The Truth About “Natural” Perfumes: What Are Isolates and How to Spot Them

As clean beauty and natural wellness become more popular, the perfume industry is also riding the wave—marketing fragrances as "all-natural," "organic," or "plant-based." But what do these terms really mean? And are these perfumes truly natural, or just cleverly branded?

Here’s what most consumers don’t know: many “natural” perfumes contain isolates—single aromatic compounds extracted from plants. While these are derived from plants, they are often highly concentrated and can behave more like synthetic chemicals when used in perfumes. Keep in mind that isolates marketed as "natural isolates" are not necessarily natural and organic. Once taken from its natural environment, its characteristics and functions changes. Moreover, most of these marketed "natural isolates" often lack organic certification, meaning their extraction or processing may involve synthetic solvents or steps that alter their chemical structure—potentially compromising their purity and safety. Learn more about the negative effects of marketed "natural isolates" without organic certificates. These isolates can easily be disguised as "natural" while sharing the same INCI chemical name as the synthetic isolates.

What Are Isolates in Perfume?

Isolates are individual scent molecules derived from essential oils or plant matter. Instead of using the whole oil (like rose or lavender), perfumers separate one compound—such as linalool or citronellol—for its distinctive aroma.

They’re often used in "natural" perfumes to:

• Create consistency in scent

• Highlight specific fragrance notes (like citrus or floral)

• Create stronger projection

• Replace unstable essential oils due to seasonal variations

  
  

While they are plant-derived, they’re still highly processed—and sometimes misleadingly marketed as “whole natural” or "Naturally Occurring" fragrances/scent, or "Natural Component".

How to Spot a “Natural” Perfume That’s Full of Isolates

If you're buying perfume for wellbeing, skin safety, allergy concerns, ethical, or sustainability, here’s what to watch for:

✅ 1. Read the Ingredient List (INCI)

Look out for chemical names like the ones on the table.

These are isolates. They can be plant derived—but their concentration can make them allergenic, especially when oxidized.

🛑 Tip: A truly whole essential oil perfume scent will list ingredients like "lavender essential oil" or "rose absolute," not isolated compounds alone.

How to spot isolates. Here’s a list of plant-derived isolates that are commonly used in natural perfumes. These isolates are typically obtained via methods such as steam distillation, cold pressing, or extraction (including CO₂ and solvent extraction), followed by fractional distillation or other techniques to isolate specific aromatic compounds.

Plant-Derived Isolates in Natural Perfumery – Toxicity Overview

Isolate	Source	Aroma	Toxicity Level / Threshold	Toxicity & Health Effects
Linalool	Lavender, coriander, rosewood	Floral, fresh, slightly spicy	1.25% (max usage in perfumes – IFRA)	Oxidizes on air exposure, forming allergens. Can cause skin sensitization, eczema in sensitive individuals.
Geraniol	Rose, palmarosa, citronella	Sweet, floral, fruity	0.1–1% (depending on application – IFRA)	Strong skin sensitizer; may cause allergic contact dermatitis. Moderate irritant to eyes and skin.
Citral	Lemongrass, lemon myrtle	Strong lemon, citrus	0.6% (leave-on products – IFRA)	Potent skin allergen, especially when oxidized. Causes dermatitis and eye irritation.
Eugenol	Clove, cinnamon, bay leaf	Spicy, clove-like	0.5–2.5% (depending on product – IFRA)	Sensitizing agent; overexposure may cause dermatitis, liver toxicity in high doses.
Coumarin	Tonka bean, sweet clover	Sweet, vanilla-like, hay	Restricted to 0.1% in leave-on products (EU)	Can cause liver damage and blood thinning at high ingestion doses. Photosensitizing on skin.
Limonene	Citrus peels (orange, lemon)	Bright citrus	1.25% (IFRA limit varies)	Oxidizes easily into strong allergens; can cause contact dermatitis. Mild CNS depressant if inhaled in excess.
Citronellol	Rose, geranium	Fresh, floral, citrusy	0.2–0.5% (IFRA, depending on category)	Skin irritant and sensitizer; may trigger allergies in sensitive individuals.
Farnesol	Jasmine, neroli, acacia	Warm, floral, slightly woody	0.1–0.8% (IFRA)	Mild skin sensitizer; may cause allergic reactions. Long-term safety concerns with repeated exposure.
Isoeugenol	Ylang-ylang, clove	Sweet, spicy, clove-like	0.02–0.2% (very low – IFRA)	High allergen; major contributor to fragrance allergy. Causes contact dermatitis and skin swelling.
Benzyl alcohol	Jasmine, ylang-ylang	Light, floral	1% (EU SCCS)	Low-level skin and eye irritant; in high doses, can cause CNS depression and respiratory issues.
Methyl salicylate	Wintergreen, sweet birch	Minty, medicinal, sweet	Max 0.06% in perfumes (IFRA)	Toxic if ingested; mimics aspirin and can cause salicylate poisoning (nausea, dizziness, metabolic acidosis). Skin contact may cause irritation.
Benzyl acetate	Jasmine, ylang-ylang	Fruity, sweet, floral	Limited by sensitization potential (IFRA restricted)	Can cause eye and skin irritation; mild allergen. Inhalation in high quantities may affect the nervous system.
Indole	Jasmine, orange blossom	Animalic, fecal-floral	Low usage (below 0.1%)	Low acute toxicity but unpleasant odor in high amounts; possible neurotoxic effects in lab animals.
Cinnamaldehyde	Cinnamon bark	Spicy, warm	<0.1% (restricted – strong sensitizer)	Highly irritating to skin and mucous membranes; can cause burning sensation, allergic reactions.
Methyl anthranilate	Orange blossom, jasmine	Grape-like, sweet	Limited in EU due to phototoxicity	Phototoxic; may cause skin burns when exposed to sunlight. Some concern for liver toxicity in large doses.

Notes on Toxicity

• Toxicity depends on dose, application type (topical, inhaled, ingested), and individual sensitivity.

• Many of these compounds are safe when used within recommended limits by IFRA or EU Cosmetic Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009.

• Oxidation of isolates (especially limonene, linalool) increases allergenic potential.

• Photosensitizing compounds can cause phototoxic reactions under sunlight exposure.

✅ 2. Look for Transparency

Brands that use isolates responsibly usually disclose:

• The "organic certification" of the marketed "natural isolates" of their ingredient. Clearly disclosing the legal entity certifier.

• Whether the isolate is plant-derived or synthetically derived. Know that "Naturally Occurring" and "Naturally Sourced" are different from "Plant Derived". AICIS defines "Naturally Occurring Chemical" as, chemical occurring in a natural environment that is extracted without chemical change. "Isolates" have gone through a chemical change by fractional distillation, therefore must not be advertised as "Naturally Occurring", "Naturally Derived", "Naturally Sourced", or "Natural Component". Particulary in the absence of organic certification. The INCI chemical name of "plant-derived isolates" and "synthetically derived isolates" is the same. Hence, it is very easy for brands and perfumers to disguise isolates as plant-derived. Consumers must be careful and must ask proof of certification from brands that are claiming isolates in their ingredients as "natural components" and still branding their product as "100 Natural" with the existence of "natural isolates".

• IFRA (International Fragrance Association) compliance of the "natural isolates" because the characteristics and functions of these isolates are the same as the synthetic isolates. Hence, the reason why they share the same INCI chemical name.

• Skin safety test results or dilution levels of "natural isolates" and "synthetic isolates".

🌱 Clean brands will say: “No Isolates" or "0% Isolates" or "Perfume: (Essential Oils)"

✅ 3. Understand the Scent Families

Knowing the scent families and what isolates they often use helps you decode a perfume’s real nature:

Scent Family	Common Isolates	Used As
Floral	Linalool, Geraniol, Nerol, Farnesol	Middle/Heart Notes
Citrus	Limonene, Citral	Top Notes
Spicy/Warm	Eugenol, Cinnamaldehyde, β-Caryophyllene	Middle/Base Notes
Woody	α/β-Pinene, Costol	Base Notes
Gourmand/Sweet	Vanillin, Coumarin	Base Notes
Fruity	γ-Undecalactone, Benzyl acetate	Middle/Top Notes

So, if you smell a bright, long-lasting lemon top note, it’s likely citral or limonene, not actual lemon peel oil.

⚠️ Are Isolates Bad?

Not necessarily! Many isolates:

• Are safer when properly diluted. Although long-term use can cause skin and respiratory risk.

• Are more stable, reducing seasonal variations

• Let perfumers create consistent formulations

  
  

But the problem arises when brands:

• Overuse isolates to imitate a “natural” smell

• Fail to disclose their presence

• Mislead consumers into thinking they’re using whole essential oils

• Misleads consumers into thinking that plant-derived isolates are "100% natural" or "natural component or EO" or "naturally occurring" . "Natural Isolates" has gone through fractional distillation, that may have used synthetic and toxic chemicals in the process. Hence, even if they were sourced from organic essential oils. The final product is no longer organic.

👃 How to Choose a Truly Natural or Skin-Friendly Perfume

✔ Look for:

• Ingredient labels listing essential oils, no isolates

• Brands that share the breakdown of perfume components.

• Confirms that the marketed "natural isolates" are certified organic by way of posting the actual ACO certification on their label or website.

• Terms like “whole essential oil perfume” or “certified organic isolates”. The later very rare. If there is no organic certification these "natural isolates" are most likely synthetic.

• Disclosures and/or Certifications (organic, vegan, IFRA compliant)

  
  

❌ Avoid:

• Vague terms like “natural fragrance” or “natural component” or "100% natural" with no ingredients

• Long lists of isolate names without context. The plant-derived isalate must explicitly say "certified organic isolate".

• Overly bright, one-dimensional perfumes (often isolate-heavy)

  
  

🌼 Final Thoughts: Be an Empowered Nose

Natural perfumes can be beautiful, safe, and ethical—but not all "natural" labels tell the full story. Understanding what are isolates in perfume, how they’re used, and how they affect your skin and senses empowers you to make better, healthier choices. Want to enjoy nature in your perfume? Look for whole essential oil blends, transparent brands, and skin-safe practices—not just the word “natural” on a label. I hope that this information helped you learn what are isolates in perfume and how to spot isolates.

Be an empowered nose. Learn how to spot isolates and synthetic ingredients on your perfume and labels.

Discover how our natural perfume made with whole essential oils differs from perfume made with isolates. Try and test it with our Discover 8 testers.

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Our natural perfume:

+100% natural (no isolates & synthetic chemicals)

+ 88%% to 95.5% certified organic ingredients

+ Certified Vegan and Cruelty Free by PETA and Vegan Australia Organisation

+ Certified Product of Australia, Certified Australian Made, and Certified Australian Owned, audited and licensed by Australian Made Campaign Limited (AMCL)

+ IFRA and Australian Industrial Chemical Scheme (AICS) compliant.