Natural vs. Synthetic Fragrances

Out of all the five senses, the sense of smell directly connects with your limbic system (a group of interlinked brain structures that help control your behavior and emotions). 

A bit difficult to understand? Let’s explain this in simple words… 

This means that it is closely related to the emotions we experience when encountering a particular scent in the past.  

Several recent scientific studies suggest a correlation between scents and both mood and memory.  

Given the role of scent in our experiences, there is a growing interest in exploring natural and synthetic fragrances. 

Let’s discuss in detail…  

 

What Are Natural Fragrances? 

As the name suggests, natural fragrances come from elements of nature, such as trees, fruits, plants, or animal extracts. These fragrances give off flowery and musky scents. Other natural ingredients include balsams, animal musk and resins. 

The main sources of natural scents consist of: 

• Essential oils 
• Oleoresins 
• Isolates 
• Distillates 
• Fractions 

Our signature perfumes are sourced from natural sources. We prioritize using ingredients from ethically sourced locations, especially for fragrances like Vanilla, Patchouli, Sandalwood, etc. We list every ingredient at the back of our packaging for complete transparency.  

Benefits of Natural Fragrances 

One major benefit of using natural ingredients is that they bring complexity and fascination to a fragrance, while essential oils can offer benefits for both the body and mind.  

This creates a sense of ease and familiarity for us who often link openness with well-being and vitality.   

The ingredients present in some natural perfumes have aromatherapeutic properties. Thus, improving mood and emotional well-being. 

Read also: What Are the Different Types of Perfume? 

Drawbacks of Natural Fragrances 

Well, natural fragrances can sometimes be allergenic and challenging to standardize.  

This can result in variations in your perfumes from one batch to another due to the influence of weather conditions and natural disasters affecting the materials used.  

Natural fragrances may not last longer when applied to the skin as compared to alternatives because of the volatility of natural ingredients. 

Additionally, there is a concern that some materials used in perfumes might be endangered and unsustainable over time.  

Numerous natural ingredients used in perfumery are cultivated in regions plagued by instability and conflict leading to price variations, supply issues and ethical dilemmas.  

 

What Are Synthetic Fragrances? 

Synthetic fragrances are created in labs with artificial compounds. These fragrances mimic natural scents without causing harm to the environment in the process.  

This artificial production method could help replenish forests and protect iconic animals such as deer that are often associated with the scents used in natural perfumes.  

Synthetic fragrances are categorized into 3 groups based on their origin: 

• Non-natural synthetic fragrance: It is made from chemical procedures to develop a substance that does not occur naturally in the environment.  
• Nature-identical synthetic fragrance: It is produced from chemical methods to acquire a substance with a chemical composition similar to those present in natural origins.  
• Naturally isolates: These substances are obtained through a chemical procedure carried out on natural raw materials.  

Benefits of Synthetic Fragrances 

Synthetic materials offer numerous benefits such as the ability to be customized to reduce allergens. 

They can be standardized to maintain a consistent scent for your perfume. Also, they provide a long-lasting fragrance when applied to the skin.   

Related: How to Make Perfume Scent Last Longer 

Drawbacks of Synthetic Fragrances 

The new chemicals used in synthetic fragrance may lack long-term safety in usage.  

Thus, even though they are currently deemed safe, their safety could be uncertain in the future.  

Certain substances might pose biodegradability challenges as sometimes, they are derived from petrochemicals.  

However, not all synthetic scents have these issues as some originate from natural sources. The perfume industry continually strives to enhance sustainability in response to economic concerns and consumer preferences.  

 

Key Differences Between Natural and Synthetic Fragrances 

FEATURES	NATURAL FRAGRANCE	SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCE
INGREDIENTS	All natural ingredients are used to prepare natural fragrance. These are obtained from plants, flowers, fruits, trees, etc.	Complex synthetic molecules are used to make synthetic fragrances. These synthetic molecules are acquired from ingredients produced in lab-controlled environments.
VARIETY	Natural fragrances have a very limited spectrum of scents. The raw materials are limited to flowers, wood, fruits, and herbs. Even after different combinations, there's not much variety.	Synthetic fragrances have a huge variety. Since the chemicals are created in a lab, the manufacturer can test combinations that go along with each other.
LONGEVITY	Not long-lasting as synthetic fragrances. Natural perfumes are more volatile. They contain no fixatives.	Synthetic fragrances last longer. These contain fixatives that prolong their life.
CONSUMER COST	The extraction process of natural ingredients is time-consuming and expensive. That’s why the price range of natural fragrances is quite higher than that of synthetic fragrances.	The consumer cost of synthetic fragrance is lesser than that of natural fragrance. The chemicals utilized in such fragrances are easier to source. They are also not very expensive.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS	These fragrances contain no dangerous elements to the environment. However, avoid overexploiting natural resources.	Synthetic fragrances contain many elements that might prove hazardous to the environment, such as alcohol. Manufacturers should prefer the use of biodegradable ingredients.

 

Choosing the Right Fragrance for You 

Deciding between natural and synthetic fragrances totally depends on your preferences and requirements. 

The fragrances derived from plants are natural and ideal for those who favor earthy scents. 

Synthetic fragrances have a long-lasting effect and a diverse selection of scents. They contain chemicals. So, you must consider your skin type and condition when picking one. 

Read also: Fragrance Recommendations to Match Every Mood 

 

FAQs 

 

Which is better, natural or synthetic fragrance? 

Using natural extracts in fragrances is advantageous because they have no chemicals compared to synthetic ingredients. Brands selling natural fragrances are usually more transparent about disclosing their ingredients on the product packaging since they utilize a safe list of materials.  

Are synthetic fragrances safe? 

Synthetic fragrances may seem attractive because of their long-lasting scent and affordability. However, they may have risks related to health. Numerous synthetic fragrances contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can cause respiratory issues and allergic reactions in some individuals. 

How to tell if a fragrance is synthetic? 

There is only one way to confirm whether the fragrance is synthetic or not—check the list of ingredients mentioned on the packaging.  

What is 100% natural fragrance? 

Natural fragrances come from nature itself. Trees, flowers and plants or even extracts from animals. Those lovely floral and musky scents you adore often have their natural origins in the world.  

 

Experience Pure luxury with ByShams Perfume Collection  

ByShams Perfume Collection features scents crafted from sustainable ingredients to deliver a refreshing and clean fragrance experience without any harsh chemicals or toxins. 

The use of natural ingredients ensures a gentle touch (yet long-lasting effect) on your skin while providing a range of floral, woodsy and fruity scents for perfume enthusiasts!