Current Scent Marketing Systems Are Not Quite Working. Send in the flowers ...

What's the function of scent marketing? Some companies simply want to scent a space to capture a brand identity. If this is the case, then the common methods of scenting using fragrance oils will suffice. However, there is a growing trend for office and commercial indoor spaces to extract a neurological and environmental change from their scenting systems.

Office spaces are now pumping their a/c system or using portable
units to create air which is powerful enough to kill germs, motivate
staff to be alert and smell fresh and clean. 

The traditional method of using synthetic, fragrance oil systems can't do this. Fragrance oils are an easy and cheap option, which have made them a popular choice for commercial entities. Advance-thinking companies are acknowledging that aromatherapy-based methods of scenting, have ways of increasing the bottom-line which may not seem obvious at first. Here are some reasons which have led HR, sales, operations and housekeeping departments to value essential oil based scenting systems.

Oils burners heated by a candle are
the most common and affordable
 way to diffuse both essential and
fragrance oils in a small space.

Some reasons for the trend heading towards multi-purpose scenting systems

MARKETING
1) To change behavior
Essential oils will change the neurology of customers. For example, it may be used to relax patients at a dentist office or it may be used to make clients feel a sense of trust at the point of sale.
2) To recall a feeling or memory
A new trend is for real estate brokers to scent a home for sale with spice oils, like cinnamon or to create a feeling of warmth and homeliness. Synthetic fragrance oils are unable to create this physiological and psychological change.

FUNCTIONAL

Many offices are now
opting to deodorise their
fresh air straved spaces,
with portable essential
oil diffuser units. Yup! Body
odour is a problem in
male dominated offices.

1) To deodorise their indoor space organically
Essential oils kill odour causing bacteria. Odours may be biological (food, body odour) or non-biological (cigarettes, care fumes). They also add fresh scents to the air.

2) To uplift stale air in a space that is always enclosed.
Essential oils will ionise air. This means adding (-) ions to create fresh air.

3) Kill airborne bacteria due to high incidence of sick days.
Essential oils when diffused into the air, kill almost all bacteria and viruses it comes into contact with.

4) As a pest repellent in spaces where there is food being served.
Certain essential oils are pest repellents. Even if the mist falls onto food or drink, they are completely safe to ingest. Fragrance oils are synthetic and unsafe for consumption.

Many offices are no longer
discounting the high-tech
multi-purpose use of
diffusing essential oils
commercially in their
work spaces. 

Homes, offices and commercial entities, which want to create a client / consumer behavioural change will need to seek systems which are aromatherapy based. It works only one way - using REAL, essential / spice oils.

There are many methods of diffusion - fanning, evaporation, ionizing, spritzing. They all work to some degree, but the best method will depend on the size of the space, your budget, the availability of a power socket and the duration you intend to scent a space. (We will leave this for discussion on another blog post.)

Scenting utilising essential oils can be expensive, require speciality machines and will probably require a consultant to help you set it up properly. It may seems like a hassle in the beginning, but in the long run ...

• It can improve employee health
• There will be fewer negative comments about the scent
• Fewer people will have allergies from it
• It will detox and deodorise as it scents 
• The ionizing effect on the space is priceless

The effect is not tangible on paper. In fact trying to write the experience to you will not do it justice. But, when you feel the difference of a space scented using fragrance oils vs essential oils, you can immediately feel the difference. The difference is so powerfully obvious that you will probably never use fragrance oils again.

fragrance oils  = synthetic oils

essential oils = real botanical compounds

Fragrance Oils

Pros

Cheaper.

• Many machines can diffuse.

Cons

• Synthetic, so may cause headaches.

• No therapeutic benefit.

Essential Oils

Pros

• Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, deodorising effect. 

• Health benefits.

Cons

• Can be more expensive depending onthe choice of oil and diffusion method.

• Can be difficult to diffuse properly; not all machines can diffuse essential oils.

Want to discover the unique scenting system that is able to diffuse REAL essential oils in a commercial capacity. It's more affordable and easier than you think. Packages starting from SGD$960. Visit Thoth™ by The Little Essentials organic solutions company at www.thelittleessentials.com or click on the logo below to find out about our commercial grade machines for homes and offices.

Aroma Oils vs Essential Oils - Know What The Labels Mean Before You Buy

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ESSENTIAL OIL GRADES

WARNING! USING LOW GRADE OR SYNTHETIC OILS ON YOUR SKIN CAN BE HARMFUL. USE ONLY CERTIFIED ORGANIC, PREMIUM GRADE OILS.

CLICK HERE TO  FIND OUT WHICH ESSENTIAL OIL IS RIGHT FOR YOUR SKIN.

NATURAL vs SYNTHETIC

Essential Oils = Natural

Fragrance Oils = Synthetic

Synthetic oils mimic the aroma of essential oils. Although cheaper they have absolutely no therapeutic benefit on the skin. This is because fragrance oils are synthetic versions with different structures and the body does not absorb them like natural molecules. In fact, synthetic oils can be harmful when applied to the skin causing irritation and rash.

Essential oil prices can fluctuate greatly because of crop conditions. For this reason some are reasonably priced while others seem excessive. Fragrance oils are cheaper and can be purchased in unlimited quantities because they do not depend on a crop harvest. A few essential oils are less expensive than their synthetically produced counterparts such as lemon, orange, pine and some lavender but they are also more volatile.

As its name suggest, fragrance oils only smell good. They will offer absolutely no therapeutic benefit.

So how can you tell if you’ve got the real thing?

• Some people are genetically able to smell the difference.
• If you are not one of these people – do the oil drop test. A drop of natural essential oil on paper will evaporate without leaving an oily residue.

GRADES of ESSENTIAL OILS

There are 4 Grades of Essential Oils

Grade A essential oils are pure and therapeutic quality. They are usually made from organically grown plants distilled at the proper temperatures using steam distillation

Environmental factors (where the plant is grown, soil type, fertiliser (organic vs. chemical), altitude, etc.) and physical factors (how and when the plant is harvested, distilled and bottled) also determine if an essential oil is of therapeutic quality.

• Grade B essential oils are food grade. They may contain synthetics, pesticides, fertilisers, chemical/synthetic extenders, or carrier oils.

• Grade C oils are perfume grade and may contain the same type of adulterating chemicals as food grade oils.

• Floral Water is a byproduct of the distillation process. It can be very high quality if it comes from a Grade A distillation process. Accordingly, a very low quality if it comes from poor quality raw materials and/or poor distillation processes. It is usually found in skin and hair products. This grade has no therapeutic qualities.

Some Evidence The Quality Of Essential Oils Makes A Difference

Not all essential oils are the same. A randomised, double-blind trial of essential oils from two different species of lavender, topically applied on post-cardiotomy patients revealed that the quality of the oil is an important factor in determining the efficacy of its use.

28 patients were randomly selected to receive aromatherapy massage with one of the two essential oils on two consecutive days, and their emotional and behavioural stress levels were evaluated both before and after the treatment.

The results revealed that the therapeutic effects of the two lavenders were clearly different; one was almost twice as effective as the other, thereby disproving the hypothesis that aromatherapy, using topical application of essential oils, is effective purely because of touch, massage or placebo.

[Source: Buckle J. Nurs Times (ENGLAND) May 19-25 1993, 89 (20) p32-5]

Why is it so Costly to Produce Therapeutic Grade Oil?

You need hundreds of pounds of material to make a pound of therapeutic grade oil. For instance it takes 30 to 60 roses to make one drop of pure therapeutic grade Rose oil.

It takes far less material to make synthetic or perfume grade oil. Therefore producing oils correctly and for therapeutic benefits is extremely time consuming and costly. The cost of the plants alone can be enough to discourage a company from producing them. The therapeutic grade essential oil is extremely concentrated and although the cost of the oil is more, we need far less and we can expect superior results.

Enfleurage is the most expensive extraction method and is the only one that won’t alter the chemical makeup (therefore, fragrance) of some botanicals such as lilac. As a result, commercial production of some essential oils is impractical.

Distillation and cold pressing methods yield liquid essential oils. The results of solvent extraction and enfleurage are resins and concretes--solids and semi-solids. Essential oils will dissolve in alcohol or oil and are volatile; evaporation dissipates their scents quickly (patchouli is one exception). A drop of pure, liquid essential oil on paper will disappear without leaving an oil spot when it is dry. You can use this easy test if you doubt the genuineness of an essential oil.

Custom designed scenting PORCELAIN

Fine China (Porcelain) scenting tray. Place your essential oil bottles on the leaf and scent the flower . Our company creates  handmade, custom designed scenting trays from organic porcelain.

Very few companies on the market can claim to do this - custom designed handcrafted scenting porcelain (NOT CLAY). Imagine creating a family heirloom or an exquisite parting-gift for your wedding ... Contact us on dianne@thelittleessentials.com and allow me to give you some ideas on what I can do for you.