Flavors & Fragrances

The terms "spice" and "flavoring" are often used interchangeably, but in professional fields (such as food, cosmetics, and chemistry), their meanings have strict distinctions. 

In simple terms: Spices are "raw materials", while essences are "products".

Spices are "raw materials used to blend fragrances", and they are themselves single compounds or natural substances with a single component.

Essential oil is a compound that is formed by blending and mixing various fragrances (usually consisting of dozens or even hundreds of natural and synthetic fragrances), and is dissolved in a specific solvent (such as alcohol, propylene glycol, or oils). It is a "formula" that can be directly used in fragrance-added products.