If you are just starting out with scenting, the first thing you discover is that two things are used as synonyms when they are nothing of the sort: essential oil and fragrance. Understanding the difference saves you money, disappointment and the odd ruined machine.
What an essential oil is
An essential oil is a concentrated plant extract, obtained by distilling or pressing flowers, leaves, bark, roots or fruit peel. It captures the volatile compounds of that particular plant, which is why it evaporates at room temperature.
It is the raw material of aromatherapy in the strict sense. You identify it by the botanical name on the label —Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha × piperita—, the country of origin and the extraction method.
What a fragrance is
A fragrance is a perfumery composition: a formula created by a perfumer that may combine natural and synthetic raw materials to build a specific olfactory profile that is, above all, stable and reproducible.
It is not a “fake” version of an essential oil: it is a different thing, with a different purpose. An essential oil varies from harvest to harvest; a fragrance smells the same in January as it does in August, which is exactly what you need if you want your premises to smell the same every single day.
Which one you need
If you are after aromatherapy —therapeutic use, diluted massage, personal application— you need pure essential oils, and the place to buy them is a herbalist or a specialist supplier. That is not what we sell.
If you want a space to smell a particular way, consistently —your home, your shop, your hotel, your office— what you need is a fragrance formulated for diffusion. That is very much our field.
What exactly we sell at BENDIS
Our refills are professional perfumery compositions formulated specifically for cold nebulization. They are not pure essential oils and we do not sell them as such.
That formulation is not a shortcut: it is a technical requirement. Cold nebulization needs a specific viscosity and concentration. Cosmetic essential oils, being denser, can clog the channels of the machine, and that kind of breakdown cannot always be repaired. It is the most expensive mistake a beginner makes with a nebulizer.
How to choose well, whatever you buy
Look at exactly what the label says. “Lavender aroma” and “Lavandula angustifolia 100%” are different products at different prices. Be wary of anyone selling the second at the price of the first.
Check which machine it is meant for. Ultrasonic, nebulizer and heat diffuser do not take the same thing.
Smell it first. It is the most important step and the one people skip. The same liquid smells different in a bottle than diffused around a room. That is why we send samples before you decide anything.
Start with a neutral profile. If in doubt, green tea or a citrus: they are the ones that meet the least resistance.
Basic precautions
Always low intensity, ventilation, and no prolonged diffusion in babies’ rooms. Do not ingest essential oils or apply them undiluted to the skin. If there are people with asthma or respiratory sensitivity in the space, check with their doctor. And if there are pets, first read the precautions with animals.
