Natural Perfume FAQ

A botanical fragrance is made with botanical oils and extracts with no isolates. These might include essential oils, absolutes, CO2 extracts, carrier oils such as jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis), and a 190 proof alcohol base. They might be organic in nature. Many artisan perfumers use slow perfumery growing and extraction methods to create a one-of-a-kind fragrance.

Botanical fragrances may change slightly between batches due to natural resources used in making them. Essential oils and other botanical extracts are affected in chemistry (and thus fragrance) by growing conditions, harvest times and techniques, environmental factors, geographical areas, and more. This is in contrast to their synthetic counterpart which are produced by identical chemical components in a lab.

A natural fragrance can be made up from botanical extracts such as essential oils, CO2 extracts, and absolutes - but it might also contain natural isolates (derived from botanical material). For example, you can use a linalool isolate extracted from basil (Ocimum basilicum). The base is usually a carrier oil such as jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) or a 190 proof alcohol.

Many artisan perfumers use slow perfumery growing and extraction methods to create a one-of-a-kind fragrance.

Natural fragrances may change slightly between batches due to natural resources used in making them. Essential oils and other botanical extracts are affected in chemistry (and thus fragrance) by growing conditions, harvest times and techniques, environmental factors, geographical areas, and more. This is in contrast to their synthetic counterpart which are produced by identical chemical components in a lab. Note that synthetic fragrances use synthetic isolates whereas natural fragrances may use natural isolates.

Synthetic fragrances are produced by identical chemical components in a lab, meaning that the same fragrance formulation will smell exactly the same each time. There are no botanical nuances or outside factors affecting the growing condition of the plant, like with a botanical fragrance. Synthetic fragrances may contain a very small portion of botanical extracts but usually the bulk of the fragrance is synthetically made.

Synthetic fragrances include many mainstream fragrance houses and lines.

Essential oils are obtained from the roots, flowers, leaves, seeds, and bark of a plant. They are extracted by distillation (hydro or steam, or combo). They sometimes contain different chemotypes. But a true essential oil should be extracted from a single plant species. The scent is "captured" during the process in the form of chemical components which contribute to the overall scent of an individual essential oil.

Essential oils can be combined within a fragrance of varying quantities and types to create a botanical and/or natural fragrance.

Do not confuse essential oils with synthetic fragrance oils.

Some plant material can be used to produce both essential oils and concretes and absolutes. Concretes are prepared from plant material by the use of a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a waxy, solid substance that is widely used in the perfumery industry; absolutes are prepared from concrete by
alcohol extraction and are again of much use to the perfumery industry.

Absolutes often provide a slightly heavier, more aromatic aroma which make them great to work with in perfumery. Most absolutes also dissolve in alcohol, making them excellent for use in alcohol-based perfumes. Some are very difficult to use in oil-based fragrances. In addition, some absolutes need to be diluted in alcohol before they are usable as they present as solid or very viscous, sticky substances.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) extraction involves using carbon dioxide at both high pressure and low temperatures to extract essential oils from the plants. Essential oils produced through carbon dioxide extraction and distillation differ in chemical composition; therefore, steam distilled essential oil might not contain the same therapeutic properties as an essential oil extracted via carbon dioxide. In addition, you will notice that the aroma of carbon dioxide extracted essential oil is slightly different from that of distilled essential oil.

Carbon dioxide extraction of essential oils is said to be more “pure” than the distillation of essential oils and closer to the original oil in the plant; there is no trace of carbon dioxide in the final essential oil produced. Although distillation of essential oils is also “pure”, the chemical components of the final essential oil are slightly different in chemical composition to the original essential oil produced by the plant, due to the distillation process.

There are some beautiful aromas to be found in CO2 extracts for natural perfume making.

Organic alcohol (corn, sugar, grape) at 190 proof is the preferred base for alcohol-based natural perfumes.

Vodka at 60% or less is not recommended because of the high water content. Anything less than 190 proof is going to dilute the botanical perfume base and open up the potential for bacterial growth in your product.

Upgrade to our Stories of Scent podcast to learn more.

Artisan tinctures of botanical nature can be used as an alternative base for an alcohol-based fragrance. There really isn't anything that you can't tincture! It just depends how much viable aroma that you can extract from the plant material.

Tinctures might need to be double or triple infused, depending on the depth of aroma required. It is the true art of slow perfumery making.

Currently, we have a mandarin-based tincture base in Audrey on Air and a 50% coffee-based tincture in Back to Bacall. We make all tincture bases in-house and they are custom made exclusive to our natural perfumery.

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) is our preferred medium for our oil-based fragrances. It is neutral in aroma, has a very long shelf life, and is also great for skincare. Upgrade to our Stories of Scent podcast to learn more.

Or alcohol-based perfumes are all spray perfumes. This means that our 2mL to 30mL size perfumes can all be sprayed onto the skin.

We blend and bottle in-house. We do not use outside contractors to fulfil our products.

How to Use a Spray Fragrance: Spray one to two times onto the wrist or neck area. If sensitive to any type of natural ingredients, patch test on one area of skin first. Discontinue use if sensitivity occurs. All of our spray fragrances include an ingredient list card, listed in order of amount of the ingredient used, from most to least. Please reach out to us with any questions before use.

Our oil fragrances (currently the 80s Xtra Collection) are roll-on fragrances. We blend and bottle in-house. We do not use outside contractors to fulfil our products.

They are created from a base of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) with essential oils and absolutes added to the base. Simply uncap the black cap and roll onto wrists or the neck with the stainless steel ball applicator doing the work for you. You can also apply to the temples.

As with all of our fragrances, patch test before use in case of sensitivity. All of our fragrances include an ingredient list card, with ingredients listed in descending order.

Botanical ingredients often carry cautions for use. All of our products are intended for adult use only.

If you are pregnant, nursing, aged 65 or over, have health concerns, a recent hospital stay or surgery, we encourage you to reach out to us before purchase if you have any concerns. As a veteran certified aromatherapist, in addition to being a natural perfumer, Sharon Louise Chapman has extensive experience in using essential oils, absolutes, CO2 extracts, and other botanical extracts safely. We also recommend enrolling in our botanical aromatherapy membership school if you're interested in understanding how essential oils interact and the various recommended dilutions rates (and application uses).

Do not spray our fragrances into, or apply to, eyes, ingest, or apply anywhere else other than externally to the skin.

Photosensitivity: Some fragrance contain ingredients that are photosensitive. Avoid use prior to going out in sunlight or with any other type of UV light. Please check with us if you are unsure if your fragrance contains photosensitive ingredients. Common photosensitive ingredients include many citrus oils but also oils such as cumin (Cuminum cyminum), lovage (Levisticum officinale), and angelica (Angelica archangelica).

Watch for potential staining on clothes for our darker-colored fragrances. As recommended elsewhere on this website, try a patch test on the skin first, if you have known allergies or skin sensitivities.

Some of our natural fragrances may contain known or unknown allergens, depending on quantity used and/or type of ingredient.

If you want further advice before purchase, please reach out to us directly.

Find us online exclusively on our own website SedonaAromatics.com.

When, and if, we expand to other online stockists, we will notify you here.

We are currently located in Clarkdale, AZ, 86324, which is in the Verde Valley area in northern Arizona.

You can contact us and arrange a private session locally at our perfumery in Clarkdale. Also, watch out for our open houses at the perfumery, especially around the Holiday season.

You may find us at other local events such as the annual Pecan and Wine Festival in Camp Verde, the annual Clarkdale Historical Society Garden Sale and Festival, local area markets, and the Clarkdale Concerts in the Park Summer Series.

Check local listings for advertised events and follow us on social media to be the first to know!

As our brand grows, we will grow our presence at national tradeshows and events which are an appropriate fit for our brand.

In the past, we have attended the biennial National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy Tradeshow in Salt Lake City, Utah and Tampa, Florida.

If you're interested in buying our botanical fragrances wholesale for your natural perfume store, please visit our wholesale page to learn more.

Do you have a special corporate event coming up for your employees or partners? Or are you celebrating a wedding, anniversary, retirement, or major birthday milestone? Or perhaps you are planning a retreat?

If you are thinking about how to add a special element to any of these types of events, consider adding one or both of the following:

• natural fragrance products created by our indie perfume house (custom or from our current fragrance line)
• nature perfume bar- where guest or attendees can make their own fragrances to take home.

All products and events are personally made or hosted by our in-house perfumer Sharon Louise Chapman.

To learn more, visit our Natural Fragrance Events page.

Our Natural Perfume Business Academy will launch with our flagship program: Build Your Own Natural Perfume Business Accelerator.

With an anticipated launch date of February 1st 2027 (for beta students), this program will:

Give you the tools to formulate highly desirable natural perfumes without the toxicity of using synthetics 

Give you a three-part blueprint to start and scale your business

Allow you to confidently answer any customer or client question by knowing the mental and physical health benefits of using aromatic plants and botanical perfumes

Help you to develop fragrances that feel like you and learn how to standout as a brand

Teach you how to assess specific client or customer needs to create perfumes that keep them coming back

Help you to discover how to correctly list, label, and design packaging and content that meets regulations

Allow you to graduate from the program with a business plan for your new business.

If you're serious about becoming a professional natural perfumer with the skillset to start your own business, this is the program for you!

Book a free call with Sharon to learn more!

Watch this space for more natural perfume classes when they launch!

We offer a one-on-one perfume coaching program which is individualized to you and available as an add-on to the Build Your Own Natural Perfume Business Perfume Accelerator.

Our perfume coaching program is exclusively mentored by our in-house perfumer Sharon Louise Chapman.

Book a free call to learn more!

We offer one-on-one perfume consultancy programs which are individualized to you and available as an add-on to the Build Your Own Natural Perfume Business Perfume Accelerator. These include Natural Perfume Formulation Review, Signature Scent Package, and Natural Fragrances Compliance Mentorship.

Our perfume consultancy program is exclusively mentored by our in-house perfumer Sharon Louise Chapman.

Book a free call to learn more!