Essential & Fragrant Oils

Essential & Fragrant Oils for Scenting Your Space

Fragrance can completely change the character of a room, whether you gravitate towards woody, floral, resinous, earthy or incense-inspired scents.

Our Essential & Fragrant Oils collection brings several types of aromatic products together, including essential oil blends, fragrance oils and aroma oils in scents such as Lavender, Sandal, White Sage, Palo Santo, Myrrh, Frankincense and Nag Champa.

The important thing is understanding what you've chosen and following the directions for that individual product, because essential oils, fragrance oils and aroma oils aren't automatically interchangeable.

Essential Oils vs Fragrance Oils: What's the Difference?

The names can sound similar, but they don't necessarily describe the same thing.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are concentrated aromatic substances obtained from plant materials using processes such as distillation or expression.

Some products also combine multiple essential oils into an essential oil blend.

Fragrance & Aroma Oils

Fragrance oils are products formulated primarily for their scent and may contain manufactured aromatic ingredients, natural aromatic materials or combinations of ingredients.

Products labelled aroma oil can vary between manufacturers, so the name alone doesn't tell you exactly how the product was made or every way it can safely be used.

This is why we recommend checking the individual product information rather than assuming that every small bottle of scented oil is a pure essential oil.

Choosing a Fragrance

Not sure where to start? Begin with the type of scent you're naturally drawn towards.

Fresh & Floral

Scents such as Lavender can bring a softer floral aromatic character to a space.

Woody & Earthy

Sandal, Palo Santo and similar woody fragrance profiles may appeal if you prefer deeper, warmer scents rather than something floral or sweet.

Resinous & Incense-Inspired

Frankincense, Myrrh and Nag Champa-inspired oils connect particularly well with people who already enjoy traditional incense fragrance profiles.

White Sage-Inspired Fragrance

White Sage appears across several aromatic formats, including oils and incense-inspired products.

Some modern spiritual practices associate White Sage with cleansing rituals, but an aroma or fragrance oil should not automatically be presented as equivalent to burning the plant itself or to the ceremonial practices of Indigenous peoples.

Choose it because you enjoy the fragrance or because it fits meaningfully within your own practice.

Using Oils in an Oil Burner

A traditional Oil Burner generally uses a small reservoir positioned above a tealight.

For products specifically suitable for this method, water and the recommended amount of oil are placed into the dish and gently warmed by the candle below.

Always follow the instructions for the particular oil and burner you're using. Don't assume every concentrated aromatic product is suitable for heating, and never allow an oil burner's reservoir to run dry while the tealight remains lit.

Can Essential & Fragrant Oils Be Used in a Diffuser?

That depends on both the oil and the diffuser.

Different diffuser designs work in different ways, and fragrance products are formulated for different purposes.

If you want to use an oil in an ultrasonic or other diffuser, check that the manufacturer states it is suitable for that use and follow the diffuser's instructions.

Avoid treating “oil” as a universal compatibility label.

White Sage, Palo Santo & Spiritual Blends

The HIH collection includes several oils inspired by fragrances and ingredients that also appear throughout spiritual and incense traditions.

These include White Sage, Palo Santo, Frankincense, Myrrh and blends marketed around themes such as grounding, awareness or chakra practice.

Where a product carries a spiritual name or theme, we treat that as part of its traditional, symbolic or intended ritual context rather than promising that the fragrance itself will produce a particular emotional, energetic or spiritual outcome.

If you enjoy aromatic spiritual practices in other formats, explore our Smudge Sticks & Tools collection for traditional and contemporary smudging-related products.

Oils, Incense & Home Fragrance

Oils aren't the only way to bring fragrance into your space.

Incense Sticks provide a completely different aromatic experience because they smoulder and release fragrance together with visible smoke.

Oil burners allow you to change scents without burning an incense stick, while other fragrance formats offer their own experience.

There's no single best method — choose according to the scent, atmosphere and level of smoke you prefer.

Choosing the Right Oil

Before adding a bottle to your basket, check four things:

1. What is it?
Look at whether the product is described as an essential oil, essential oil blend, fragrance oil or aroma oil.

2. What is the scent?
Choose according to the fragrance profile you actually enjoy.

3. How is it intended to be used?
Check the individual product instructions rather than assuming every oil can be used in every burner, diffuser or application.

4. Is it a single aroma or a blend?
Some products focus on a recognisable scent while others combine several aromatic ingredients.

Essential & Fragrant Oil Safety

Concentrated aromatic products need to be used according to their individual instructions.

In particular:

• Keep oils away from children and pets.
• Avoid contact with eyes.
• Don't ingest an oil unless the specific product is explicitly manufactured and labelled for that purpose.
• Don't apply concentrated oils directly to skin unless the product instructions specifically state that this is appropriate.
• Check compatibility before using an oil in a burner or diffuser.
• Keep bottles securely closed and follow product-specific storage instructions.
• Take extra care around flames when using a tealight oil burner.

If you have pets, children, allergies or particular sensitivities in the household, check the ingredients and product guidance before use.

Frequently Asked Questions About Essential & Fragrant Oils

Are essential oils and fragrance oils the same thing?

No. Essential oils are concentrated aromatic substances obtained from plant material, while fragrance oils are formulated fragrance products and may contain different types of aromatic ingredients. Always check the individual product description.

What is an aroma oil?

“Aroma oil” is a term used by various manufacturers for scented oil products. Its exact formulation can vary, so don't assume an aroma oil is necessarily the same thing as a pure essential oil.

Can I use these oils in an oil burner?

Many aromatic oils are designed for use with suitable oil burners, but you should check the individual product instructions before use. Different products may have different directions or restrictions.

Can I put essential oils directly on my skin?

Don't assume a concentrated essential oil is suitable for undiluted skin application. Follow the instructions for the particular product and use it only as directed.

Can I use fragrance oil in an essential oil diffuser?

Only if both the oil and the diffuser are stated to be compatible with that use. Diffusers differ, and not every fragrance product is suitable for every device.

What's the difference between oil fragrance and incense?

Oils release fragrance using a compatible burner or diffuser, while incense sticks and other combustible incense products smoulder and produce smoke. The scent experience and method of use are therefore different.

How should I choose an oil if I'm buying online?

Start with familiar fragrance families — floral, woody, resinous, earthy or incense-inspired — and then check whether the particular product and recommended method of use suit what you have at home.