Lance Carson
Blending fragrance, alcohol and water can be a tricky business. It's important to use the right type of alcohol and water, and to let the mixture sit for a couple of weeks to allow the alcohol smell to reduce. You should also be aware that some oils may not blend with alcohol and water, and that you should never add water to oil-based perfumes as this can cause mould to grow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | At least 80 proof |
| Alcohol | 95% pure or 100% pure |
| Alcohol | Perfumer's alcohol SD40b |
| Water | Distilled |
| Water | 5-10% of the whole |
| Water | 10% distilled water |
| Aroma materials | Must sit and mature for a couple of weeks |
| Aroma materials | Any unpleasant "alcohol smell" is reduced |
| Aroma materials | Blend will smell more "smooth" |
| Abs or CO2 extract | Dissolve in a small amount of oil |
| Abs or CO2 extract | Add ethanol |
| Abs or CO2 extract | Agitate regularly |
| Abs or CO2 extract | Leave for a long time |
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What You'll Learn
Using perfumer's alcohol and distilled water as a base
When blending fragrance with alcohol and water, it's important to note that you should not add water to oil-based perfumes as this can cause mould to grow in the finished product. The water you use should be pure and distilled, and the alcohol should be at least 80 proof.
If you are using perfumer's alcohol with distilled water as your base, one recipe suggests starting with five tablespoons of perfumer's alcohol and letting it sit for at least two days. After that, add the distilled water and let it sit for at least two weeks. However, some people have found that the oils do not blend as expected and remain separated, requiring the mixture to be shaken before use.
Another method is to dissolve the fragrance in a small amount of oil first, then add the alcohol and agitate regularly. Any parts that do not blend will usually sink, and the fragrant alcohol can be separated.
It's worth noting that the strength of your perfume will depend on the ratio of fragrance to diluent. Perfume is the most concentrated and usually has a 15-30% dilution of fragrance with 70-85% diluent. Water typically makes up about 5-10% of the whole. For example, a 20% blend would use 70% alcohol and 10% distilled water.
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Using essential oils
When blending fragrance with alcohol and water, it's important to note that you should not add water to oil-based perfumes as this may cause mould to grow in the finished product. The water you use should be pure and distilled, and the alcohol should be at least 80 proof. The strength of your perfume will depend on the ratio of essential oils and diluent.
To start the process, you can use a recipe that involves mixing five tablespoons of perfumer's alcohol with the oils and letting that sit for at least two days. After that, add the distilled water and let the mixture sit for at least two weeks. However, some people have found that the oils may not blend with the alcohol and water as expected, and separation may occur, requiring the mixture to be shaken before use.
If you're using an extract that doesn't blend well with ethanol, you can try dissolving it in a small amount of oil first, then adding the ethanol and agitating regularly. Any parts that don't blend will usually sink, and the ethanol can be separated.
It's important to test essential oils "neat", meaning undiluted, to experience their full fragrance profile. When creating a blend, water typically makes up about 5-10% of the whole. For example, a 20% blend would use 70% alcohol and 10% distilled water. If you're using an oil base, you would use 20% essential oils and 80% carrier oil.
After blending the aroma materials with alcohol, it's recommended to let the mixture sit and mature for at least a couple of weeks to reduce any unpleasant alcohol smell and create a smoother fragrance.
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The importance of letting the blend mature
When blending fragrance, alcohol and water, it is important to let the blend mature. This is because the process of maturing allows any unpleasant 'alcohol smell' to be reduced, leaving a smoother scent. The blend should be left to sit for at least a couple of weeks, and sometimes even longer.
One user on a forum noted that they let their blend of perfumer's alcohol, oils and distilled water sit for at least two days before adding the water, and then left the whole mixture to sit for at least two weeks. However, they found that the oils did not blend as expected and remained separated, meaning they had to shake the bottle before use.
Another user suggested that if you are blending an extract with ethanol, you should dissolve it in a small amount of oil, then add the ethanol and leave it for a while. They noted that any parts that do not blend will usually sink, and the ethanol will be fragrant and can be taken off.
The strength of your perfume will depend on the ratio of essential oils and diluent. Perfume is the most concentrated and will usually have a 15-30% dilution of essential oils, with 70-85% being the medium in which it is diluted. Water usually makes up about 5-10% of the whole, so this should be considered when creating a formula.
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Using ethanol
When blending fragrance, alcohol and water, it's important to note that you should not add water to oil-based perfumes as this may cause mould to grow in the finished product. The water you use should be pure and distilled, and the alcohol should be at least 80 proof.
If you're using ethanol, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, make sure that your ethanol is at least 95% pure. You can use special chemicals (drying agents) to produce 100% pure ethanol, but this may not be considered "natural". Whether you use 95% or 100% pure ethanol, do not add water.
To blend your fragrance with ethanol, start by dissolving your fragrance in a small amount of oil. Then, add the ethanol and agitate regularly. Leave the mixture to sit and mature for at least a couple of weeks. During this time, any unpleasant "alcohol smell" will reduce and your blend will smell more "smooth".
It's important to note that some fragrance materials may not blend well with ethanol. If this is the case, the parts that are not blending will usually sink, and you can then remove the fragrant ethanol.
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The ratio of fragrance, alcohol and water
When blending fragrance, alcohol and water, it's important to note that the ratio of each ingredient will depend on the desired strength of your perfume. The strength of your perfume will depend on the ratio of fragrance and diluent. Perfume is the most concentrated fragrance product and usually has a 15-30% dilution of fragrance with 70-85% being the medium in which it is diluted.
Water usually makes up about 5-10% of the whole blend. For example, if you're making a 20% blend, you would use 70% alcohol and 10% distilled water. However, if you use an oil as the base, you would use 20% essential oils and 80% carrier oil.
It's important to note that you should not add water to oil-based perfumes as this may cause mould to grow in the finished product.
When blending fragrance with alcohol, it's recommended to use special chemicals (drying agents) to produce 100% pure ethanol. Both 95% pure and 100% pure ethanol should function the same, but it's important to note that you should not add water to pure ethanol. After blending the fragrance with alcohol, let the mixture sit and mature for at least a couple of weeks to reduce any unpleasant "alcohol smell".
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Frequently asked questions
Start with 5 tablespoons of perfumer's alcohol and the oils and let that sit for at least two days. After that, add distilled water and let it sit for at least two weeks. The water usually makes up about 5-10% of the whole, so if you're making a 20% blend, you would use 70% alcohol and 10% distilled water.
The alcohol should be at least 80 proof. You can use 95% pure ethanol or 100% pure ethanol, but do not add water.
The water should be pure and distilled.
You must let the blend sit and mature for at least a couple of weeks. This will help to reduce any unpleasant alcohol smell and make your blend smell more smooth.
