Brrr... It's Cold in Here: Why Your Fragrance Oil Arrived Cloudy or Crystallized
Why did your fragrance oil arrive cloudy or crystallized? It must be the chill in the atmosphere. We hope you caught the Bring It On reference.
Winter and its chilly shipping routes can do strange things to fragrance oil. But if you oil is looking a little milky, thick, or crystallized, don't panic. We can bring your oil back to life. Time for another science lesson with Team LARK.
TEMP. DROPS, FRAGRANCE FLOPS
Fragrance oils are complex blends of dozens (sometimes even hundreds) or aromatic and synthetic compounds and natural essential oils. Each of these ingredients have unique freezing and melting points, and react differently to temperature changes during transit. Some oils change drastically (aka drama queens) and some don't change at all. Both results are normal, and dependent on the exact materials in the scent compound. Vanillin, florals, and certain wood resins are notorious for seizing up in response to chilly weather.
But fear not. No matter the weather, our fragrance oils will hold up. We test all our scents to ensure they recover from any temperature shifts without losing their scent throw.
WHAT ARE THOSE CRYSTALS?
We understand the alarm of seeing solid flecks floating in your fragrance oil, but we promise it's not a sign of a bad batch. Those crystals are just specific ingredients (usually vanillin) that temporarily solidify in response to cold. Like your olive oil hardening in your fridge. When your fragrance warms back up, the crystals will dissolve back to liquid.
WARM FRAGRANCE = HAPPY FRAGRANCE
It's tempting to pour your chilly oil into your wax or base and cross your fingers. We get it, you've got things to do and places to be. But your fragrance oil needs a little TLC.
Cold forces certain ingredients to separate and solidify, meaning your fragrance oil loses uniformity. If you use it in this state, you're only pouring part of your scent profile into your product. The result can be an inconsistent scent throw, poor binding with your base, or unexpected acceleration in cold-process soap.
So let's get your fragrance oil nice and toasty. And like many of life's challenges, you can take the easy way or the fast (slightly more involved) way.
The easy way: Let your pouch sit at room temperature. It'll naturally thaw on its own. If you're in the mood to dance, you can shake it around a little to break up any crystals.
The fast way: Submerge your tightly sealed (repeat: tightly sealed) pouch in warm water. While it sits in its bath, give the pouch a little massage to distribute heat evenly through the oil and break up any crystals. Talk about royal treatment.
You'll know your oil is ready for use when it's clear, smooth, and free of any floaters.
Okay, makers. Your takeaway from today's science lesson: The LARK golden rule. Bend + snap. Just kidding, it's warm + shake. If your fragrance oil arrives with a case of the chills, give it some gentle warmth, shake or massage it periodically, and check for clarity before pouring. Like many of us during the cold winter months, all your oil needs is a warm bath and a good hug.