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Their website looks oddly familiar to another I've visited. Same color, same images... Are they new? I could have sworn I've seen this exact website before, but with a different company name. Makes me suspicious, but I doubt it's anything fishy. Probably just a similar site template. Nice selection of stuff! I'm interested in learning how this thread develops. I need a new supplier and their prices are pretty good!

Yes and no. When compounded with other molecules it is no longer "vinegar" But...that doesn't mean that it's absent in FOs...

No no, your right. I mean...a cake contains eggs...and flower and when it's compounded into creates "cake batter" an entirely new substance. Same can be said for aroma accords/compounds. It isn't acetic acid any longer, but that doesn't mean it wasn't used in the compound. Which is what I've actually been saying! (badly) The vinegar-like aspect may or may not be a factor in it's final outcome, but that doesn't mean it isn't or wasn't used. Depending upon it's usage, it may in fact still smell balsamic...but I doubt it. It's just used to further improve or create a new scent characteristic that would be lacking otherwise had it not been chemically compounded with another molecule. Not sure why we're bantering...LOL. In this case the newly compounded "acetic acidphenyl methyl ester" is now a tropical herb floral that contributes to the ocean fragrance. Many oceanic scents use florals, specifically myrtle and jasmine, again used as a top note. Used sparingly it imparts a salty fresh quality. Though it's often used to heavily in most ocean scents in my opinion.

Agreed, but it does still incorporate acetic acid in it's scent makeup. It's just paired with phenyl methyl ester and is changes into "acetic acid, phenyl methyl ester" to create an entirely new singular scent compound that may or may not no longer smell of vinegar ( most likely not) If the compound contains acetic acid weather it's compounded with a methyl phenyl group or not...it is still in the FO just not as singular acetic acid. I never said it WAS a compound in the FO, only that it was in the fragrance oil.

Vinegar (household name) is nothing more than acetic acid diluted with water. In this instance, it's still has the same aspects and possibly the same smells as vinegar, but it is used only in trace and is blended with another aroma molecule to develop and create a new scent, in this case phenyl methyl ester is incorporated to create fruity herbal top note; most likely a melon, cucumber, or grapefruit scent in the final fragrance. The vinegar aspects are no longer perceived, as that singular keynote, no longer exists. If acetic acid was paired with something else, or used heavily in a blend, then those vinegar aspects would be noted in the final fragrance e.g a dill pickle FO or other "sour" fragrances. Many unpleasant aroma chemicals when used in trace will further enhance or a scent. Like indole, a fecal smelling note used in many florals. While the chemical compound for vinegar is Acetic acid, it won't be noticed in the fragrance or listed as being vinegar, especially if it's compounded with other aroma molecules. Just guessing, but it might be either the actual extract contains a small trace amount of natural acetic acid formed in the flower OR it's used with other aroma chemicals to better develop the gardenia smell. Rarely if ever, is the "vinegar" aspects perceived in the final fragrance.

There. It's right...there on the MSDS listed as Acetic Acid, the chemical name for vinegar, or so I was told. It's must be used sparingly in the fragrance. (due to toxicity and it's unfortunate candle and soap seizing effect) I'm fairly sure those mild acids paired with a few other compounds, is what's contributing to it's perceived saltiness. I'm liking this FO more and more! Based on the description, a forced review and it's MSDS ingredients, I think it may work. I can't wait to order!

I'd go with "Bahama Mama", from the drink of the same name. It's actually a blend of "Pina Colada" and "Sex on the Beach". Should smell identical. The names catchy too! If not maybe "I got Leied in Hawaii"? JOKE.

That was the goal, but I think the message got lost amongst the sea of replies (corny pun intended) I'm all for doing an ocean FO scent swap although I think it would be difficult getting everyone to contribute a tart. I was thinking just small sniffies or drams of the fragrance!? IDK. Never done one before - not real sure how to get it going. Would be fun!

Looking at the MSDS list of reportable ingredients; Gulf Tides seems to be somewhat citrus-like with a hint of vinegar (WOW, who knew?) for that salty quality you mentioned. That covers most of Gulf Tides top notes and it looks like it has a warm amber note at its base of the fragrance, I guess to represent the warm sun/air. It's the middle notes that worry me. Hidden amongst the reportable ingredients is some mild floral-herbal notes which would be good for an ocean scent, if they aren't too heavy-handed. Can you tell I'm picky?! LOL. I'll give this one a try though! Thanks Carole. Just out of curiosity...Would you characterize it as being more powdery-clean like or more fresh green-like? Your review won't sway me either way, I still plan on trying it! LOL Just interested.

Yikes! I never would have thought it too would be heavy floral given it's description. But, you never really get the entire scent characteristics until it's finally candle-cured or soaped. It's so strange that of the many oils out there, none have a true ocean smell once cured. A few have a touched on the salty aspects, but they are often lost once blended with the wax/soap. None of the FO's I've tried have the more stinky realistic aspects of the ocean (for obvious reasons) but that isn't to say they should smell like flowers by contrast. Oceans don't smell like flowers, at least none of them around me! LOL. I can understand why customers would not want their candles smelling of fish and algae :lipsrseal but surely there's a good realistic alternative for an ocean scent sans the soapy floral. I can understand that scents are idealized to be more pleasant, but I guess a pleasant ocean scent without floral components doesn't currently exist. I have contemplated blending my own, but where to begin has been a big challenge!? Thanks everyone for the recommendations! But, I'm just not finding "THE" scent yet. The hunt for individual scents as well as pre-made ocean FOs continue...

Wow, THANKS for the info! I had a feeling this may be the case. I guess they may taste bitter ( hinting of their toxicity) but their aroma isn't bitter. Interesting! Good to know none the less. I guess an almond, bitter or otherwise, will still smell identical.

That Seaweed FO sounds good! 'Will have to try that one.

Great! We still need a few more people to participate and then we can share/swap our blends with other members!

SOS's "Fishing Pier" has the salty notes and even a fish note. It's actually not all that bad. The problem, as with most of Save On Scents oils, is that it's WAY too weak to be a standalone product. Blended with something else It could make an excellent ocean fragrance, but what to blend it with, and to what ratio is the challenge. Too much of another ocean scent and the "fishing pier" scent would disappear completely. Ugh. Finding a "real" ocean scent is more challenging than it should be!?

I didn't like Ahoy Matey too much. It had the salty brine notes but they were extremely fleeting as the majority of the scent became a powdery chemical very quickly. The scent was strong, though to me, it lost more and more of it's "sea" aspects as it burned.

I live in the South. It's the Gulf/North Atlantic for me. To me the ocean smell briny and somewhat dirty. A slight twinge of sea grasses and tropical Florida air with a hint of low tide funk the ocean scent itself is just awful. LOL. In Maine, I can see it smelling very different almost crisp and cool. It's one of the reasons why I wanted to see if we could get a scent swap group going on our custom ocean scents. Interested in seeing how others interpret the smell of their ocean and beaches.

Is Brambleberry's Salty Mariner the same?

@ Puma So you won't be mixing then? I was thinking of mixing my own, and was hoping others would mix their own blends...so we can all swap and test them! But, I need some challengers.

Re: Sea Moss If it wasn't for the Orchid, Jasmine and Violet It might smell realistic! I'm trying to stay clear of any blends containing a dose of heavy florals. I haven't tried it, but the description leads me to think that it's just too perfume-like. I've tried many others though, all still too soapy floral to be true to life.

both of those FOs have a floral-powder musk. I do like Sea Kelp a little more, but it's still perfume-like. I think it's a vetiver base.

It might not develop into anything. LOL. Without other members input and participation...well I don't think I can come up with a scent on my own. But I'll try it. With Summer sales approaching, I need to get something created soon. Sounds like you have a concept going with utilizing citrus notes. Did you want to participate in the scent swap? If not, thanks for pointing me in a direction I wouldn't have thought of that on my own. Is ozone a fragrance you can purchase?

I've tried nearly 15 different ocean scents looking for a realistic true salty sea smell only to be disappointed with floral and powdery blends that were too perfumey to be realistic. I'm just not happy with any of them. So.... I'm thinking of creating my own ocean blend. If it turns out OK, I should be able to get SOS or some other manufacturing/supplier to make up a batch. Save on Scents will dupe a fragrance for free (within reason), but I'm fairly sure others will as well. If there truly are other peeps interested in getting a better sea-scented FO, maybe we should all work together to create one! Anyone up for the challenge? I figured we could brainstorm on the forum with feedback from other members to come up with each of our own base notes, middle notes, and top notes used to create the fragrance, and then from there we can test different batches via member-to- member "sniffie" exchanges; sending out small scent samples in the mail. We would then review each member's interpretation of their "ocean" scent via PM messages and tweak where needed until we're all happy with our new custom forum-designed fragrance! This process I think would be a fun new addition to the forum, and a great way to get new scents made by forum members who have the nose to create them. I'm all for trying to come up with a new ocean scent. Let me know if your interested. .

I think we should try to create our own! see here if interested: http://www.craftserver.com/forums/showthread.php?104276-Ocean-Scent-The-Great-Scent-Challenge

Oh! Thanks for further clarifying. I definitely don't want anything "soapy" - realism is vitally important. I wonder if it's the base he's using to make his FOs? This is discouraging news. I'm pretty sure I understand your meaning; I also evaluate scents often on their aromatic "taste". Generally if it leaves a sudsy powder smell or a cleaner like accord that I can almost taste in the air...I won't buy it again. I'll have to try a few and see how it goes. I really hope they've improved. And yeah I agree; why is it so difficult trying to find a true ocean scent?!

Has anyone tried his Sagebrush FO? I wonder if it's a dupe of Sagebrush & Pinion Leaf at BCN. I couldn't find it on the dupe thread. Anyone know?