FAQs
1. DOES THE THICKNESS OR THINNESS OF THE OIL AFFECT THE QUALITY OR SCENT INTENSITY OF THE OIL? No. Thickness or thinness has absolutely nothing to do with oil quality or scent intensity. For example, Egyptian Musk is traditionally the thickest oil, but has a very mild fragrance. In contrast, Sudanese Coconut has a very thin consistency, but also has an extremely strong fragrance. The notion that thicker oil is synonymous with more intensely scented oil is a misconception. Only a handful of oils are thick, while most oils have a thin consistency.
2. WHY DO MANY COMPETITORS OR VENDORS SELL OILS VERY INEXPENSIVELY, WHILE OUR PRICES ARE HIGHER THAN MOST? There are different grades of oils-the cheaper the grade, the less expensive the oil. “Grade A” oils, which are the only oils we sell, are the finest quality oils to be found, thus they are a bit more expensive than lower grades. Think of it like buying orange juice - concentrated orange juice is much less expensive than pure orange juice. Therefore, the old adage holds: “You get what you pay for!”
3. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERFUME OIL, FRAGRANCE OIL, AND BODY OIL? Unfortunately, all of these descriptions have been used to describe one single product, which has created confusion for the consumer. There are basically two types of oil. The first type is any oil that can be used on the body. The second type is oil that is not meant for the body and must be used only for another primary use (for example, creating candles and soaps). Unfortunately, many oils that are not meant for the body are being sold as body oils. Though these oils will usually not cause any harm to the body, they are cheap and made of an inferior grade of oil. The consumer should not be concerned with the description or identification of the oil. The emphasis should instead be on knowing whether the oil is meant for the body.
4. WHY DOES THE COLOR OF OIL SEEM TO CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME? Depending on the season, oils will differ in color because of the crop season; since most oils have natural ingredients, the time of year they are created will have bearing on the color. For example, an apple grown in May is not going to have the same color as an apple grown in December.
5. WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF YOUR OILS? Since our oils do not contain any alcohol or water, the problem of evaporation does not exist. As long as the oils are kept away from extreme heat and sunlight, they will last an extremely long time. The only detail that may change is the color. Some oils even develop a deeper scent over time, which is called marrying or maturing. We have had oils here for over ten years, and they still maintain their richness and strength.
6. HOW MUCH OIL SHOULD I ADD TO LOTIONS, SHOWER GELS, BATH CRYSTALS AND MASSAGE OILS? To make 1 lb. (16 oz.) of lotion, shower gel, bath crystals, or massage oil: add 1/6th of an ounce of oil. *Please note some oils are stronger than others so use your judgment when experimenting.
7. SHOULD I ADD Isopropyl Myristate (IPM) TO THE OIL? We highly recommend that the oils remain unchanged. However, if you want to stretch your profit or feel that the oils are too strong, then feel free to mix them according to your judgment.
8. HOW MUCH OIL DO I NEED TO BLEND WITH MR. BEN'S TO MAKE PERFUMES, COLOGNES, AND EAU DE TOILETTES? For perfumes and colognes: 3 parts Mr. Ben’s to 1 part perfume oil. For example: To make 4 oz perfume, you use 3 oz. Mr. Ben’s to 1 oz. perfume oil. To make 8 oz perfume, you use 6 oz. Mr. Ben’s to 2 oz. perfume oil. For Eau de toilette: 5 parts Mr. Ben’s to 1 part perfume oil. *It is important to remember that you can always add more or less perfume Oil or Mr. Ben’s to suit your needs.
9. HOW SHOULD I SELL OILS OR WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SELL THEM? The best way to sell oils is to transfer them into any roll-on bottle with a clean label. Roll-ons seem to be the best bottles to use based on a 15-year sales history.
10. HOW DO I MAKE INCENSE? Items needed: Dipropylene Glycol or DPG Unscented Sticks, Incense Bags, Pail or Bucket Newspaper Step 1: Mix l lb. of perfume oil with 4 to 7 lbs. of DPG in a pail or bucket and stir well. (The less DPG you use, the stronger the incense). Step 2: Dip thick part of unscented stick into mixture for about 10-15 minutes. Step 3: Place wet incense on newspaper to dry for about 24-48 hrs. Step 4: Bag dry scented incense into incense bags and that’s it! (Any unused incense oil can be used over and over again!) Please note, this formula makes approximately 3,000-5,000 sticks of incense.
11. WHAT ARE THE SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICES FOR THE PERFUME OILS? Well, it depends on your location and the competition. But here is a general guideline: 1 dram: $3.00 to $5.00 ¼ oz.: $4.00 to $7.00 1/3 oz.: $5.00 to $8.00 ½ oz.: $7.00 to $12.00 1 oz.: $10.00 to $25.00 2 oz.: $15.00 to $40.00 *** Remember, these are “Grade A” oils.
12. WHY DO YOUR COMPETITORS (OTHER COMPANIES) GET NEW RELEASES BEFORE YOU DO? We never rush a scent (new releases) until it has passed the tests of a strict quality control team. A lot of companies will release new scents just so that they can be the first ones to sell it, and the result is that the scent is not even close to what it is supposed to be, and quality suffers. Our primary goal is to make sure the scent is perfect, and that is a process that takes time. We have never concerned ourselves with how fast we release a fragrance. There have been times when we have released a new scent weeks after our competitors have, and our scent is right on target, while the scent they have released is far off the mark in even resembling a quality scent. In our view, it is better to be patient and release a perfect scent, rather than sell something that is sub-par. We base our success on the happiness and satisfaction of the customer, and that is why we take our time.
13. WHY IS QUALITY SO IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY NOW? Quality always sells regardless of how the economy is faring. People always remember and appreciate quality even if it may cost a bit more. During the last few months, many fragrance companies have closed their doors since they could not generate enough sales to cover their overhead costs. The demand for their products was not great enough in these tough times. This is why we emphasize quality; because quality sells today, tomorrow, and forever. When you combine quality with a reliable price it is a winning combination that cannot be beaten. Never compromise quality in exchange for saving a few dollars or you will pay in the long run. Let the quality of the product sell itself, and you will always be successful.
14. DID YOU KNOW A SCENT CANNOT BE PATENTED OR COPYRIGHTED? The courts have held that a scent is something that belongs to nature and not to any individual- for example, there is no possibility of patenting the scent of an apple. Therefore, a manufacturer cannot prevent someone else from matching or improving an aroma in part or as a whole. But the name and packaging can be copyrighted and thus prohibits anyone from using these features. As long as a disclaimer is presented explaining that the product is not the original perfume or cologne, it is one hundred percent legal to copy a scent. This is why one must emphasize that it is a perfume oil version of a designer scent, followed by the words “inspired by” or “type”. It is also essential to include a disclaimer explaining that the name(s) are trademarked and belong to the original manufacturer. So anyone can copy the scent, but the key is using the right instruments and raw materials (essential oils) to create quality perfume oil.
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