Anisha Riggs
Lilac perfumes are often made using synthetic fragrances, as lilac essential oil does not exist. This is because lilac flowers do not produce enough essential oil to undergo steam distillation, and the process would be too costly. To create a natural lilac perfume, one can use enfleurage, a traditional French perfumery technique that involves laying each tiny lilac flower face down into fat, which absorbs the scent. This process can be repeated several times to make the scent stronger. Alternatively, one can create a homemade lilac perfume using vodka or rubbing alcohol, jojoba oil, and lilac essential oil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Base | Vodka or rubbing alcohol |
| Carrier oil | Jojoba oil |
| Essential oil | Lilac (10-15 drops) |
| Process | Enfleurage |
| Medium | Purified fat, or any neutral-smelling fat that is solid at room temperature |
| Fat used | Coconut oil |
| Number of infusions | 5-7 |
| Preservation | Vitamin E |
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What You'll Learn
Using lilac essential oil
Lilac essential oil is difficult to come by as lilacs do not yield an essential oil when steam distilled. Lilac flowers do not produce enough essential oil to undergo the process of steam distillation. There would need to be an enormous number of lilac petals to make a small fraction of essential oil, which would be too costly.
However, there are some workarounds to create a lilac fragrance. One method is to use lilac-infused oil. This is made by infusing fresh lilac flowers in a carrier oil. The flowers can be dried overnight on a paper towel to allow most of the moisture to evaporate. They are then cut or chopped into small pieces and put into a jar, covered with oil, and left to infuse for two weeks. The jar should be occasionally shaken to mix the contents. After two weeks, the oil is strained into a bottle and labelled. Vitamin E can be added to extend its shelf life.
Another method is enfleurage, a traditional French perfumery technique. This involves laying each tiny lilac flower face down into fat, which absorbs the scent. The flowers are removed after a day and the process is repeated 5-7 times. Over time, the fat becomes scented. The scented fat created through the enfleurage process is called a pomade and can be used as a scented moisturiser.
A third method is to create a homemade perfume using lilac essential oil. This involves adding 10-15 drops of lilac essential oil to vodka or rubbing alcohol. This is then placed in a perfume bottle and shaken well. The perfume can be worn on pulse points.
It is important to note that the lilac "essential oil" used in this perfume is not a true essential oil, as lilacs do not yield an essential oil. It is a synthetic fragrance oil.
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Using lilac-infused oil
Lilac-infused oil is a great way to capture the essence of lilacs. The process of infusing lilac flowers in oil is called enfleurage, a traditional French perfumery technique. It is a tedious and expensive process, but it is one of the best ways to capture the scent of lilac. This is because lilac's scent is not in the plant's tissues, so it cannot be extracted through crushing or steam distillation.
To make lilac-infused oil through enfleurage, you will need fresh lilac flowers and a neutral-smelling fat that is solid at room temperature, such as coconut oil or palm fat. The flowers are laid face down into the fat, which absorbs the scent. After a day, the flowers are removed, and the process is repeated 5-7 times. Over time, the fat becomes scented like lilacs, and this scented fat is called a pomade.
Another method of making lilac-infused oil involves drying lilac blossoms overnight on a paper towel to allow most of the moisture to evaporate. The blossoms are then cut into small pieces and placed in a jar with witch hazel. The jar is labelled and allowed to infuse for 2 weeks, with occasional gentle shaking to mix the contents. After two weeks, the mixture is strained into a bottle, and the solid plant matter is composted.
It is important to note that lilac-infused oil has a very mild fragrance, so it may not be suitable if you are looking for a strong lilac scent. Additionally, the scent of lilac can be difficult to capture, and it may take a lot of flowers to achieve a strong scent.
To extend the shelf life of lilac-infused oil, you can add vitamin E and store it in the fridge for several months.
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Using lilac tincture
Lilac tinctures are made by infusing lilac flowers in alcohol and water. To make a lilac tincture, you can follow these steps:
- Use fresh lilac flowers, as dried lilacs do not have a strong scent.
- Place the flowers in a glass jar, removing them from their leaves and stems.
- Cover the flowers with a blend of alcohol and distilled water. The recommended ratio is 75% alcohol and 25% distilled water.
- Allow the flowers to infuse for 6-8 days, ensuring they remain submerged.
- Strain the mixture to obtain the lilac tincture.
- Add an antioxidant, such as vitamin E, to extend its shelf life.
- Store the tincture in a cool, dark place.
Once you have prepared your lilac tincture, you can use it as a base for creating your own natural lilac perfume. Here are some tips for using lilac tincture in perfumery:
- Combine the lilac tincture with a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, to create a lilac-scented perfume oil.
- To make a sprayable perfume, mix the lilac tincture with vodka or rubbing alcohol. You can adjust the ratio to control the strength of the scent.
- Enhance the fragrance by adding essential oils. Lavender, peppermint, or citrus oils can be good options to blend with the lilac scent.
- Experiment with different ratios and essential oils to create unique fragrances that suit your preference.
- Store your homemade perfume in a cool, dark place to extend its shelf life.
Remember, creating a strong lilac scent may require infusing a large number of flowers multiple times. The process can be time-consuming, but the result is a natural, authentic lilac perfume.
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Using lilac enfleurage
Enfleurage is a traditional method of capturing the fragrance of flowers and plants, especially those with delicate scents that cannot be extracted through distillation. The process involves using purified fat or oil to trap the fragrant compounds. In the case of lilacs, one can use coconut oil, palm oil, or any other neutral-smelling oil that is solid at room temperature.
To begin the process of enfleurage with lilacs, one must first prepare the flowers by ensuring they are as fresh as possible. The flowers are then placed on a layer of fat or oil, which has been spread onto a large framed glass plate, known as a chassis. This setup is left for at least a day, allowing the fragrance of the lilacs to diffuse into the fat or oil. For more potent perfume, this process can be repeated with fresh flowers, replacing the spent botanicals until the fat or oil reaches the desired level of fragrance saturation.
Once the fat or oil has been sufficiently fragranced, it is called the "enfleurage pomade". At this stage, the pomade can be sold as-is, or further refined by washing or soaking it in ethyl alcohol to extract the fragrant molecules. The alcohol is then separated from the fat or oil, and the alcohol is allowed to evaporate, leaving behind the concentrated fragrance of the lilacs.
It is important to note that the enfleurage technique is time-consuming and requires a large number of flowers for a small yield. This method was widely used during the 18th century but has since been largely replaced by more efficient modern techniques. However, for those seeking to capture the delicate fragrance of lilacs, enfleurage remains a viable option.
To enhance the perfume, additional ingredients can be added, such as vodka or rubbing alcohol, to blend with the essential oils. Jojoba oil can also be included as a base, with lilac essential oil added for scent. The addition of vodka or alcohol will impact the shelf life of the perfume, preserving it for a longer period.
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Using lilac CO2 extract
Lilac CO2 extract is a natural lilac aromatic that captures the floral scent of lilacs. It is a golden, waxy substance with a gentle, sweet, floral fragrance. The process of extracting the scent from lilac flowers using CO2 is expensive, and the yield is small, which is why the extract is so costly.
Lilac CO2 extract is a useful component in modern perfumery, and its waxy consistency makes it easy to work with once warmed up. Its scent is complex but light, with a unique combination of green, sweet, and tender floral notes.
The CO2 extraction process captures the ephemeral beauty of lilacs, which is difficult to achieve through other methods. The fragrance of lilacs is delicate and challenging to capture, and while there are other methods to create lilac scents, such as infusing oils and tinctures, the CO2 extract is the purest form of the floral scent.
To create a lilac perfume using lilac CO2 extract, one would need to combine it with a neutral carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, and a solvent like vodka or rubbing alcohol. The CO2 extract is highly concentrated, so only a small amount is needed to create a potent fragrance. The extract can be diluted and combined with other aromatic compounds to create a unique, natural perfume.
Creating a lilac perfume with CO2 extract requires careful measurement and experimentation to achieve the desired fragrance strength and balance. The process involves blending the CO2 extract with a carrier oil and solvent, carefully testing and adjusting the scent, and allowing it to mature before use.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a perfume bottle, vodka or rubbing alcohol, jojoba oil, and lilac essential oil.
First, fill your perfume bottle just over halfway with vodka or rubbing alcohol. Next, use a plastic pipette to fill the bottle almost to the top with jojoba oil. Finally, add 10-15 drops of lilac essential oil. Place the cap on the bottle, shake well, and apply to your pulse points.
Lilac essential oil does not exist, so lilac-scented perfumes are usually synthetic. However, you can make your own lilac-infused oil by using the enfleurage method, which involves laying fresh lilac flowers in fat, which absorbs the scent. You can also make lilac facial toner or facial spray using lilac blossoms and witch hazel or hot water.
