Can real flowers' smell be replicated? Do these oils/scents exist?

July 23, 2019 1:38 PM

I'm interested in introducing scented oils into my life, but I'm having trouble finding ones I like.

I'm finding most of the natural oils I've tried all smell really strong and pungent to me. I love the smell of fresh gardenia flowers and jasmines, but the oils I got with those names smell nothing like the actual flower. This morning I had some on and my bf said I smelled like stores he doesn't like walking into, and I don't disagree! Does anyone have any suggestions for scents/oils that are closer to the actual smell of those flowers?

posted by monologish to Shopping (6 answers total)

The issue may be that scented oils in general tend to be very strong-smelling. You could try diluting them as a few drops in a carrier oil or in alcohol and using that. Using a very small amount may be the difference between them smelling overwhelming and not like the flower, and them smelling like what you're looking for. Jasmine in particular is a scent that perfumers have been able to do well for ages.

Another way may be to find a perfume with jasmine or gardenia as the main note. Perfumes are formulated to be balanced in a way that a one-note scented oil will not be. You may have to smell a few and test them to see how they wear in on your skin.
posted by fiercecupcake at 1:55 PM on July 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

I love Demeter - https://demeterfragrance.com Yes; they have some kooky ones like "Earthworm" & "Spacewalk" (which are pretty good!) but their flower ones are subtle & very nice.
posted by Wylie Kyoto at 1:59 PM on July 23, 2019 [1 favorite]

Enfleurage is an extraction method that seems to yield a fragrance that’s closer to the real flower than essential oils do. A perfumer once gave me a gorgeous sample of a gardenia enfleurage that truly smelled like gardenias and was not overwhelming. Check Etsy for enfleurage samples of the flowers you like best!
posted by corey flood at 2:18 PM on July 23, 2019 [2 favorites]

I used to work with Jasmine Absolute and the fragrance is pretty close to the real thing. It has to be diluted for use though and it's not cheap.

Jasmine Absolute
posted by whitelotus at 6:08 PM on July 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

Yeah, I used to make herbal soaps and lip balms, body butters, and scrubs. Florals are notoriously difficult to extract, and require alternative methods. Rose absolute is expensive, as is jasmine, and oddly, lemon balm. Tho' mint essential oil and things like orange and lime essential oils, are not as expensive, because they can be extracted via steam distillation.

You might like rose geranium essential oil, which comes from the leaf of the plant, and smells wonderful, and is not as expensive as true rose, jasmine, or lemon balm absolutes.

What you may have been getting are fragrance oils, which are chemicals that mimic the scents you want, and while they might smell good, that could be why he says it smells like stores, because the real things are uber expensive, so doubtful you are getting true floral essential oils at an affordable price.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:17 PM on July 23, 2019 [3 favorites]

I was just introduced to monoi oil in Hawaii. It's really inexpensive, and a much more dilute preparation (of Tahitian gardenia) than essential/absolute oils and perfumes. It's very nice!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 7:35 AM on July 24, 2019