a face cream (Cat 5B) I need to use less than 1.13%, the same for hand cream, and permanent hair treatments. But I can use quite a bit more when it comes to body products (Cat 5A), I can use up to 6.73% in my body products, in this category.
Baby products have a super low dilution rate of 0.37% and it is not approved for use in products you put in your mouth like toothpaste or mouthwash.
I can use this to help me work out exactly how much, is too much, fragrance oil to add to my products.
You must remember though these figures are not recipe suggestions. They are skin safety maximum dilution amounts. Every fragrance oil is different and every one must be checked if you wish to include it in your formulation.
Some may have very low rates like 1.13% and others can be as high as 50% in the same category, which is why you need to check every one of your fragrance oils for skin safety rates.
I will warn you that it can sometimes be quite disheartening to find your favorite fragrance oil has ridiculously low skin safety rates, but that’s where blending techniques come in.
How To Find Safety Information On The VINEVIDA Website gives you a step by step guide in sourcing, evaluating and utilizing this safety data properly. Give it a read!
Dilute It!
Even if the IFRA Statement says you can use 100% of your fragrance oils for skin products. Don’t do it! For one, you never actually need that much, it is not a recipe recommendation, it is a skin safety data point.
By far the most important reason for not using that much, is that they should always be appropriately diluted before applying to your skin. Plus, that amount is going to catastrophically overwhelm the fragrance.
Not For Lip Products
While fragrance oils for skin products seem perfectly safe, IFRA draws the line at using them for lip products. It makes perfect sense to avoid any accidental ingestion issues.
While you cannot use fragrance oils for lip products, you can use essential oils, which really do make amazing alternatives.
In fact, check out the Luscious Lipstick recipe in Essential Beauty: Crafting Homemade Makeup with Oils, it’s rather delicious. There are some great ideas for using fragrance oils for skin care and cosmetics too.
Plump Up And Pout with Essential Oils for Lips focuses on achieving the perfectly plumptious lip!
How To Use Fragrance Oils For Skin Safely
Always, but always get into the habit of diluting your fragrance oils for skin products, just like you would essential oils. Whether you are soap making, making a lotion or a bath oil, make sure your fragrance oil is appropriately diluted into its intended base.
Recipes With Fragrance Oils For Skin
Shall we get down to the exciting bit and look at recipes with fragrance oils for skin care?
I’m purposely keeping the bases really simple today, so they are perfect for beginners. I’m also going to stick to similar ingredients so you can make those ingredients go further, which is kinder to the planet and your pocket. It will also help build your formulating skills.
It’s really important to me to show you how you can create a range of products from a handful of relatively cost-effective ingredients. I want to show you how you can use them in different ways to get the best value from them and to save you as much money as possible.
Cost-effective does not mean less effective, your own natural skincare is often superior to commercial offerings.
Your Recipe Bases Shopping List:
- Aqueous Cream or Organic Cream Base
- Shea Butter
- Rosewater
- Witch Hazel
- Glycerine
- Sweet Almond Carrier Oil (Prunus Dulcis)
- Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- Fragrance oils of your choice
Optional:
- Preservative of your choice
- Essential oils of your choice
Fragrance Oils For Skin Cream
I cannot stand heavy skin cream that sits on your skin like an oil slick. It gives me a very unsettling suffocating effect, therefore this is super light but also extremely hydrating and wonderfully nourishing. It’s utterly glorious for your skin and it will thank you for it.
Favorite Fragrance Oils For Skin Cream
Some of my favorite fragrance oils for skin cream which you can use for this recipes are:
IFRA Safety
NO. 33 - Fresh Cut Roses in IFRA Category 5B has maximum safety restrictions of 16.31%.
This means that in 100ml of Face Cream, you can use up to 16.31ml of NO. 33 - Fresh Cut Roses Soaps and Candles fragrance oil. We don’t need nearly that much, 3% is more than enough for this project.
You Will Need:
- Heatproof measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Jar funnel
- Silicon spatula
- 100 ml jar and lid
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 35 ml Aqueous Cream or Organic Cream Base (Various ingredients)
- 15 ml Shea Butter (Butyrospermum Parkii)
- 10 ml of Glycerine (Glycerol)
- 10 ml of Rosewater (Rosa Damascena)
- 10 ml of Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana)
- 10 ml of Sweet Almond Carrier Oil (Prunus Dulcis)
- 10 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- 3 ml of NO. 33 - Fresh Cut Roses Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil
Optional: Preservative of your choice.
Safety:
- Do not get in the eyes, if you do, rinse with clean, tepid water. If irritation persists, seek immediate medical advice taking the clearly labeled container with you.
Method:
- If using a preservative, follow your manufacturers individual instructions.
- Pop your Shea Butter in a heatproof jug and set your microwave to the lowest heat setting it has. In 10 second bursts, microwave your Shea Butter until it is totally soft, it does not have to be melted.
- Remove from the microwave and allow it to cool for one minute.
- Add the Aqueous Cream and mix in thoroughly.
- Add the fragrance oil to the carrier oils and add to the mix and stir to combine well.
- Add the Witch Hazel, Glycerine, and Rosewater and mix thoroughly.
- Make sure everything is thoroughly incorporated.
- Using a jar funnel, decant into your jar with a silicone spatula to help you get every last glorious morsel into the jar.
- Add an oil and waterproof label, clearly listing all ingredients for safety reasons.
- Add a 6-month expiry date and the date of production.
How To Use:
- Do a 24-48 hour patch test before first use.
- Apply liberally to your face, neck and décolletage.
- Use as and when needed up to 4 times a day.
- Store in a cool, dark place with an ambient temperature.
Have you read this week's other article Home made Face Moisturizer?
Fragrance Oils For Skin Softening Body Lotion
In just the same way we have used fragrance oils for Skin Cream, we can make a more dilute version and have a luscious Skin Softening Body Lotion too. I add more fluid and I also tend to add more oil, especially if my skin is particularly dry.
This is super light again, so you can slather yourself with this and get dressed within a couple of minutes too. Obviously, if you go heavy with the oil it will take a little longer to sink in. So tailor it to your own preferences, it’s a forgiving recipe.
It’s such an easy recipe but gives you amazing results every time for your soft, smooth and supple skin with a velvety touch. You’ll glow with health, as your skin will be super hydrated and utterly plumptious!
Favorite Fragrance Oils For Skin Softening Body Lotion
Some of my favorite fragrance oils for Skin Softening Body Lotion which you can use for this recipe are:
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Bottle funnel
- Silicon spatula
- 100 ml bottle and lid
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 30 ml Aqueous Cream or Organic Cream Base (Various Ingredients)
- 20 ml of Sweet Almond Carrier Oil (Prunus Dulcis)
- 15 ml of Glycerine (Glycerol)
- 15 ml of Rosewater (Rosa Damascena)
- 10 ml of Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana)
- 10 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- Up to 3 ml of NO. 2203 - Inspired by: Bikini Season by Sol De Janeiro Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil
Optional: Preservative of your choice
Safety:
- Do not get in the eyes, if you do, rinse with clean, tepid water. If irritation persists, seek immediate medical advice taking the clearly labeled container with you.
- Do not use near intimate areas.
Method:
- If using a preservative, be guided by your manufacturer's individual instructions.
- Pop the measured Aqueous Cream into the jug.
- Add the fragrance oil to the carrier oils.
- Add the oils to the mix and stir to combine well.
- Pour in the Witch Hazel, Glycerine, and Rosewater and combine it all thoroughly.
- Using a bottle funnel helps keep your bottle clean and oil-free and helps your label stick better.
- Decant into the bottle, using a silicone spatula to help you get every last precious morsel into the bottle.
- Clearly list all ingredients on an oil and waterproof label, for safety reasons.
- Add the date of production and a 6-month expiry date.
How To Use:
- Do a 24-48 hour patch test.
- Apply liberally to your body avoiding intimate areas.
- Use as and when needed, and you can use it up to 4 times a day.
- Store at an ambient temperature, in a cool, dark place.
Find out How to Make Body Lotion With Essential Oils
Fragrance Oils For Skin Nourishing Body Oil
When it comes to using fragrance oils for skin care, Body Oils offer you wonderful versatility. Packed with the goodness of the carrier oils themselves they soften, smooth, and hydrate your skin beautifully. Add in a humectant, like Glycerine that attracts water from the air and kindly plops it into your skin cells for you and you have that extra layer of precious hydration.
Fragrance oils will linger better on the skin when combined with a carrier oil, it helps anchor the molecules to your skin for longer giving you longer-lasting aromas.
Remember, you can use this Body Oil, in your bath, to tame flyaways and as a hot oil treatment on your hair too. It’s a really useful product in your beauty regimen.
Favorite Fragrance Oils For Skin Nourishing Body Oil
IFRA Safety
NO. 1401- Inspired by: Black Tulip by Nest in IFRA Category 5A has maximum safety restrictions of 6.4%.
This means that in 100 ml of Skin Nourishing Body Oil, you can use up to 6.4ml of NO. 1401- Inspired by: Black Tulip by Nest Soaps and Candles fragrance oil. However, we simply don’t need that much, 3% is more than enough for this project.
You Will Need:
- Measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Silicon spatula
- Bottle funnel
- 100 ml bottle and lid
- Oil and waterproof label
Ingredients:
- 77 ml of Sweet Almond carrier oil
- 10 ml of Glycerine
- 10 ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- Up to 3 ml of NO. 1401 - Inspired by: Black Tulip by Nest Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil
Optional: Preservative of your choice
Safety:
- Do not get in the eyes, if you do, rinse with clean, tepid water. If irritation persists, seek immediate medical advice taking the clearly labeled container with you.
- Do not use near intimate areas.
Method:
- If using a preservative, be guided by your manufacturer's individual instructions.
- Add the fragrance oil to the carrier oils.
- Add the Glycerine and combine it all thoroughly.
- Using a funnel, helps keep your bottle clean and oil free and helps your label stick better.
- Decant into the bottle, use a silicone spatula to get every precious drop.
- On an oil and waterproof label, clearly list all ingredients, for safety reasons.
- Add the instruction to ‘Shake well before use’.
- Add the date of production and a 6 month expiry date.
How To Use:
- Please be sure to do a 24-48 hour patch test.
- Shake the bottle well before use to disperse the glycerine through the oil.
- Apply the Skin Nourishing Body Oil liberally to your skin, be sure to avoid your intimate areas.
- Use as and when needed.
- Store at an ambient temperature, in a cool, dark place to help preserve the carrier oil.
Find Out More About Fragrance Oils
Every week we release a Fragrance Oil Of The Week article, or an Oil Of The Month article, which focuses on a chosen fragrance oil. We provide you with plenty of ideas of how to blend the chosen fragrance oil and how to use it in a variety of exciting recipes.
First, sign up for the newsletter, on the homepage of the website, so you never miss an issue.
Second, search the blog for Fragrance Oil Of The Week and Oil Of The Month articles. Scroll down past the products until you reach the list at the bottom. Now this is not a comprehensive list. So search for your favorites (In the same ways as above). If we don’t have one, request it via our Social Media.
Here are the latest issues:
Keep your eyes peeled for this week’s FOTW deliciousness - NO. 2204 - Inspired by: Coco Cabana by Sol De Janeiro, it is jam-packed with mouthwatering aromas and you’ll simply adore it for the Fall season.
The Final Word On Fragrance Oils For Skin
I hope that Fragrance Oils For Skin has persuaded you that VINEVIDA fragrance oils are not just for Soaps and Candles, but they have a much wider range of applications and can be used to make amazing skincare and beauty products.
You can use fragrance oils for skin care, toiletries, perfume, cosmetics, makeup and body care products. Just as long as you follow the IFRA safety guidelines you have a world of amazing scent and fragrance at your feet. The only limit is your imagination.
As you can see, you can make some interesting skin care products with just a handful of easy-to-source ingredients. You don’t need a whole craft cupboard full of weird and wonderful ingredients, you can do so much with just a few choice ingredients.
However, you choose to use fragrance oils for your skin, enjoy the process, and make what suits YOU! Be your own skincare designer and create your own bespoke skincare products. (For a fraction of the commercial price).
