Fragrance oils are not the same as essential oils. You do not have to mix them in alcohol to make perfumes out of them. This makes them very versatile to use in day to day life. By adding fragrance oils to your life, you will be provided with an alluring aroma which can better certain parts of your day.
The main difference between essential oils and fragrance oils is that essential oils are completely natural. Fragrance oils, on the other hand, are created in a lab. This fact makes them last longer than essential oils. Another aspect of the difference between essential oils and fragrance oils is that fragrance oils are non-volatile, so they won’t evaporate if left in the open.
Because of the chemical nature of fragrance oils, they’re less expensive and more readily available than essential oils. In this article, we talk about the different ways on how to use fragrance oil around the house to give you a better smelling lifestyle.
How to Use Fragrance Oils
Due to the non-volatile nature of fragrance oils, they can be added to many different things. This lends their signature smell to these items, making everyday objects smell better. Here are the different ways in which you can use fragrance oils around the house.
Shoes
By adding fragrance oils to your shoes, it can soak up the odor that often comes from your feet. All you have to do is add a small layer of your favorite fragrance oil to the inside of your shoe with the help of a tissue and you will notice that your feet smell much better after a long day.
However, try not to add too much oil to leather or suede shoes. Oil can damage the lining of your shoes if used too much and this might significantly reduce the lifespan of your shoes.
If you suffer from chronic foot odor, there might be an underlying issue that you’re not aware of. While essential oils come with medicinal properties, fragrance oils will not treat the root cause of the bad smell in your shoes.
Light Bulbs
This is an experimental way of adding a nice scent to your room and should be treated as such. If you have exposed bulbs in your room, you can add a light layer of fragrance oils on the surface of the bulb.
When you turn the bulb on, the oils will start to heat up, offering you a nice whiff of floral smell every time you walk into the room. However, caution should be exercised while using fragrance oils in this method. Do not use these oils on halogen light bulbs, as their surfaces can get too hot for the proper evaporation of the oils.
Another measure you need to take is to ensure that no oil should enter any part of the bulb that joins into the socket, as this might cause electrical issues that can significantly reduce the lifespan of your lights.
Dryer Sheets
DIY projects are always fun and you can make your own dryer sheets with your a signature smell instead of going for store-bought ones. Using an old cotton piece of clothing like a tee shirt or a top, make a few squares about 5 inches a side.
Add 3 drops of your favourite fragrance oil to these squares and add them in the dryer with the rest of your clothes. You will notice that your clothes come out smelling subtly of the oil. A fresh load of laundry that smells good will give you the energy you need to have a great day.
Drawers
While napthalene balls are often used in dark drawers to make sure there is no bug infestation, they are not exactly the best smelling products on the market. You can make your wardrobe and drawers smell great by using some fragrance oil.
Mix some baking soda with a few drops of fragrance oil in a dish. Transfer this mixture on to a piece of cloth and tie it together. The baking soda will dilute the fragrance oils and help you get a more subtle smell.
Once the cloth is tied up securely, you can hang it in your wardrobe or stuff it in the corner of a drawer. You will notice the fresh smell of the oil you chose every time you open your wardrobe or cupboard.
Skincare and Hair Products
Fragrance oils are not as concentrated as essential oils, which means that you can add them to your skincare and hair products in small amounts to make them smell better. This will work especially better if you use unscented shampoos, conditioners, or skin lotions.
When it comes to products that you’re going to use on your body, it is best not to go for a strong scent. Add a few drops of fragrance oils to your products and wait to see the results before you add some more. Too much oil can give your hair or skin an overpowering smell that might border on unpleasant and may end up giving you a headache.
Air Fresheners
If store-bought air fresheners just smell too commercial for your taste, you can create your own air freshener by using some fragrance oils. Fill up a large spray bottle with water. To this bottle, add a few drops of fragrance oils. Shake up the bottle to mix it well.
As in the case of skincare and hair products, make sure that you do not add too much oil as you might risk making your solution too strong. Try spraying the solution around in different areas of the house a few times to see if it is strong enough. If not, you can always open up the bottle and add a few more drops of oil.
Scented Candles
Scented candles are an extremely easy DIY project if you have access to some good quality fragrance oils. An oil burner works by using a candle at the base to heat up some solution at the top. These type of candles are used extensively in aromatherapy.
At the top of the burner, add about 5 drops of essential oil and add some water. Make sure that you stop adding water when the top is about 75% of the way full. When you light the candle at the base, the oils at the top will heat up and give you a fresh scented room.
As in all cases where fire is involved, make sure that you’re using the right cautionary measures before you light it up. Keep it away from open windows or other sources of wind, curtains and other fire hazards, and pets and children. Safety should always come first.
Stationery
Notes and greeting cards sometimes come with a whiff of perfume with them. If not, you can add your own fragrance to them. However, if you’re thinking about using perfumes, keep in mind that they evaporate very easily, and it might be rendered useless by the time your card reaches its destination.
If you’re using fragrance oil, however, it will get into the pores of the paper and make it smell better for a lot longer. You can do this by using a few drops of fragrance oil in a tissue and sealing it in an airtight plastic bag with the stationery items. This method can be used for paper, letters, diaries, and envelopes.
Laundry
While a number of detergents and fabric softeners are scented nowadays, not everyone always likes the smell that they leave on your clothes. You can work around this problem by going for an unscented detergent and using fragrance oil instead.
When you’re loading up your washing machine, add a few drops of fragrance oil to the liquid detergent tray. Another way to carry this out is to add the oil directly to the detergent and shake it up before you add it to the machine.
When your washing machine cycle is done, you will notice that the smell of your chosen fragrance oil will linger slightly on your clothes.
If you appreciate perfumes and different scents from nature and have a collection of fragrance oils, you can use them in different parts of your home to give you a different scent for every occasion. Mixing things up and experimenting with fragrance oil is a fun activity that will leave you with a sweet smelling aroma which will brighten up your day.
The Bottom Line
Fragrance oils are not as concentrated as essential oils and have none of their medicinal properties but that does not mean that they cannot be used around the house to make your everyday items smell better. A nice whiff of fresh scents can give you the energy you need to make your day better. Learn more about using fragrance oils in this Using Fragrance Oils Wikihow.
Fragrance oils can be used in a variety of items such as candles, shoes, bulbs, laundry, skincare products, and much more. We hope that this article has helped you understand how to use fragrance oil around the house. For more topics similar to this, please check out the other Perfumeers posts!
