At Archer Farrar we create both organic alcohol or oil based natural perfumes, but which is the best choice for you? Alcohol-based perfumes and oil-based perfumes have their own sets of benefits and characteristics:
Alcohol based perfume:
At Archer Farrar we use an organic 190 proof alcohol made from grapes, the grapes providing an initial, very fleeting and subtle sweetness to each perfume which is truly delightful. Some benefits of alcohol are as follows:
Quick Evaporation: Alcohol-based perfumes tend to evaporate quickly upon application, which can create a strong initial burst of fragrance. Alcohol is generally a better diluent for spritzier perfumes with predominantly lighter notes of citrus. The faster evaporation of the smaller molecules gives you an initial zing associated with a fresh cologne for example.
Variety of Notes: Alcohol will evaporate all components of the perfume from lighter molecules first to heavier molecules last. This means that alcohol-based perfumes are versatile and can contain a wide range of fragrance notes, making them suitable for various scent profiles, from fresh and citrusy to deep and woody. Personally I love working with an alcohol base as it provides a beautiful nuance, lightness and complexity to a fragrance.
Lighter Feel: These perfumes often feel lighter on the skin and may not leave an oily residue. They also have a cooling sensation, which is refreshing in the warmer weather and for fresh fragrances, this can really add to the experience.
Oil based perfume:
At Archer Farrar we use fractionated coconut oil as the oil perfume base, this is due to its extremely stable nature and lack of odour. Some benefits of oil-based perfumes are as follows:
Longevity: Oil-based perfumes typically have a longer-lasting scent compared to alcohol-based ones. The oils tend to evaporate more slowly, so the fragrance can linger on your skin for hours.
Scent Evolution: These perfumes often have a more gradual and subtle scent evolution as they interact with your body heat and chemistry. This can create a unique and personalised fragrance experience. This is what I love about working with oil perfumes – they are incredibly personal. The maturation process for oil perfumes is also marvellous, I find these fragrances become so much richer and complex with months of ageing, whereas I find alcohol perfumes don’t tend to mature as much beyond the initial ageing process of around 6-8 weeks.
Skin-Friendly: Oil-based perfumes are often less likely to cause skin irritation or allergies because they contain fewer harsh chemicals and alcohol, which can be irritating to sensitive skin. With an oil base I also feel like you get more of the therapeutic benefits of the essential oil ingredients as they have more time to absorb into the skin.
Ultimately, the choice between oil-based and alcohol-based perfume comes down to personal preference and the type of fragrance experience you desire, for example some lighter perfume formulations will lend themselves better to an alcohol base than an oil base. As your perfumer I can guide your choice but it’s essential to try both and see which works best for you and your skin.
