Essential Oils vs Fragrance Oils: What’s Best for Your Climbing Skin?

What’s the Deal with Essential Oils and Fragrance Oils?

If you’re like me — climbing, training, and constantly washing chalk off your hands — then you know how important good skincare is. I started making my own hand balm because I wanted something that actually worked for climbers. Not just something that smells nice.

That’s where the big question comes in: Essential oils or fragrance oils?

They both add scent to products, but they’re wildly different when it comes to what they do for your skin. So let’s break it down.

The Quick Answer: Essential Oils Are the Real Deal

Fragrance oils = synthetic, scented fillers
Essential oils = natural, plant-powered healers

That’s it in a nutshell. But let’s go a bit deeper — especially if you’re serious about keeping your skin healthy and your hands climb-ready.

What Are Fragrance Oils, Anyway?

Made in a Lab, Not from a Plant

Fragrance oils are man-made. They’re created in labs to mimic natural smells or invent totally new ones. Think “Fresh Cotton,” “Vanilla Bean Cupcake,” or “Ocean Breeze.” Sounds nice, right? But they don’t actually do anything for your skin.

Why We Avoid Them in Our Balms

❌ They can cause irritation, especially on broken or sensitive skin

❌ They have no therapeutic value — just scent

❌ Often made from petrochemicals (yep, the same stuff in fuel)

❌ Can trigger allergies or dermatitis

As someone with a muscle-wasting condition (FSHD) and who climbs a lot, my skin's already working overtime — the last thing I want is unnecessary chemicals that make things worse.

Essential Oils — Nature’s Skin Superheroes

Now this is where it gets exciting. Essential oils come straight from plants — steam-distilled, cold-pressed, or resin-extracted goodness.

They don’t just smell nice. They’re full of active compounds that actually help your skin recover and stay healthy.

Let’s talk about the three powerhouse essential oils we use our balms.

🌿 Lavender (Bulgarian) – The Soothing Skin Saver

Lavender is basically the first-aid kit of essential oils. We use the Bulgarian variety in our hand balms because it’s especially rich in healing compounds and has a beautifully soft, calming scent.

Why we love it:

🩹 Speeds up healing for cuts, scrapes, and cracked skin

💜 Calms irritation and reduces inflammation

🧘♂️ Soothes both skin and mind after a long day on the wall

Lavender is my go-to after a brutal training session — it’s gentle, reliable, and just works.

🌿 Frankincense (Serrata) – The Skin Regenerator

Frankincense isn’t just for incense burners or ancient rituals — it’s a serious skincare champ. We use Boswellia serrata because it’s fantastic for both joints and skin.

Why we swear by it:

💪 Eases aching joints and sore knuckles

🧬 Supports skin cell regeneration

🔄 Reduces swelling and promotes flexibility

If you’ve ever come off a long crack climb with stiff hands, Frankincense is like a deep breath for your joints.

🌿 Helichrysum Italicum – The Wound Healer and MPV

This one's the secret weapon. Helichrysum is sometimes called "Immortelle" or "Everlasting" — and for good reason. It’s insanely good at healing.

Why it's in every balm we make:

💛 Heals bruises, cracks, and minor wounds super fast

🛡️ Has powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties

✨ Helps prevent scarring and supports overall skin recovery

It’s not cheap, but honestly? It’s worth every drop. Especially when your hands are your tools.

The Real Difference on Your Skin

Let’s be honest — when your hands are wrecked from crimps, jugs, or big moves on gritstone, you want relief that works. Fragrance oils can’t do that. Essential oils can.

Fragrance Oils 😬	Essential Oils 🌿
Synthetic	Natural
Just for scent	Actively heal skin
Can irritate	Calm and protect
No therapeutic value	Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory
Often allergenic	Gentle when properly diluted

It’s Not Just About the Smell

Sure, essential oils smell amazing — but I don’t use them for fragrance. I use them because they help climbers’ skin recover and stay strong.

Think of it this way: Fragrance oils are like glitter — shiny but useless. Essential oils are like duct tape — humble, effective, and always in your kit.

How to Choose the Right Balm

If you're looking for a balm that actually supports recovery, especially for climbing hands, here’s what to look for:

✅ Clear labeling of essential oils (not "parfum" or "fragrance")
✅ No synthetic fragrances or unnecessary fillers
✅ High-quality, skin-loving carrier ingredients (like tallow, castor oil, or beeswax)
✅ Created by someone who actually understands skin — and climbing

(Like me 😉)

Closing Thoughts from Me

Look, we’re all out there giving it our all on the wall. Whether you're projecting your first 6c or prepping for comps, your skin is your first point of contact with the rock. It deserves real care — not just a nice scent.

That’s why I’m so passionate about what goes into our balms. I make it for climbers, with the best ingredients I can find. No fragrance oils. Just Lavender, Frankincense, and Helichrysum — the real deal for healing, soothing, and getting you back on the wall faster.

So next time you see “fragrance” on a label? Give it a pass. Your skin deserves better.

See you on the rock. 🧗♂️💪🌿