What goes into creating Fragrance Oils?

[u/_Neon_Nomad]

I am based in Australia, and jealously read all the posts about Candle Science's etc new fall collection and amazing lines of FO.

In Aus we have a few suppliers, but US manufacturers typically carry about 5-10x the variety we get here.

So my question is, what goes into FO creation? What do people think is the barrier to new entrants in the market to add variety?

[u/AutumnFP]

It's just chemistry! Proper chemistry, with big sides of:

• Regulatory Compliance (which is ever-changing as more is understood about particular parts/ingredients and their effect on human health)

• Supply chain - if you get priced out of a required raw material then blends will have to be adapted

• Environmental aspects - especially where naturals are concerned (not just EOs but extracts that exist in nature), perhaps there's now a protective order on x ingredient so you can book longer source it.

And the fun stuff, actual perfumery, trends and marketing! Trends change seasonally (and can be cyclical) just like fashion, and there's a lot of inspiration from fine fragrance too, all trickling down into new fragrance options - very fun. And I'm not really referencing the perfumery side of it, which is arguably the most important/highly skilled of all! Plus the development chemist that works with them.

In essence, * Perfumery skill = how the blend smells and how it reacts/keeps up with trends (what did customers want to see?)

• Compliance & Testing = is it safe to use?

• Supply Chain = can we reliably produce this fragrance with margins that work for us?

[u/_Neon_Nomad → u/AutumnFP]

Thanks for the comprehensive response!

[u/ImportantDevice6627]

the chemistry behind it all is wild but regulatory hurdles like IFRA compliance make it tough to experiment freely without jumping through hoops

[u/_Neon_Nomad → u/ImportantDevice6627]

Thanks for the insight!

[u/megtri]

I'm also based in Australia, and I am so bored of the same scents every supplier sells here. Years ago, there were a few places that imported fragrances from a few of the big suppliers overseas but no one seems to do that now. I quite often buy from overseas (it can actually work out cheaper or the same) and one thing I've noticed is the quality is much better than we have here. I've got some oils that are a few years old and still smell fantastic, but ones I buy here morph or fade in the bottle before I even get to use them.

[u/_Neon_Nomad → u/megtri]

Do you import from the US? Do you use freight forwarders or something? I'm absolutely in the same boat as you. I feel like every market stall is the same collection of coconut & lime and monkey farts (not that there is anything wrong with those fragrances, I just see them a lot haha)

[u/megtri → u/_Neon_Nomad]

Exactly, everyone sells the same! A lot of places ship to Australia direct. I've used a freight forwarder once and it was pricey, but it was combined with home goods my cousin ordered elsewhere, so who knows, it might be ok 😄

[u/Far-Researcher-5647 → u/megtri]

I’m based in Australia while I agree the market for scents are so so but as a candle maker i try not to for the basic scents I like to use scents that are more unique because I cannot stand the standard coconut vanilla or day spa scents. You have to really look for them. What kind of candle are you trying to recreate is it an atmosphere a memory then type in those keywords and see what comes up. I made a candle using a scent that is reminiscent of Fridays on the dancefloor and it is such an awesome and captivating scent.