Anisha Riggs
Many people enjoy wearing perfume, but sometimes the scent can be too strong. There are several methods to dilute perfume, including using perfumer's alcohol, distilled water, or a complementary hydrosol/flower water. Some people also recommend spraying perfume into the air and walking through the mist, applying it to a cotton pad or ball, or mixing it with an unscented lotion. It is generally advised to avoid using drops when diluting perfume and instead use a scale to ensure an accurate and repeatable formula.
Can you dilute perfume?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Why dilute perfume? | To make it less strong |
| Dilution methods | Use perfumer's alcohol, distilled water, hydrosol, flower water, or oil |
| Dilution ratios | 50-50 (perfume and perfumer's alcohol), 10% (most materials), 1% (Ethyl Vanillin, Calone, Violet Leaf) |
| Dilution tools | Scale, not drops |
| Dilution benefits | Easier to work with, less expensive, longer-lasting |
| Dilution alternatives | Spray on cotton pad or ball, spray on tissue paper, spray on unscented lotion, spray on body after shower, spray on clothing, spray into the air and walk through |
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What You'll Learn
Using perfumer's alcohol
Perfumers alcohol is a popular choice for diluting perfumes. It is essentially ethyl alcohol that has been denatured, making it unfit for consumption. It is important to note that perfumers alcohol is not the same as the alcohol available at liquor stores, as that alcohol is too watery for this purpose.
Perfumers alcohol is ideal for diluting perfumes as it fully incorporates the ingredients and acts as a preservative. It also enables the perfume to be sprayed on, as it serves as a base. The alcohol lifts the fragrance, and as it evaporates, the scent radiates outward, creating a cloud of scent. This is a familiar experience for those who use commercial perfumes.
When diluting with perfumers alcohol, it is recommended to start with small batches to determine the ideal dilution ratio. A common suggestion is to mix equal parts of perfume and perfumers alcohol, but this may vary depending on the desired strength and consistency of the final product.
It is important to note that perfumes diluted with perfumers alcohol are best suited for alcohol-based fragrances. These diluted perfumes cannot be added to certain bases such as creams, detergents, candles, or oils. Instead, they are intended for experimentation, evaluation, and creating unique alcohol-based scents.
Additionally, perfumers alcohol aids in the evaporation of the perfume, providing a fuller profile of the scent during the evaluation process. This makes it a valuable tool for those training their sense of smell and learning to distinguish different odour profiles.
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Diluting with oils
There are other options for diluting oils, such as 1,3 Propanediol, which is colourless and odourless, and acts as an emollient, humectant, booster, solvent, and viscosity enhancer. Isopropyl Myristate (IPM) is another odourless option, used in diffusers. Dioctyl Adipate (DOA) is also used to dilute fragrance, and is soluble in water and alcohol.
When making your own perfume, you will need your oils, a diluting agent, and a 2-ounce glass bottle. Add your base, middle, and top notes, in a 20-50-30 percent ratio, and a few drops of a bridge note if you wish. Then fill the bottle with the diluting agent, shake well, and leave to sit for at least 48 hours. The longer you leave it, the stronger the scent will be. After this, add 2 tablespoons of water, filter the mixture, and return it to the bottle.
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Spraying on a cotton pad
If you want to dilute a perfume before spraying, you can do so by spraying it onto a cotton pad and then tapping the pad against your clothes or body. This method is known as the "perfume double transfer". It works because cotton absorbs perfume, so the transfer will dilute the scent on application. However, the top notes of the perfume may be affected by this application method.
You can also dilute a perfume by spraying it into a thick handkerchief, the knot of a necktie, or onto cardboard inside a necklace. As long as the perfume doesn't come into contact with your body, it won't vaporize and invade your nostrils as it does when applied directly to the skin.
If you want to dilute a perfume that is already on your skin, you can use vinegar, lemon juice, or activated charcoal to neutralize the scent. Dilute the vinegar with water and use it as a rinse for your skin, or soak a cotton pad or cloth in vinegar and gently rub it on your skin. If you prefer a more fragrant solution, you can use lemon juice instead of vinegar. Simply squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto a cotton pad or cloth and gently rub it on your skin. Allow the lemon juice to sit for a few minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Activated charcoal can also be applied directly to the skin and allowed to sit for a few minutes before being rinsed off.
It's important to note that you should not add water to dilute perfume because water and fragrance oils do not mix. When water is added, the fragrance ends up floating on top of the water, and the two layers remain separate. This results in a few sprays of highly concentrated perfume followed by a spray that is mostly water.
Instead of water, you can use alcohol to dilute your perfume. However, be cautious as alcohol can have its own scent, which may alter the fragrance of your perfume. Another option is to use a carrier oil or unscented lotion as a diluting solution. Look for oils like jojoba or coconut oil that easily blend with most perfumes. Start by adding a small amount of perfume to a container, then gradually add your carrier oil or lotion, mixing until you achieve your desired scent strength.
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Mixing with lotion
Diluting perfume with lotion is a great way to soften a fragrance that may be too strong for your liking. This method is also useful if you live in a tropical climate, where the heat and sweat can intensify a perfume.
To dilute perfume with lotion, you can try two methods. Firstly, you can spray your perfume into a jar of unscented lotion and mix it until it reaches your desired strength. You can then apply the scented lotion as you would normally. This method may alter the composition and response of the fragrance on your skin, so it is best to experiment with small batches.
The second method involves spraying your perfume into the palm of your hand, which contains a small amount of unscented lotion. You can then apply the mixture to your skin as you would a splash cologne. This method will result in a light overall fragrance rather than an overwhelming scent.
It is important to note that diluting perfume with lotion may change the scent's balance. Additionally, if you are diluting an alcohol-based perfume, you may want to use perfumer's alcohol instead of lotion to avoid altering the fragrance.
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Using distilled water
If you want to dilute your perfume with water, it is essential to use distilled water. Water from the tap can contain impurities that could be inadvertently added to the perfume, affecting its quality. Distilled water, on the other hand, is pure and a reliable choice for maintaining product integrity. It is widely used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and hygiene products for this reason.
When diluting perfume, it is also important to add a bit of alcohol to the mixture. This is because water and oil do not mix, and since perfumes contain fragrance oils, alcohol is needed to bind the water and oil together. Alcohol can also help to dissolve the water with the fragrance oils so that they won't separate.
To dilute your perfume, you can try spraying some into a travel atomizer and then adding distilled water. You will likely need to shake it up before each use, as the mixture may separate. You can also add alcohol instead of or in addition to water. The extra alcohol should evaporate within a couple of minutes after spraying.
It is important to note that diluting perfume can change the composition and response of the fragrance on your skin. It may also cause the perfume to go bad more quickly, as alcohol is a preservative, and bacteria can build up over time in water. However, if your perfume is too strong, diluting it with distilled water and alcohol can help to reduce its intensity while still allowing you to enjoy the scent.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use perfumer's alcohol, which is ethyl alcohol that has been denatured to make it undrinkable. You can also dilute with oils such as jojoba oil or fractionated coconut oil.
Buy perfumer's alcohol and mix it 50-50 with your fragrance in a small decanter. You can experiment with different dilution ratios to find your preferred scent strength.
You can dilute perfume with a complimentary hydrosol or flower water such as rose, lavender, or orange blossom. You can also dilute with distilled water, although this may require shaking before spraying as the mixture can separate.
You can apply diluted perfume by spraying it onto a cotton pad or ball and then dabbing it onto your skin or clothing. You can also mix diluted perfume with an unscented lotion and apply it to your skin.
