Definition
- Fragrance oil can be 100 percent synthetic or contain up to 80 percent essential oil mixed with a carrier oil (an oil that dilutes essential oils). According to Teach Soap, fragrance oils are predominantly artificial or synthetic.
Solvents
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ethanol - alcohol image by Cornelia Pithart from Fotolia.comAlcohol is a common solvent used to dissolve fragrane oil into water.Alcohol is the most common solvent used to dissolve fragrance oil into water. Emulsifiers, ingredients that bind oil to water, help dissolve fragrance oils into water and are used in creamy textured products.
Types
- Specially denatured alcohol (SD alcohol) is the most common alcohol used to dissolve fragrance oil into water. Arizona Natural Resources lists lecithin, S laureth sulfate, S lauryl sulfate, cetyl alcohol and polysorbate as common emulsifiers.
Products
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body lotion image by PinkShot from Fotolia.comScented lotions use emulsifiers to dissolve fragrance oil into water.SD alcohol is used to make the cheaper watered-down fragrances of eau de cologne and eau de toilette. Cetyl alcohol, S laureth sulfate and polysorbate are used to dissolve fragrance oil into water for creams, lotions, shampoos, conditioners and body washes.
Benefits
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bottles of perfume image by JoLin from Fotolia.comAlcohol dissolves fragrance oil into water to create the lesser perfumes known as eau de cologne and eau de toilette.Emulsifiers dissolve fragrance oil into water to prevent the two from separating, making it unnecessary to shake up a product like shampoo before each use. Consumers can enjoy cheaper versions of expensive perfumes, eau de cologne and eau de toilette, since alcohol dissolves the fragrance oil into water, creating a less concentrated fragrance.
