Crafting Scents: Oils To Cologne Concoctions

Creating cologne from essential oils is a fun way to make a customised scent. The process involves blending essential oils with alcohol, water, glycerin, and a spray bottle. The type of alcohol used can vary, with perfumers alcohol, pure grain alcohol, Everclear, vodka, and rubbing alcohol all being viable options. The essential oils used should be carefully selected to create the desired scent, with popular options including cedarwood, bergamot, and lime. The fragrance scale should also be considered when blending, with the ratio of base, middle, and top notes being important to the final scent. Once the cologne has been blended, it needs to be left to sit for several days or weeks to allow the fragrance to develop fully.

Choose your essential oils

The essential oils you choose will depend on the type of profile you're trying to create. If you're going for a woodsy and herbal scent, you might want to try cedarwood, which is very grounding. If you prefer romantic florals, jasmine, rose, or ylang-ylang might be more up your alley. Remember that whatever scent you select will be diluted and blended, so the final result will likely be more muted than the initial scent. Here are some popular options for essential oils to use in cologne:

Top notes

• Wild Orange: This essential oil has a citrus scent and is perfect for a refreshing, uplifting fragrance.
• Bergamot: Often referred to as the "happy oil," bergamot is a popular choice in perfumes and skincare products.
• Lemon: Lemon essential oil adds a bright, citrusy twist to your cologne.
• Lemongrass: With its fresh, lemony scent, lemongrass is perfect for an outdoor or refreshing fragrance.

Middle notes

• Sandalwood: Sandalwood has a wonderful woodsy scent and blends beautifully with citrus notes.
• Cardamom: This spice adds an interesting twist to your fragrance, blending well with earthy and citrus notes.
• Ylang-Ylang: Ylang-ylang is a romantic, floral middle note that can add depth to your cologne.
• Basil: Basil essential oil has a fresh, herbal scent that pairs well with other middle and base notes.

Base notes

• Frankincense: This essential oil has a rich, earthy scent and is known for its grounding and balancing properties.
• Vetiver: Vetiver has an earthy, grounding aroma that is perfect for a night out or a date.
• Cedarwood: Cedarwood smells just like the woods and is a popular choice for men's cologne.
• White Fir: This essential oil has a fresh, woody scent that blends well with citrus notes.
• Clove: Clove adds a warm, spicy note to your cologne and pairs well with citrus.

When blending your essential oils, it's important to follow the correct ratios. A good starting point is 60% base notes, 30% middle notes, and 10% top notes. However, feel free to experiment and adjust the ratios to create a unique fragrance that you adore.

Understand fragrance notes

Understanding fragrance notes is crucial when creating your own cologne. Notes are divided into three classes: top, middle, and base. The top note is the first scent you'll notice after application, but it also fades the quickest. The middle note blends the scents together and is the next most powerful lasting scent. The base note is the scent that lasts the longest.

When creating a cologne, it's important to experiment with different ratios of these notes to find the perfect blend. A good starting point is to use approximately 10-15% top notes, 25-30% middle notes, and 55-65% base notes. However, feel free to play around with these percentages and adjust as needed.

When choosing essential oils for your cologne, consider the type of scent you want to create. If you prefer woody, slightly sweet scents, you might opt for cedarwood. If you're looking for something more romantic and floral, jasmine, rose, or ylang-ylang could be good options. Remember that the final result will likely be more muted than the initial whiff of each individual scent.

Additionally, some essential oils are better suited for creating a masculine scent. For example, scents like lavender may be too feminine for a men's cologne. Instead, opt for woodsy, earthy, spicy, or citrus essential oils.

When blending the essential oils, start by adding a few drops of each oil one by one and mixing them together. It's important to note that not all notes go well together, so this is where experimentation comes into play. Once you've found a combination you like, add two ounces of alcohol to your blend.

Allow the fragrance to sit for at least 48 hours, and then dilute it with distilled water and glycerin. And just like that, you've created your own signature cologne!

Blend the essential oils

Blending essential oils is an art form and it can take years to perfect a fragrance. However, you can follow some general guidelines to get started.

Firstly, it's important to understand the fragrance scale and the different notes that make up a perfume. Top notes are the first thing you'll smell, followed by middle notes, and finally, base notes which are the scents that linger the longest. The ratio of these notes is crucial to a successful fragrance. A typical fragrance consists of 60% base notes, 30% middle notes, and 10% top notes. However, you can experiment with different ratios to find what works best for you.

When blending essential oils, it's important to remember that not all notes go together. Start by adding a few drops of each oil one by one and mixing them together. It's recommended to use no more than 30 drops total, and if one scent is much stronger than the others, use less. You can also follow specific recipes for different fragrance profiles. For example, a blend of wild orange, sandalwood, and frankincense creates a beautiful woodsy and citrus scent. While a combination of lemon, cardamom, ylang-ylang, and vetiver adds a twist of lemon to an earthy base.

Once you've created your desired fragrance, you'll need to add a few other ingredients to turn it into a cologne. Alcohol is commonly used as it helps to disperse the oils and makes the cologne more intense and long-lasting. You can use perfumer's alcohol, pure grain alcohol, or even vodka. In addition to alcohol, you can also add glycerin which helps the cologne stick to your skin and adds longevity to your formula. Finally, you'll need a spray bottle or a roller bottle to store your cologne.

After blending your essential oils and adding the other ingredients, allow the fragrance to sit for at least 48 hours or even refrigerate it for two weeks to let the molecules mix. Then, simply pour your cologne into your chosen bottle and it's ready to use!

Add alcohol

Alcohol is a key ingredient in cologne, and it's important to get the right type and amount to ensure your fragrance is safe and effective.

Firstly, it's important to note that not all alcohols are created equal when it comes to perfume-making. The type of alcohol you use will impact the final product's scent, potency, and skin feel. The most common types of alcohol used in cologne-making are perfumer's alcohol, vodka, or rubbing alcohol. Perfumer's alcohol is a popular choice as it has a neutral scent and is less likely to affect the fragrance. However, it can be more expensive and harder to source than other types of alcohol. Vodka and rubbing alcohol are more readily available and affordable, but they may have a stronger scent and can be more drying on the skin.

Once you've selected your alcohol, it's time to add it to your fragrance. The amount of alcohol you use will depend on the concentration of your cologne. Cologne typically contains between 2-4% essential oils, with the remaining percentage being alcohol and other ingredients. The higher the percentage of essential oils, the stronger the scent and the longer it will last on the skin. For example, an eau de parfum has a higher concentration of fragrance oil (15-20%) and is, therefore, more potent than cologne.

When adding alcohol to your cologne, it's important to follow the correct ratios to ensure your fragrance is safe and effective. A good starting point is to use a ratio of 60% base notes, 30% middle notes, and 10% top notes. However, you may need to experiment to find the perfect ratio for your particular blend of essential oils. It's also important to allow your cologne to mature. This process can take up to several weeks, and involves mixing the ingredients and allowing them to sit so that the fragrance can develop and any sediment can be removed through filtering.

Finally, when mixing your cologne, always use glass equipment and store your final product in a cool, dark place to preserve the quality of your fragrance.

Dilute the cologne

Diluting the cologne is the final step in the fragrance-making process. Once you have created your desired scent by blending essential oils, you will need to dilute the mixture to create a sprayable cologne. This is done by adding a solvent, such as perfumer's alcohol, to the essential oils. The alcohol helps to disperse the oils and makes the cologne more suitable for use on the skin by diluting the concentrated essential oils. It also helps to prolong the longevity of the fragrance and enhances its intensity.

To dilute your cologne, you will need to determine the desired fragrance strength. The ratio of oil to solvent will vary depending on whether you want to create an Eau De Parfum (EDP), Eau De Toilette (EDT), Eau De Cologne (EDC), or Aftershave. For an EDP, mix one part oil with four parts solvent. For an EDT, use one part oil with six parts solvent. For an EDC, use one part oil with eight parts solvent. And for an aftershave, use one part oil with twelve parts solvent.

It is important to use a high-quality perfumer's alcohol that is safe for use on the skin. You can find this specialty alcohol online or at select stores. When mixing the oil and solvent, be sure to follow the recommended ratios and adjust as needed to achieve your desired fragrance strength.

Once you have added the solvent to your essential oil blend, allow the mixture to sit for at least 48 hours. This gives the fragrance time to brew and for the molecules to mix. After this period, you can further dilute the cologne by adding distilled water and glycerin. The glycerin helps to add longevity to your formula and makes the cologne adhere better to the skin.

Finally, carefully pour your diluted cologne into a spray bottle, and your signature scent is ready to use! Remember to store your cologne in a cool, dark place to prolong its shelf life.

Frequently asked questions