The word natural on a label is read as almost the same as the word good. In the fragrance trade it is more complicated than that, and both groups of material have their place.
Natural materials are extracted from plants, their composition varies from batch to batch and they are usually more expensive. Synthetic materials are more consistent between batches, they make scents that cannot be extracted from a plant at all, and being synthetic does not mean being less safe.
Four points of comparison
- Consistency: synthetics are near identical between batches; naturals change with the growing area, the season and the handling.
- Range of scent: many smells such as sea air, freshly dried laundry or rain cannot be extracted from a plant, so they have to be made with synthetic materials.
- Price: many natural materials are very expensive because a large mass of raw material is needed for a small quantity of oil.
- Impact on nature: some natural materials are tied to over-harvested species, and in those cases synthetic material is the gentler choice for the forest.
Safety is not decided by origin
Both groups contain substances that must be used within limits. In the fragrance trade, usage levels are set by the standards of a professional body, the familiar name being IFRA, and a perfumer works to those levels rather than to whether a material is natural or not. We are not giving specific levels here, because this is specialist content that should be read from the original documents.
In other words, the useful question is not whether a material is natural or synthetic, but at what level it is used and in what product.
How ZUNGZA works and talks about this
Our formulas use both natural and synthetic materials, because there are forest notes that cannot be made by extraction alone. We choose to say this plainly rather than use the phrase entirely natural as a shortcut. This is our own convention.
A few questions you often send us
Why do so many brands still say all natural
Because the word sells. For a buyer, the way to check is to ask specifically what the scent components are, and to ask whether there is documentation about the composition.
Are natural scents weaker
Not necessarily. Many natural materials are very strong, and some of the notes that are most unpleasant in a closed room come from natural material.
What should someone with allergies watch for
Read the warning information on the label, try it in a very small amount, and if you have a history of reacting to scents or cosmetics then ask someone qualified. We are not giving medical guidance here.