I’m sure you’ve definitely heard the term ‘fragrance oil’ and ‘essential oil’, but do you actually know what sets them apart? To many, they’re both just scents that you can use to freshen up your surrounding environment. But what is the difference really?

Fragrance oils are synthetic. They are a mixture composed of aroma chemicals, aromatic resins and sometimes a mixture of essential oils. As compared, these synthetic oils are generally less expensive and widely available.
 
Essential oils are extracted from herbs, plants and flowers using a steam distillation. The plants are suspended over boiling water and the steam pulls out the oil from the plant. It is then captured and condensed back into water. The essential is then collected as water and essential oil do not mix. It is a tedious and expensive process.

Fragrance oils are commonly used in soaps , body products, detergents and perfumes with the purpose of making them smell good. Unlike essential oil, fragrance oil does not have any therapeutic benefits to them.
 
Essential oils are known for their therapeutic properties in aromatherapy. For example, studies have shown that inhaling pure lavender oil can help one to relieve stress. Or how people use peppermint to boost energy and aid digestion.

Fragrance oils are generally cheaper than essential oil as they are man-made synthetic oil and there is no need for extraction of the oil from its source. It is easy to manufacture, while producing consistent results.

Essential oils are typically pricey depending on the type of oil and the scarcity of the oil source. It also takes a huge amount of material to produce a small quantity of pure essential oil. Did you know that it requires approximately 242,000 rose petals to product 5ml of pure rose essential oil? The extraction process is much more expensive as compared to fragrance oil.
 
 
Perfume Workshop Team Building links for more information:
https://www.perfumeworkshop.com
 
OR:
https://www.perfumeworkshop.com/perfume-team-building-singapore.html
 
Couple & Bridal Showers Perfume Workshop:
https://www.perfumeworkshop.com/goodman-perfume-workshop.html

​From giveaways at shopping malls to freebies in fashion magazines, virtually everyone tends to acquire perfume samples from just about everywhere. Over time, these samples accumulate in our purses, dressers, drawers, or simply lying around in many other places at home. Oftentimes, you like the sample’s fragrance but not enough that it is worthy of being your new signature scent. Other times, they may not just fit your personal preferences.
 
So, if you are unsure of what to do with your pile of samples, read on to know how you can finally put them to good use;
 
1. On-the-go perfume

If you have samples of fragrances you enjoy but are not exactly your favourites, you can use them as on-the-go perfume. Simply keep them in your bag or purse to have a scent handy to spritz on for when you could use a quick pick-me-up.

2. Scented cards

Scenting your business cards, greeting cards, and good ol’ letters give them a personal touch and take the gesture to the next level. A tip to avoid perfume stains on your cards but still have the scent last longer: consider squirting a few pumps onto a cotton ball and place it along with the card in a plastic bag overnight.

3. Car fragrance alternative  

If your car smells of fast food or other unpleasant odours that may be picked up from the outside, it could use a fragrance overhaul with the help of the samples you have on hand. Repurpose your perfume samples as a car air freshener by spraying them on tissue paper, cardstock, or cotton balls and leaving them under the seats. This trick will leave a pleasant and lingering scent, and it also works well with paper perfume samples found in magazines.

4. Spray on linens  

Nothing beats cuddling with a sandalwood and musky scented blanket after a long and exhausting day. If you are interested in freshening up your linens this way, consider using an alluring or cosy fragrance on your sheets and throw blankets to make snuggling up before bedtime with that certain someone extra romantic.

5. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) carpet refresher  

From mildew problems to pet hair, carpets attract all kinds of unwanted odours. One way to address that issue is by using your samples as a DIY carpet refresher. A simple recipe you can follow is adding several drops of the perfume sample into baking soda and then sprinkling the mixture all over the carpet. Let it sit for five to ten minutes before vacuuming to ensure it leaves a lovely scent.

6. Scent your wardrobe  

Sprucing up your wardrobe is another great way to use your perfume sample collection. Spritz on a few pumps on your sweaters, coats, and other garments to give them a refreshing scent that is sure to be more welcome than a musty one the next time you wear them.

7. Eliminate garbage odour  

After a while, foul odours are bound to emanate from your garbage cans. Instead of a chemical odour remover, it would be good to try using your perfume samples first to see if they are enough to do the job. Once you have cleaned out your garbage cans and washed them down, dip a sample onto tissue paper or cotton balls and place them at the bottom before adding the bag.

8. Add to your bath  

Make your self-care day more special by adding a refreshing perfume sample into your bath. Simply add a vial sample while your bath water runs to make a magical scent pleasing to the nose while not being too overwhelming.
 
Conclusion
 
Perfume samples are a great way to explore new scents to potentially add to a collection without committing to buying an entire bottle. But since they rarely get used beyond getting the initial scent impressions most of the time, they are often neglected and left to pile up over time. Hopefully, with these tips and with further research, you now have a good idea of how to introduce scents into other aspects of your life for free!
 
If you are keen to learn more about perfumery and perhaps even make your own fragrance, check out our perfume-making workshop here at the Perfume Workshop! Experience the art of fragrance-making firsthand and create your own signature perfume with friends and loved ones - ideal as a wellness team activity or a bridal shower activity in Singapore. Visit our website to learn more about what we have in store!

Finding your favourite scent might be hard, but what’s worse is having them expired after you’ve finally found the right scent! It is proven that yes, perfume indeed has an expiry date.

The typical shelf life of a perfume ranges from 3-5 years, and there are many factors that can affect it as well. If stored incorrectly, perfumes can evaporate and turn bad even faster.
​
While most perfume uses alcohol as a solvent, the others might use carrier oils such as sweet almond or olive oil. Oil based perfumes tend to expire faster as they contain fats in them .

 
#1 Check the packaging
While they don’t put an expiry date on the perfume, most perfumes packaging comes with a period-after-opening (PAO) label.  They can typically be found on the bottom of the perfume or on the box that came with it.
 
#2 Test how it smells
The most obvious way to tell if your perfume has gone bad is to smell it. You should know how your signature scent smells like. Take a test strip and spray your perfume on it. If you find that it smells drastically different from when you bought it, you can be sure that it has expired.
 
#3 Judge from the appearance of the perfume
Perfumes left for a long time would become darker and opaque due to the oxidation. If you find these signs in your perfume, you can deduce that your perfume is expiring.
 
So can we still use perfume that has expired? Your favourite scent could be giving off an unpleasant smell and causing skin irritation when applied, so is highly advisable to test before you use it.
 
 
 
 
Perfume Workshop Team Building links for more information:
https://www.perfumeworkshop.com
 
OR:
https://www.perfumeworkshop.com/perfume-team-building-singapore.html
 
Couple & Bridal Showers Perfume Workshop:
https://www.perfumeworkshop.com/goodman-perfume-workshop.html

When it comes to creating their homes and adding a little pizazz to their abodes, most people tend to stick to adding new furniture and decor. But what about creating new scents? While you can always just buy and replace the old ones, creating your own candles is way more cost-effective and requires less time. And the best part? You can choose the scent you want and even specialise in a particular fragrance category. So, if you’re ready to get started, here are 6 easy steps to make your own candles and add a lovely scent to your home.
 
Step 1: Gather materials
 
The first step to making your own candles is to gather the necessary materials. First and foremost, you’ll need a few containers to store your candles. Also, you’ll need wax and fragrance of your choice, wick, container filler, a funnel, a digital scale, jars and lids, scissors, and a spatula.
 
Step 2: Melt the wax
 
The next step is to melt your wax. You’ll first need to measure the amount of wax you’ll need to do this. This will depend on the size of the container you’re using and the strength of the fragrance.
 
Take your containers, fill them with water and place them in an oven set between 54 and 64 degrees Celsius. Let the water boil for about 20 minutes and then take the containers out and let them cool. Once the wax is melted, it should be warm to the touch but not hot enough to cause burns. Place your containers on a heat-resistant surface and place a measuring cup on the side of the wax. Slowly pour the wax into the measuring cup, letting it fill up until the wax reaches the two-cup mark. Be careful, as it will be very hot.
 
Step 3: Pour the wax
 
Your next step is to pour the wax into your containers. Once you’ve done this, you’ll want to let the wax cool completely. This process is called “cure time”, and it allows the wax to harden.
 
You can speed up the process by placing the containers in an area at room temperature. The longer the wax is out, the longer it will take to harden. While the wax is cooling, you can get started on your containers. You’ll first want to choose containers that are wide enough to hold a lot of wax. You can also opt for glass containers, as they’re easy to clean, but you’ll want to make sure they’re shatterproof.
 
Step 4: Add the fragrance
 
Your next step is to add your scent. Depending on the scent you’re using, you can either add it directly to the wax or a fragrance base. Measure out your scent and then add it directly to your fragrance base or wax. You can also opt to make your own fragrance base. First, you’ll need to mix the fragrance oil with fractionated coconut oil in a double-boiler. Let the mixture simmer for about 30 minutes until it reaches a melted consistency. The mixture should be thick enough to stick to a spoon but still easy to pour.
 
Step 5: Wrap and cure the candle
 
Your next step is to wrap your candles. Depending on the size of the container you’re using, you’ll want to make sure to cover the candle in one layer of plastic or aluminium foil. You want to make sure the wax does not come into contact with air, as this will ruin the scent. Place your candles in the containers, ensuring they are not touching each other. If the wax is still too hot, you can place the containers in an area at room temperature until the wax cools down.
 
Step 6: Enjoy your New Candle!
 
Your last step is to enjoy your new candles! You can do this by warming your new candles in the microwave and then placing them in an area where the scent is allowed to permeate the air.
 
As with any home DIY project, you can use a few tips and tricks to make the process smoother. First, try to choose containers that are equal in height and width. While you can always trim the wax, you don’t want to cut the containers, as this can cause the candles to look uneven. Also, when you’re wrapping the candles, make sure to do so in a single layer of foil, as this will help with the scent getting out. And lastly, when it comes to curing your candles, place them in the containers and not directly on the countertop, as this will ruin the scent.
 
Conclusion
 
Making your own candles is a great way to reduce costs and make homemade scents. You can even take it a step further and make your own moulds to create unique fragrances. All you need is a little creativity, and you can have your very own homemade candles.
 
If you’re looking for more DIY projects, you might want to look at our perfume-making workshops. Learn more about the art of fragrance-making through a hands-on experience, ideal for those looking for a wellness team activity or a bridal shower activity to do in Singapore. Find out more about Perfume Workshop through this link!

Aromatherapy can be familiar to some, but not known to others. Just what is aromatherapy? Aromatherapy is basically using essential oil to treat diseases. The essential oils are derived through distillation from different parts of the plant.

There are so many ways that you can use essential oil. You can reap the benefits of essential oil by applying them directly on the skin, diffusing and inhaling them, or even adding a few drops into your shampoo or skincare.

Let’s take a look at some of the common illnesses that we can treat with aromatherapy.

​Lavender is a popular choice for aromatherapy when you want to take off some stress and relax a little.  Studies have shown that lavender can be used to improve anxiety and insomnia. 

​Thyme essential oil was originally used by Egyptians to fight against infectious diseases. Studies have shown that thyme essential oil is effective to reduce cough and respiratory tract infections. Inhalation would be the best way to use essential oil for flu, else you can also try the following methods:
 
1.  Mixing it with a carrier oil to massage the body
2.  As a diffuser to clean the air
3.  Mixing it with hot water for steam inhalation

​Eucalyptus essential oils are amazing for relief of cough. You might not know it, but you might already be using eucalyptus oil without realising it. Those chest rubs that you buy over the counter contains eucalyptus oil, and they help to reduce inflammation and muscle tension caused from cold.
 
Ways to use eucalyptus oil:
1.   Inhaling the steam from water and eucalyptus oil mixture
2.  Mix it with carrier oil and rub it on your chest / throat.

Do note that it is important to talk to someone who has experience and training in aromatherapy before using it. Speak to your doctor to advise you if you have any pre-existing  health conditions.
 
Share with us! What are some of the other essential oil blends that you used that benefited you?
 
Perfume Workshop Team Building links for more information:
https://www.perfumeworkshop.com
 
OR:
https://www.perfumeworkshop.com/perfume-team-building-singapore.html
 
Couple & Bridal Showers Perfume Workshop:
https://www.perfumeworkshop.com/goodman-perfume-workshop.html