The [Complete & Complex] Guide to Natural vs. Synthetic Fragrance: What's the Difference?

When it comes to fragrance, there are two main types: natural and synthetic. But what's the difference between them?

Natural fragrances are made from natural materials, which can include essental oils, resins, and other plant extractions. Synthetic fragrances, on the other hand, are created in a lab, from a variety of materials.

So, which type of fragrance is better? Well, that depends on your preferences.

Natural fragrances tend to be more expensive and have a shorter shelf life than synthetic ones. They also may not be as strong or long-lasting. Synthetic fragrances, on the other hand, are usually cheaper and have a longer shelf life. But they may not be as natural-smelling as you'd like, and they can lack the depth of scent common in naturals.

In this article, we'll be looking in-depth at the difference between naturals and synthetics, so you can make the best decision for which type of scent to select.

In general, natural fragrances are believed to be safer than synthetic fragrances. There has been notable attention paid to some of the ingredients used in synthetic fragrances, which have been restricted due to their potential allergenic risks, while natural fragrance oils and essential oils are not necessarily subject to the same level of scrutiny.

However, this belief is not always accurate.

Some natural ingredients can also cause skin allergies and sensitization, while synthetics may offer less allergenic alternatives in certain cases. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that key chemicals in plant-derived oils may possibly disrupt the normal functioning of hormones - a risk that is not necessarily present with synthetic fragrances.

It's a complex reality, and the issue has been largely greenwashed, or been leveraged by brands to create a fear-based narrative that does not accurately convey the situation.

Natural fragrances are scents derived from natural materials such as plants, animals, and trees. They are often used as alternatives to synthetic fragrances due to their lighter scent and lack of added chemicals. The ingredients used to create natural fragrances include oils from lemon peel, litsea fruit peel (also known as 'aroma wood'), lavender flowers or leaves, rosemary oil from the herb rosemary plant, clove oil from cloves of the clove tree (Eugenia caryophyllata), neroli oil extracted from orange blossoms (Citrus aurantium), bergamot oil extracted from bergamot oranges (Citrus bergamia). There are many types of natural ingredients, and many ways to process the original organic matter.

The main difference between synthetic and natural fragrances is that the former is produced in a laboratory while the latter comes from nature.

Synthetic fragrances can also contain preservatives or other additives that may not be present in natural fragrances. Additionally, synthetic fragrance oils tend to be stronger than their natural counterparts so they last longer on the skin without losing their scent strength over time.

Synthetic fragrances are produced using three types of chemicals: full synthetics, semi-synthetics, and natural isolates. Synthetics can be made from byproducts of petroleum, while semi-synthetics are made from intentionally modified aroma molecules. Natural isolates are generated using natural and synthetic byproducts as the raw source material. 

These chemicals often include aldehydes (such as benzaldehyde), esters (such as ethyl acetate), ketones (such as methyl ethyl ketone), hydrocarbons (such as toluene), and phenols (such as eugenol).

Natural fragrances are typically lighter than synthetic fragrances. Synthetic fragrances usually contain synthesized molecules that make them stronger smelling than natural fragrances.

Natural materials will slightly change over time, with each harvest having its own particular personality. Much like a wine harvest, this is the unique personality of natural materials and an inherent part of the allure and experience.

The extraction process in obtaining natural ingredients can directly contradict claims of being environmentally safe due to the use of harsh chemicals in the process. Additionally, since natural fragrances are derived from natural ingredients they have a shorter shelf life compared to synthetic ones which can last up to five years or more depending on usage level.

Sustainability standards for natural fragrances and synthetic fragrances are generally the same. Both must be tested and regulated before being allowed to reach the market, ensuring that they are safe for humans. However, natural oils require far more resources to produce than synthetic ones, which may lead to exploitation of plantations and local farmers if not properly regulated. Additionally, some natural fragrances can contain components at that can be harmful at certain levels, if not properly formulated to safety standards.

“Organic” is a complex issue in perfume materials, as it can be used to mean many different things, and the terminology is not as straight-forward as it might logically seem.

Organic cultivation is the use of earth-friendly practices to raise natural raw materials. This can include methods such as removing pesticides from cultivation, and creating wastewater cleaning systems. Many small, independent farmers around the world have been utilizing organic cultivation methods for decades, as it often yields the best fragrance, despite the lower harvest.

Organic certification is a very expensive and time consuming process, which effectively limits its attainment to the largest and most well-funded enterprises. In perfumery, many farmers are small and independent, who cannot justify the added expense, despite their farming methods being in full compliance with organic standards (and indeed, oftentimes they have been organic much longer than their certified peers).

Additionally, the term “organic” may or may not be used depending on the processing methods, and the percentage of change a raw material undergoes. Alcohol from organic sugar beets, for example, cannot be labeled “organic” due to the complexity of chemical change, even though this is a normal part of the distillation process. 

Synethetic materials, on the other hand, can sometimes be labeled “organic” even if their materials of origin are coal- or tar-based derivatives.

Both natural and synthetic fragrances are created in laboratories using artificial compounds and natural ingredients. Synthetic fragrances also have a longer shelf life than natural alternatives, typically five years compared to one to two years.

The main difference between natural and synthetic fragrances is the amount of additives they contain, such as UV filters, stabilizers, and artificial color. Natural fragrances usually contain fewer harmful components than their synthetic counterparts, though this depends on the quality of the product itself. Additionally, natural fragrances typically have a shorter shelf life than synthetics due to their reliance on naturally occurring materials that may not be as stable over time.

Natural fragrances are derived from natural sources such as plants, trees, and flowers. They often contain essential oils which can be soothing and relaxing for consumers. Natural fragrances tend to have a bigger price tag due to the complex nature of extracting the ingredients. Synthetic fragrances are developed in laboratories without harming the environment by sourcing notes through forestry or animals.

The environmental concerns with natural fragrances include their extraction process which can directly contradict claims of being environmentally safe due to its reliance on natural ingredients that may be harmful to the environment or wildlife if harvested incorrectly. 

Additionally, since they only have an average shelf life of one or two years due to being derived from natural ingredients, this increases costs for consumers over time as they have to purchase new bottles more frequently than with synthetic perfumes which can last up to five years on average with fixatives added in order for them not to sour quickly after opening the bottle.

Natural fragrances tend to have a higher price tag than synthetic fragrances due to their complex extraction processes, the use of natural materials which are more expensive and harder to source.

Additionally, natural fragrances typically have a shelf life of one or two years due to the presence of essential oils which adds another layer of complexity when it comes time to purchase them.

When choosing a fragrance, it is important to understand the difference between natural and synthetic scents.

Natural scents are sourced directly from nature while synthetic fragrances use chemistry to create new smells or imitate natural scents. New scent molecules are still being discovered today which expands the range of fragrances available to consumers. Additionally, synthetic ingredients allow producers to highlight natural ingredients featured in a particular perfume as well as recreate flower smells that cannot be distilled naturally (e.g., lilies). 

Furthermore, regulations such as those banning certain materials once used at their natural state further encourage the use of synthetic molecules over natural ones for perfumers who want to remain competitive in an increasingly regulated market environment.

So what types of fragrances are there?

There are a variety of natural materials, which can be processed in a variety of different ways, each yielding a different aroma. 

Enfleurage and steam distillation, for example, will each offer a uniquely different personality in a fragrance material, as the processing methods force the raw material to undergo differentn chemical reactions, thus affecting scent quality. Typically, an enfleurage process will yield a scent that is more velvety and rich, while a steam distillation will yield a clearer, brighter olfactory experience.

Synthetic fragrances are artificial compounds created in laboratories using synthetic components and natural ingredients. They may contain some natural substances, but they also contain a host of additional chemicals. Synthetics do not offer the same benefits as natural alternatives such as aromatherapy oils or essential oils, which have been shown to reduce stress levels and improve moods.

Perfumes can be divided into two categories: 100% natural perfumes and perfumes with synthetic ingredients.

100% natural perfumes are made with a smaller range of scents and notes, about 500 notes at most, while perfumes with synthetic ingredients have greatly enriched the perfumer's palette and have made it possible to create certain notes that simply must be recreated, instead of sourced naturally.

The best perfumes will usually combine both natural and synthetic raw materials for optimal results. 

A fragrance containing more synthetic products will be more linear, stable on many supports (blotter strips, fabrics etc.), persistent and have more sillage than one with more natural ingredients.

On the other hand, a perfume containing more natural ingredients than synthetic ones will have different vibrations due to its unique soulful quality which makes it stand out from others in its category.

Scent molecules are aromatic chemicals that give off a scent when they interact with the olfactory receptors in our noses. They can be naturally derived from flowers, trees and other plants or synthesized in laboratories.

Natural extracts are scents derived from plants, animals, and trees. They can be used in fragrances to create lighter smells that are less overwhelming than synthetic ingredients. Examples of common natural fragrances include lemon oil, litsea oil, and lavender oil.

Using natural extracts for fragrance is beneficial because they do not contain as many chemicals as synthetic ingredients do. Furthermore, brands that use these materials tend to be more transparent about listing their ingredients on the product packaging since they only rely on a shortlist of organic materials. 

However, it is important to note that while natural fragrances may appear less alarming than chemicals they can still cause allergic reactions in some people due to their plant-based origins, which should be taken into consideration before using them in products such as perfumes or lotions.