Essential Oils in Skincare: Risk or Remedy for Your Skin?

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts, capturing the “essence” of a plant — its aroma, active compounds, and therapeutic properties. They are obtained from flowers, leaves, bark, roots, or resins and contain volatile bioactive molecules that give plants their distinctive scent and natural benefits.

The term “essential” does not mean they are vital for survival, but that they carry the very essence of the plant’s fragrance and properties. For centuries, essential oils have been used in traditional medicine, aromatherapy, and skincare for their ability to calm, purify, and restore.

In modern skincare, essential oils play a dual role:

• They act as natural fragrance components, giving a product a subtle, pure scent.
• They deliver targeted skin benefits, such as soothing irritation (lavender), supporting regeneration (frankincense), or balancing oil production (bergamot).

At Abloom, we carefully select and dose essential oils not for their perfume alone, but for their therapeutic and skin-strengthening properties.

Extraction methods: how these oils are obtained

• Steam distillation
  The most widely used method. Flowers or leaves are exposed to steam, releasing volatile molecules. Lavender oil and ho leaf oil are obtained this way.
• Absolutes
  For delicate flowers like jasmine or orange blossom, steam would be too harsh. Instead, a solvent extraction method is used and later purified, resulting in a richly fragrant absolute packed with bioactive compounds.
• CO₂ extraction
  A modern technique using pressurized carbon dioxide. This yields exceptionally pure extracts without heat, such as frankincense CO₂ and seabuckthorn CO₂. These retain more nutrients and antioxidants than traditional oils.

“Fragrance” or “Parfum” on a label – what does it really mean?

Many people are wary when they see “parfum” or “fragrance” on an ingredient list. In conventional cosmetics, this often indicates a mix of synthetic fragrance compounds, some of which can trigger allergies or irritation.

At Abloom, things are different. We use only essential oils and absolutes as natural fragrance sources — and always as active ingredients. While a conventional brand may add fragrance for scent alone, we use essential oils to soothe, restore, and protect the skin.

Risks of essential oils in skincare

• Allergies and irritation
  Essential oils contain natural compounds such as linalool, limonene, or eugenol — known allergens. That’s why IFRA guidelines exist to regulate safe use. For example, lavender is considered safe up to ~2% in leave-on products. Our formulas are far below that. We always formulate for safe use — effective, yet gentle.
• Phototoxicity
  Some citrus oils can cause skin reactions when exposed to sunlight. That’s why we only use bergapten-free bergamot oil: fresh, safe, and skin-friendly.
• Oxidation
  If left open too long, oils can oxidize, increasing the risk of irritation. At Abloom, we work in small batches and package oils airtight and light-protected, ensuring freshness and stability.

In short: when used responsibly and in the right amounts, essential oils in skincare are not a risk, but an asset.

Are the percentages in Abloom products safe?

Our formulas contain essential oils in very low percentages — typically 0.02% to 1.5% per product, well below international safety standards.

• Day Cream: 0.56% essential oils (jasmine absolute, bergamot, frankincense CO₂)
• Night Cream: 1.41% (sandalwood, lavender, frankincense CO₂)
• Soothing Lotion: 1.1% (lavender, sandalwood, frankincense CO₂, ho leaf)
• Miracle Oil: 0.85% (rose, bergamot, patchouli, ho leaf)

These concentrations are mild, effective, and safe. For comparison: IFRA limits are often 2–5 times higher. This proves our products are both active and safe.

The benefits of essential oils for the skin

• Lavender → Calms redness, soothes irritation, and supports skin repair. Perfect for sensitive, unbalanced skin.
• Frankincense CO₂ → Supports cell renewal and collagen production. Helps reduce signs of aging while firming and revitalizing.
• Bergamot (bergapten-free) → Antibacterial and brightening, without phototoxic risk. Contributes to clear, even skin.
• Jasmine & Orange Blossom → Luxurious and regenerating, improve elasticity and radiance. A prime example of natural fragrance that goes beyond scent.
• Patchouli → Antimicrobial and skin-healing, often used for acne-prone or eczema-prone skin. Helps balance the skin’s microbiome.
• Rose → Rich in antioxidants, promotes glow and regeneration. A timeless classic in natural skincare, known for its soothing effect.

Together, these oils create a synergy: essential oil skincare = nourishment, therapy, and sensory experience in one.

Plant extracts & essential oils: how we combine them

At Abloom, we create our own plant extracts through a slow, low-temperature process of about 3 months. This ensures the full spectrum of bioactive compounds is preserved. These extracts form the backbone of our formulas.

We then combine them with virgin plant oils and other actives. Only in the final stage do we add small, safely dosed amounts of essential oils (lavender, frankincense CO₂, bergapten-free bergamot, jasmine absolute). This enriches the formulas — never as a simple “scent,” always with function.

The result: formulas that nourish and restore the skin, without overwhelming it.

Slow Skincare: finding balance between strength and softness

Where conventional perfumes often trigger skin issues, we use essential oils as a tool: carefully dosed, synergistically blended with herbs, vitamins, and antioxidants.

This strengthens the skin’s natural self-healing ability — and turns skincare into both nourishment and sensory ritual. This is the essence of Slow Skincare: time, purity, and effectiveness in perfect balance.

Conclusion

Essential oils often get a bad reputation, mainly due to misuse or excessive concentrations in conventional cosmetics. But in the right hands, they are powerful allies.

At Abloom, essential oils are never a gimmick or “just a fragrance.” They are functional, bioactive, and always used in safe concentrations. Combined with our slow, 3-month plant extracts, they bridge the gap between nature and science — restoring the skin to balance.

In other words: at Abloom, essential oils are not a risk, but a gift.