Some of the most popular essential oils aren’t on TikTok, nor are they on store shelves. That’s because the steady growth of commercial and industrial applications drives the majority of the essential oils market. The number of industries that use essential oils is often surprising to even experienced fragrance professionals and demand in those sectors is only forecast to rise.
Commercial and Industrial Essential Oils Applications
The recent rise in personal essential oils has been a catalyst for raw material producers, suppliers and distributors, but it still represents a relatively small share of total market value. Consumer use has kept more niche extraction methods viable, but there’s no doubt that much of the industry’s growth and innovation is focused squarely on meeting the needs of its commercial customers.
Food and Beverage
Food and beverage applications make up the largest share of essential oils consumption globally. Essential oils used in the food industry serve a range of purposes, from natural flavoring to preservatives. You’ll find essential oils in baked goods, confectionery, and many processed foods. Over the past several years, citrus flavorings have been extremely popular in beverages as well.
Personal Care and Cosmetics
The steady increase in demand for natural and clean-label beauty products has positioned essential oils as a core component of hair care, skin care, and fragrance products.
Pharmaceuticals
Essential oils are increasingly used as active ingredients and inactive (excipient) components of pharmaceutical products. Some of the most common essential oils used in pharmaceutical applications include eucalyptus, peppermint oil, and clove oil.
Household, Industrial, and Institutional (HI&I)
With sustainability top of mind for many consumers, HI&I manufacturers have expanded their use of essential oils in soaps, detergents, and cleaning products. In addition to the antimicrobial properties of essential oils, signature scents like lemon and pine are the olfactory definition of cleanliness for most consumers.
Growing Industrial Uses of Essential Oils
Commercial use of essential oils is growing particularly quickly in a few key sectors that legacy petrochemical products have previously dominated.
Agriculture
While still a relatively small share of total market volume, the use of essential oils in agriculture is an opportunity to craft a nature-based alternative to synthetic pesticides and herbicides. Proven pest deterrents like lavender oil, peppermint, and eucalyptus show considerable potential in protecting crops and livestock. Researchers are exploring additional applications, many focused on leveraging the antimicrobial properties of many essential oils to prevent plant diseases.
The challenge for researchers is the notable volatility of most essential oils. Most evaporate quickly or are heavily impacted by oxidation. New technologies, such as nanoencapsulation, may slow evaporation and increase overall efficacy.
Energy Sector
Traditionally, essentials have primarily been used to clean extraction and transportation equipment for natural gas, crude, and shale oil operations. Citrus and other oils are critical components in industrial solvents, degreasers, and cleaners, all of which help keep energy extraction operations moving smoothly.
More recently, they’re being introduced to alternative fuels as an additive. The chemical makeup of some essential oils can significantly increase the combustion efficiency of biofuels. Researchers are also looking for ways to use essential oils to stabilize biofuels during long-term storage, which will make these products more economically viable.
Source Essential Oils for Any Application with Tilley Distribution
The many applications of essential oils are an exciting prospect for organizations across market sectors. At Tilley, we help customers select, source, and improve critical oil products to meet their unique needs. From formulating new personal care products to crafting just the right scent for a commercial cleaning product, our technical team will help you realize what’s possible. Tap into a global network of suppliers and exceptional customer service; speak with a Tilley representative today to get started.
