Perfume - understanding the fragrances used in French Soaps made in Provence

If you’ve ever wondered what goes into your perfume, you’re not alone. With growing interest in clean beauty and transparency, many people are asking:

What’s the difference between natural and synthetic fragrances?

Here’s a simple comparison to help you understand both — and choose what suits your lifestyle and values best.

Natural perfumes are made entirely from plant-based ingredients like essential oils, absolutes, resins, and flower extracts.

Synthetic perfumes use lab-made aroma molecules. Some mimic natural scents (like vanilla or rose), while others are totally unique creations you won’t find in nature.

Under EU and UK cosmetic regulations (and often followed elsewhere), certain fragrance ingredients — whether natural or synthetic — are known to trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. These are called "fragrance allergens."

If they are present above a certain amount, they must be listed individually on the label, even if they’re part of an essential oil.

• Limonene – found naturally in citrus oils

• Linalool – in lavender, rosewood, and coriander

• Citral – in lemongrass, lemon myrtle

• Eugenol – found in clove, cinnamon

• Geraniol – in rose, geranium

• Citronellol – in citronella, rose

• Farnesol – in neroli and citronella

• Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl benzoate, Isoeugenol, and others

These ingredients can be:

• Naturally occurring in essential oils

• Added synthetically for consistency or strength

Even if you use a fully natural perfume, it may still contain regulated allergens that must be declared.

If your perfume contains sweet orange essential oil (which naturally contains limonene), and the concentration exceeds the threshold (0.001% in leave-on products like perfume), you’ll need to list "Limonene" on the ingredient label.

This labeLling protects consumers who are allergic or sensitive to specific compounds — and it’s required by law in most regions.

There’s no right or wrong answer — it depends on your skin, preferences, and values.

• If you love artisan products, plant-based beauty, or have sensitive skin, natural perfumes may be for you.

• If you prefer long-lasting, affordable, and diverse scents, a synthetic or blended perfume could be ideal.

Most perfumers use a mix of both to balance performance, cost, and safety, indeed a single perfume can contain up to 300 different fragrance components.

Whether you’re team natural, synthetic, or somewhere in between our recommendation is you buy what you love and is most appropriate for your skin!

The fragrances used in the soap bars we sell are made by perfumiers commissioned by the different brands and to their individual specifications. The scent profile is different for using in a solid bar versus a liquid soap versus a body care product. Each carefully crafted to be fit for purpose.

Many modern perfumes are hybrids, using both natural and synthetic components for performance and affordability. Synthetics don’t always mean “bad” — many are used for ethical, environmental, or safety reasons (e.g., replacing animal musks or endangered woods).