Why We Use Essential Oils (and Why We Use Them Carefully)

Essential oils are one of those things that can feel both magical and mysterious. A single drop can fill a room with scent, shift your mood, or even soothe irritated skin but only if it’s used with intention.

At Wren & Wildbloom, we do use essential oils in some of our formulations. But we don’t use them casually. And we certainly don’t use them because they’re trendy. We use them thoughtfully with your skin, your senses, and your nervous system in mind.

This post is a peek behind the process: the why, the how, and the care that goes into every drop.

What Are Essential Oils, Really?

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts. Through methods like steam distillation or cold pressing, they capture the volatile compounds that give a plant its fragrance and some of its therapeutic properties. In simple terms: they’re powerful.

It takes a lot of plant material to make even a small amount of essential oil. For example, it takes about 3 pounds of lavender flowers to make a single 15ml bottle of lavender oil. That’s part of what makes them precious and why we treat them with such reverence.

Why We Use Them

Essential oils aren’t in every Wren & Wildbloom product. But when we do include them, it’s for one or more of these reasons:

  • Skin-soothing properties — Like lavender for calming, or chamomile for reducing irritation.
  • Emotional support — Scents like cedarwood and bergamot can help ground or uplift.
  • Natural fragrance — We skip synthetic fragrance entirely, so essential oils allow us to add beautiful, plant-based scent profiles without compromising sensitivity.

That said, not all essential oils are gentle, and not every "natural" ingredient is safe for everyone. That’s where our caution comes in.

Safety First: Our Slow & Small Approach

Essential oils are potent. A drop too many can turn something soothing into something sensitising. Especially for those of us with sensitive skin or sensitive nervous systems.

That’s why we:

  • Use low dilution rates, especially for face and body products. (We stay below the industry maximums for safety, as outlined by the IFRA)
  • Avoid known sensitisers, such as cinnamon bark or clove oil, in leave-on products.
  • Never use essential oils in baby formulations or for extremely reactive skin types.
  • Always balance essential oils with nourishing base oils and calming botanicals so you’re never getting just the punch of the plant, but the embrace of the whole formulation.

And most importantly, we listen to your feedback, to your skin stories, to the science.

Gentle Doesn’t Mean Scentless — It Means Considered

Some brands avoid scent altogether, and for some skin types, that’s absolutely the safest choice. But at Wren & Wildbloom, we believe scent can be part of healing. Part of the ritual. Part of remembering your breath, your body, your being.

We just believe it has to be done carefully.

Our essential oil blends are built with:

  • Emotional resonance — like grounding woods, bright florals, or calming herbs.
  • Aromatic layering — so the scent unfolds softly, not sharply.
  • Sensory intention — designed to settle, not overwhelm.

Every blend is tested on sensitive skin (starting with ours), and we always offer unscented options because inclusion matters.

Sustainability Matters, Too

We also consider the environmental impact of essential oil use. Not all oils are sustainably harvested. Some plants, like rosewood or sandalwood, have been overharvested to meet global demand.

That’s why we:

  • Source from small, ethical suppliers with transparency.
  • Prioritize oils that are renewable, sustainable, and organically grown when possible.
  • Use essential oils sparingly, never as a marketing gimmick, but as a meaningful part of the whole.

Essential oils are gifts. And we treat them as such.

Sensitive Skin? Here's What to Know.

If you have highly sensitive or reactive skin, here are a few gentle reminders:

  • Patch test always, even natural products. Your skin is beautifully unique.
  • Unscented is not a compromise. It’s an act of care, and we offer it proudly.
  • Less is more. This is true in everything we do, especially when it comes to essential oils.

Even if you love scent, it’s okay to skip it some days. Your nervous system may thank you.

We Believe in Rituals — Not Reactions

That’s why every product, whether softly scented or completely unscented, is formulated with sensitivity in mind. Because skincare should never be stressful. It should feel like a pause. A return to breath. A moment of care in a noisy day.

So when you see “essential oils” on our label, know this:

We didn’t add them to impress.
We added them to support.

To wrap you in something gentle.
To bring you back to yourself.

In Summary: Why We Use Essential Oils

  • We use them sometimes, and always with a purpose.
  • We prioritise safety, sustainability, and sensitive skin.
  • We believe scent can be a soft kind of support, but it’s never the point.
  • We’re here for the ritual, not the trend.

Because care should never be overwhelming, and your skin, your body, your senses, they deserve tenderness.

With wildness and warmth,
Kimberly
Founder, Maker, Mama
Wren & Wildbloom.

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