OIL COMPARISON

Two oils. What’s the difference?

Compare what they smell like, where they come from and what to check before using them.

First oilSecond oil

The difference, at a glance.

Lavender brings floral, fresh, sweet notes. Peppermint brings intensely minty, fresh, cooling notes. Their reference aroma strengths are medium and strong, respectively.

ESSENTIAL OIL REFERENCE

Lavender

Lavandula angustifolia Mill.

What it smells like

floralfreshsweetherbaceousslightly fruityslightly camphorous

Reference aroma strength: Medium
Role in a scent: Opening notes + Heart notes
Plant part: recently cut flowering tops
How the oil is extracted: steam distillation
Chemotype · the plant’s chemical variant: linalool / linalyl acetate type

Before you use it

1 caution is recorded in this reference.

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Reference sources & cautions

ISO 3515:2002 Oil of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.); AromaWeb Lavender Essential Oil profile

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Lavender oil lacks natural antioxidant protection: on prolonged air exposure its linalool and linalyl acetate autoxidize into strong contact allergens, increasing dermal sensitization potency of the oxidized (aged) oil versus fresh oil. Use fresh, well-stored oil and avoid applying oxidized/aged lavender oil undiluted to skin.
Lavender oil lacks natural protection against autoxidation, forming strong contact allergens on air exposure (Hagvall et al., Contact Dermatitis 2008); Autoxidation of linalyl acetate, the main component of lavender oil, creates potent contact allergens (Skold et al., Contact Dermatitis 2008)
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ESSENTIAL OIL REFERENCE

Peppermint

Mentha x piperita L.

What it smells like

intensely mintyfreshcoolingsweetcandy-like

Reference aroma strength: Strong
Role in a scent: Opening notes
Plant part: fresh aerial parts of the flowering plant
How the oil is extracted: steam distillation
Chemotype · the plant’s chemical variant: menthol / menthone type

Before you use it

1 caution is recorded in this reference.

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Reference sources & cautions

ISO 856:2006 Oil of peppermint (Mentha x piperita L.); AromaWeb Peppermint Essential Oil profile; CIR Amended Safety Assessment of Mentha piperita (Peppermint)

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Do not apply near the face of infants or young children because menthol inhalation may adversely affect breathing.
Peppermint Oil: Usefulness and Safety | NCCIH
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Scent roles and strength summarize reference descriptions, not a specific batch. Similar aromas do not make oils interchangeable for skin use or other applications. This comparison does not assess blend synergy.

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