Lance Carson
Roses are the queen of flowers, and their scent is a rich, multifaceted fragrance with notes ranging from citrus to fruity, spicy, and sweet. Creating rose perfumes is a fun and cost-effective activity, and the volume of perfume you can make depends on the number of petals you gather. The process involves pulverizing petals, adding water or vodka, and steeping the mixture for several days or weeks. The perfume can then be strained and bottled, resulting in a delightful fragrance that captures the essence of summer gardens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Roses | Dependent on volume of perfume desired |
| Species of Rose | Rosa centifolia, Rosa gallica officinalis, Rosa damascena |
| Colour of Petals | Deep reds, pinks, purples for colour and fragrance |
| Other Ingredients | Water, vodka, oil |
| Equipment | Jar, spoon, strainer, funnel, bottle |
| Process Time | 4-7 days, up to 6 weeks |
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What You'll Learn
- Pulverising petals: Pulverise petals with a wooden spoon, add water, and refrigerate
- Using vodka: Cover petals with vodka, steep for 2-6 weeks, then strain
- Rose varieties: Choose roses with the darkest petals for a classic rose colour
- Rose oil: Steam distillation extracts essential oil, but indole can cause an animalic scent
- Cost-effectiveness: Making rose perfume is a cost-effective option compared to buying perfume
Pulverising petals: Pulverise petals with a wooden spoon, add water, and refrigerate
Pulverising petals is a crucial step in making rose petal perfume. Here is a detailed guide to this process:
Firstly, gather your rose petals and place them in a clean glass jar or bowl. A large jar is ideal, as it will allow you to mash the petals without spilling. Using a wooden spoon, pulverise the petals for around 45 seconds. A wooden cooking spoon is best, as it won't react with the petals and will avoid adding any unwanted metallic elements to your perfume. You can also use a mortar and pestle for this step, but be careful not to remove the petals from the jar, as this could result in losing some of the precious rose oils.
Once you have pulverised the petals, it's time to add the water. Distilled water is recommended, as it will not contain any impurities that could affect the scent or longevity of your perfume. Add around 2.5 cups (590ml) of water to the jar. The amount of water you add will depend on the desired strength of your perfume; more water will result in a more diluted scent. If you are using dark-coloured rose petals, such as deep red, expect the water to turn a brownish-red hue.
After adding the water, cover the jar and place it in a cool, dark location. A refrigerator is ideal, as you want to keep the mixture cool. Leave the mixture to sit for 4-7 days. During this time, remember to stir and mash the petals once a day with your wooden spoon. This step helps to release more of the rose's natural oils and prevents the petals from settling at the bottom of the jar.
Finally, after the steeping period, strain the mixture to remove the spent petals. You can use a fine mesh strainer for this step. Pour the liquid into clean glass perfume bottles, and your rose petal perfume is now ready for use! Remember to store your perfume in a cool, dark place to make it last longer.
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Using vodka: Cover petals with vodka, steep for 2-6 weeks, then strain
The number of roses you will need to make perfume depends on the amount of rose petals you can gather. To make rose petal perfume using vodka, you will need to start by collecting rose petals in a medium-sized bowl. Any variety of rose petals will do. It is recommended to collect about half a cup or 120 grams of rose petals. You can rinse the petals in cold water to wash away any contaminants, being careful not to prick yourself on any thorns.
Once you have your rose petals, you will need a jar or bowl that is large enough to hold the petals and has enough room for about an inch or 2.5 cm of liquid to cover the petals. Place the petals in the jar and cover them with vodka, leaving enough space at the top of the jar for the liquid. You will need vodka that is 40-50% alcohol (80-100 proof) for the best results.
After adding the vodka, place the jar in a dry, cool, and dark place, such as a cabinet or cupboard. Avoid using a fridge as it can be damp. Shake the jar every day for around 2 to 6 weeks. The longer you steep the petals, the richer the perfume will be.
Finally, after steeping, strain the mixture into clean glass perfume bottles using a fine mesh strainer or a cheesecloth to remove the petals from the liquid. You can also squeeze out any remaining liquid from the petals using a spoon before discarding them. Pour the perfume into glass bottles with tight lids and store them in a cool, dark place.
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Rose varieties: Choose roses with the darkest petals for a classic rose colour
While making rose petal perfume, the colour of the rose petals will determine the colour of the final product. To make a classic rose perfume, choose roses with dark-coloured petals, such as deep red, crimson, burgundy, or purple. These dark-coloured petals will result in a brownish-red or brownish-orange-coloured perfume.
There are several varieties of roses with dark petals that you can choose from:
- 'Black Magic': This variety features dark red petals with black undertones and large, full blooms. It is known for its glossy petals, which contribute to its disease resistance.
- 'Black Baccara': This rose cultivar is known for its spicy scent and black petals.
- 'Souvenir du Docteur Jamain': A hardy hybrid perpetual rose that was popular in the Victorian era. It has dark violet to port wine-coloured petals with deeply cupped, petal-packed blooms.
- 'Lionheart' Asiatic lilies: These lilies have russet and yellow petals, which can be paired with 'Abracadabra' roses to highlight the dark red colours.
- 'Dark Desire': This variety, from the Kordes ParfumaⓇ series, has onyx buds that open up to reveal brilliant fuchsia centres with darker purple outer petals.
- 'Falstaff': A David Austin English shrub rose featuring large 4- to 5-inch dark crimson-red flowers that bloom continually.
When choosing roses for perfume-making, it is important to consider not only the colour of the petals but also the fragrance and the size of the blooms. Some rose varieties, like ''Black Magic' and 'Dark Desire', are known for their unique and intriguing scents, while others like 'Souvenir du Docteur Jamain' are valued for their old-world charm. Additionally, some roses, like ''Black Baccara', are climbing varieties that can add vertical interest to your garden, while others, like 'Black Magic', are bush varieties suitable for compact gardens.
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Rose oil: Steam distillation extracts essential oil, but indole can cause an animalic scent
Rose oil, also known as rose otto, attar of rose, attar of roses, or rose essence, is an essential oil extracted from rose petals. The two most common methods of extracting rose oil are steam distillation and solvent extraction. Steam distillation involves filling large copper stills with roses and water, heating the mixture, and then collecting the vaporized water and rose oil in a flask. This process yields an essential oil called rose otto or attar of roses. While this method is effective in extracting the oil, the heat required can cause some of the compounds extracted from the rose to denature or break down chemically, resulting in a scent that may not closely resemble fresh roses.
Solvent extraction, on the other hand, involves agitating the flowers in a vat with a solvent such as hexane, which draws out the aroma compounds along with other soluble substances. The solvent is then removed through vacuum processing, leaving behind a waxy mass called a concrete. This concrete is mixed with alcohol, which dissolves the aromatic constituents, and the alcohol is evaporated, resulting in rose absolute. Rose absolute is commonly used in perfumery and may more closely resemble the scent of fresh roses due to the lower temperatures involved in its extraction process.
One challenge in producing rose oil is that it takes a large number of rose petals to distill a small amount of essential oil. The typical yield can be approximately 1:3,000, and the process is labor-intensive, contributing to the high price of rose oil. To mitigate the cost, some dealers cut rose oil with other essential oils such as citronellol, geraniol, geranium, or palmarosa, which are rich in geraniol, the main constituent of rose oil.
While rose oil is highly valued in perfumery, one potential drawback is the presence of indole, a compound that can contribute to an animalic scent. Indole is formed during the decomposition of tryptophan by putrefactive bacteria and has a complex aroma. In pure form, indole has an extremely unpleasant odor, resembling mothballs, camphor, or rotten cabbage. However, when strongly diluted, it can add a floral note reminiscent of jasmine. The animalic effects of indole can be desirable in certain compositions, but they must be managed cautiously to avoid an unpleasant scent. Additionally, indole can interact with aldehydes to form a Schiff base, causing the perfume liquid to darken over time. As a result, indole is sometimes replaced with other ingredients, such as indolene, which has a softer, more floral scent.
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Cost-effectiveness: Making rose perfume is a cost-effective option compared to buying perfume
Making rose perfume at home is a cost-effective option compared to buying a bottle from a store. While the price of a bottle of perfume varies depending on the brand, type, and quantity, making rose perfume at home typically requires only a few inexpensive ingredients and can be a fun and rewarding process.
The key ingredient for making rose perfume is fresh rose petals, which can be easily accessed if you have roses growing in your garden or a kind neighbour who can spare a few blooms. If you need to purchase roses, this will be an additional cost, but it may still be more affordable than buying a bottle of perfume, depending on the variety and quantity of roses needed.
Other ingredients required for making rose perfume include vodka or perfumer's alcohol, distilled water, and optionally, essential oils to enhance the fragrance. These ingredients can be purchased at most grocery or drug stores and will likely cost less than a bottle of perfume, especially if you already have some of them in your pantry.
The process of making rose perfume is relatively simple and does not require any specialized equipment. You will need a glass jar, a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, a spoon, and a clean glass bottle for the finished perfume. By following a few simple steps, you can create your own unique fragrance that captures the essence of fresh roses.
In addition to being cost-effective, making your own rose perfume allows you to control the ingredients used, avoiding any harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances that may be found in commercial perfumes. This can be especially beneficial for those with sensitive skin or allergies, as well as those who prefer natural, organic products.
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Frequently asked questions
You can make rose petal perfume with just half a cup of rose petals.
You will need a spoon, distilled water, a jar, and a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth. You can also add a base oil like avocado oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil.
First, pulverize the petals for 45 seconds with a spoon. Then, add 2.5 cups of distilled water to the jar and cover the jar. Place it in a cool, dark location for 4-7 days, stirring the petals once a day. Finally, strain the mixture into clean glass perfume bottles.
Your perfume will last up to a month if you store it in the fridge and shake it before each use.
