What are aroma compounds?
The ins and outs of our ingredients and our formulations. From what we used, to how we used them, here’s some light reading on what makes INXHALE so unique.
INXHALE blends are expertly formulated to contain major terpene contents or aroma compounds.
What are aroma compounds? We hear you ask. Basically, an aroma compound is a chemical compound that has a smell or odour.
Working with scientists, we’ve used special aroma compound contributions in each blend for CALM and ALERT. These unique components activate olfactory signalling with a different contribution of neuromodulators, resulting in targeted cognitive activity.
Our primary focus for the formulations of INXHALE olfactory inhalers is that they are functional and a delight to use. This is why we focused on finding ingredients that have reputable scientific research to prove their efficacy when used for inhalation.
-
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) oil, Ocimum Basilicum (Sweet Basil) oil, Juniperus Communis (Juniper) Berry oil, Origanum Majorana (Sweet Marjoram) leaf oil, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) oil
-
Mentha Piperita oil (Peppermint oil), Menthol, fragrance (Peonile), Pelargonium roseum (Bourbon Geranium) Flower oil, Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) essential oil, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon Leaf) oil
Below is some information about each inhaler and its ingredients. Scroll down to view the research that, in part, informed our product development.
The creative approach to formulations
Led by seasoned product developer Stacey Fraser — who has also lent her creative genius to Chloe Zara Hair, RAAIE, and ReMi — our creative approach to formulating INXHALE started with fully immersing ourselves into why we were designing this formulation. This wasn’t about creating a gimmicky product or something that just smelled gorgeous. INXHALE was always about finding the balance of function and enjoyment. Following this we spent months searching for and reading through clinical studies and published papers to try and find key efficacious ingredients that could potentially work synergistically together to bring a holistic aromatic blend for the specific purpose it was required for.
What makes them interesting
What really made things interesting were the terpene profiles that we found once the blends were created. This wasn’t part of the brief but coincidentally provided another level of effectiveness. Terpenes are the compounds responsible for the way most plants smell. There is research to suggest that terpenes may provide some health benefits to humans and there are several products emerging in the market which harness their benefits.
Why INXHALE olfactory inhalers are more efficacious than diffusers and functional fragrances
The quality and efficacy of the aromatic blends combined with the award-winning and unique design of our INXHALE olfactory inhalers provide easy on-the-go olfactory wellness. This is not new science, but INXHALE is proudly at the forefront of this emerging product category.
The aromatic molecules in the air enter your nasal cavity, where they come into contact with the olfactory receptors located in the nasal mucosa. These receptors are specialised for detecting different scents.
When the aromatic molecules bind to the olfactory receptors, they send signals to the olfactory bulb, which is part of the brain's limbic system. The limbic system plays a crucial role in regulating emotions, mood, and memory. As a result, the scents you inhale can have a direct and immediate impact on your emotional state and mood.
Natural aroma compounds vs naturally-derived aroma compounds
You might have spotted a difference between our two products as noted on their respective packaging. ALERT states that the ingredients used are naturally-derived, where CALM states that the ingredients are natural aroma compounds. This is not because ALERT is unnatural in any sense. Allow us to explain. The primary difference between ‘natural’ and ‘naturally-derived’ lies in the production process. While natural aroma compounds come directly from natural sources, naturally-derived aroma compounds are created by chemically mimicking the compounds found in natural sources using natural-starting materials.
-
Natural aroma compounds are extracted or derived directly from natural sources, typically from plants, fruits, flowers, herbs, spices, and obtained through physical processes such as steam distillation, cold pressing, or solvent extraction, which preserve the chemical composition of the original source.
They contain a complex mixture of volatile compounds that contribute to the scent or flavour. These compounds are naturally present in the source material and include terpenes.
Natural aroma compounds include essential oils from lavender or citrus, fruit extracts, flower absolutes, and natural extracts from spices and herbs.
-
Naturally-derived aroma compounds are synthesised in a laboratory using chemical processes, but the starting materials are derived from natural sources.
These starting materials are often called "natural isolates" or "nature-identical" substances. Chemists use various methods to isolate or synthesise specific compounds found in natural sources. The resulting compounds are chemically identical to those found in nature but are physically unable to be extracted directly from the natural source to be used in formulations.
These compounds can be single isolated molecules or mixtures, depending on the specific aroma compound being produced.
Naturally-derived aroma compounds include vanillin (naturally derived from vanilla beans or synthesised), limonene (found in citrus fruits or synthesised), and linalool (found in various plants or synthesised).
The difference between essential oils and fragrances
Essential oils are highly concentrated and contain the natural aromatic compounds present in the source plant. They are typically pure and do not contain synthetic or artificial ingredients. Steam distillation is a common method for extracting essential oils. In this process, steam is passed through the plant material, vaporising the essential oil components. The steam and vaporised oil are then condensed, with the oil separating from the water. Essential oils are primarily used in aromatherapy, perfumery, and various holistic wellness practices. They are known for their natural and therapeutic scents and are often used for their potential health benefits.
A little more about fragrances
Fragrances are complex blends of various aromatic compounds, including both natural and synthetic ingredients. Fragrance formulations can consist of hundreds of different chemical components. Fragrances can include essential oils, but they also incorporate synthetic aroma chemicals to create specific scents and achieve desired characteristics. The use of synthetic ingredients allows for greater control over the fragrance's scent profile, longevity, and stability.
Browse the research that informed the development of INXHALE