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Uses of Gardenia Oil
Uses of Gardenia Oil. Gardenia oil has a sweet, floral scent. The essential oil is extracted from the plant by a technique called enfleurage, an older form of extraction used on certain flowers that are too delicate for the more extreme methods of extraction. The petals, which are the most fragrant part of the Gardenia plant, are soaked in fat. The...
Gardenia oil has a sweet, floral scent. The essential oil is extracted from the plant by a technique called enfleurage, an older form of extraction used on certain flowers that are too delicate for the more extreme methods of extraction. The petals, which are the most fragrant part of the Gardenia plant, are soaked in fat. The fat absorbs the fragrance, and then it is all placed in alcohol to dissolve.
Candle Scents
Gardenia oil is popular for use in scenting candles. Candle makers use the Gardenia essential oil to scent both soy wax and paraffin wax candles. Essential oils made from gardenias are poured into paraffin, derived from crude oil, and soy wax, a vegetable wax, during the melting process so the oil mixes properly with the wax. While the gardenia oil will smell the strongest during the mixing process, most essential oils provide a strong aromatic presence when the candle is burned and even when the candle is not burning.
Potpourri
When making potpourri, fragrance oils, such as gardenia oil, are absorbed by a porous medium or fixative in order to hold the oil's scent. The oil is not used for its scent alone, but also to help strengthen the aromatic properties of the other items used in the potpourri, such as flowers, citrus peels and pinecones. After the oil is absorbed and the fixative dries, the potpourri can be set in open containers or placed into sachets to allow the gardenia aroma to fill the room.
Soap
When using gardenia oil to fragrance soap, or any other water-based product, a solubilizer needs to be added to the solution. The solubilizer is necessary to effectively combine the gardenia oil with other soap-making ingredients and to keep the oil from dissolving when mixed with water. Gardenia oil can be used alone or with other oils, such as rose oil, to add a stronger, more vibrant fragrance to the soap.
Perfume
Gardenia oil is used frequently in perfumes that have an Oriental flair. The Gardenia scent has been compared by some to jasmine, and its rich floral scent makes it ideal for perfumes. The gardenia oil is blended with fragrances such as lemon, sweet orange, neroli, jasmine, cinnamon and others.
