Katrina Rosales
Solid perfumes are a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to store-bought perfumes. They are easy to make, requiring minimal equipment and ingredients, and can be customised to create a unique scent. The process is similar to making lip balm, lotion bars or salve, and the end product is easy to carry around and apply throughout the day. Solid perfumes can be made using a variety of natural ingredients, including beeswax, carrier oils such as jojoba, almond or grapeseed oil, and essential oils or cosmetic-grade fragrance oils. The key steps in creating a solid perfume are melting the wax, adding the chosen oils, pouring the mixture into containers and allowing it to harden.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Beeswax, carrier oils (e.g. jojoba, almond, grapeseed, coconut), essential oils, shea butter, natural extracts (e.g. vanilla bean, coffee) |
| Equipment | Stainless steel saucepan, heatproof bowl, pouring jug, spatula, containers (lockets, tins, jars, tubes), thermometer, pipette |
| Process | Melt wax in a double boiler, add oil and fragrance, pour into containers, allow to cool and solidify |
| Benefits | Customizable scent and container, eco-friendly, convenient for travel, natural ingredients, nourishing and protective for skin |
| Considerations | Avoid synthetic fragrance oils as they can irritate skin, be mindful of weather/climate when adjusting wax quantity |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a wax
When making solid perfume, choosing the right wax is important. The type and amount of wax you use will determine the consistency of your final product.
Beeswax is a natural wax commonly used as a base in most solid perfumes. It provides structure, locks in moisture, and acts as a barrier against environmental pollutants, keeping skin healthy and hydrated. However, beeswax can become too melty to wear in a locket on hot days. To avoid this, you can add more beeswax to your mixture to produce a harder consistency. Alternatively, you can use a substitute wax, such as mango butter, kokum butter, or cocoa butter.
If you are looking for a vegan option, you can substitute beeswax with a lip balm base. This works well as the ingredients used in lip balms often overlap with those used in solid perfumes. For example, you can use white petroleum jelly in place of 50-90% of the carrier oil for a thicker consistency without making the final product too solid.
The amount of wax you use will depend on the desired consistency of your perfume. If your mixture is too soft, you can add more wax and remelt.
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Selecting a carrier oil
Carrier oils, also known as base oils, are an essential component of solid perfumes. They dilute and carry the concentrated essential oils, ensuring that the fragrance is safe for skin application and providing depth, longevity, and balance to the scent. The choice of carrier oil can significantly influence the final aroma of your perfume. Therefore, selecting an appropriate carrier oil is a crucial first step in the perfume-making process.
When selecting a carrier oil, it is important to consider factors such as skin compatibility, scent, and viscosity. Different carrier oils have unique aromas and characteristics, allowing for the creation of diverse perfumes. For instance, if you have oily skin, lightweight oils like grapeseed or fractionated coconut oil are ideal. On the other hand, for dry skin, richer oils like jojoba or argan are more suitable. Jojoba oil is a popular choice as it closely resembles the skin's natural sebum, ensuring excellent absorption and compatibility with various skin types. Additionally, jojoba oil is highly stable, maintaining the integrity of the fragrance over extended periods.
Sweet almond oil is another cherished carrier oil due to its light and easily absorbable nature. It is gentle on sensitive skin and rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins, making it nourishing for the skin. If you prefer a carrier oil that is lightweight and non-greasy, fractionated coconut oil is an excellent choice. Unlike regular coconut oil, fractionated coconut oil remains liquid at all temperatures, making it versatile and easy to blend with essential oils. It also ensures a non-oily finish, leaving the skin feeling fresh and fragrant.
Another option for a carrier oil is argan oil, which adds a luxurious touch to your perfume. Argan oil has moisturizing properties and a slightly nutty scent, and it is packed with nutrients. If you are looking for a neutral-scented carrier oil, jojoba oil or fractionated coconut oil are good choices. However, if you want the scent of your carrier oil to enhance a delicate blend, lightly scented oils like sweet almond oil can be a perfect choice.
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Adding fragrance
Essential oils are the most natural option, but their fragrance doesn't last as long as more synthetic options. You can increase the concentration of essential oils to strengthen their fragrance, but be careful not to add too much, as this can irritate the skin. When combining scents, there are no rules, but there are some general guidelines you can follow to make a successful perfume blend. Combine different notes from each part of the fragrance pyramid. Ground notes, for example, give depth to your fragrance and help it to last longer.
Fragrance oils can contain synthetic ingredients, but they have already been diluted in carrier oil, so they are less likely to irritate the skin. You can also use infused oils, which can be made by simmering your chosen oil with herbs of your choice on low heat for about 15 minutes. Let the mixture cool, strain, and use the oil as normal in your recipe.
When adding fragrance to your solid perfume, it's important to first create a scent that you are happy with before adding it to the wax base. You can add around 5-20 drops of oil per tablespoon of wax, depending on how strong you want your perfume to be. If you are making multiple scents, you can add a few drops of your chosen fragrance to the bottom of each container and mix well with a spoon or toothpick once you have poured in the wax.
Some common carrier oils used in solid perfumes include jojoba oil, almond oil, coconut oil, and grapeseed oil. You can also add shea butter to your perfume mix to enhance its creamy texture and leave your skin feeling soft and supple. Natural extracts such as vanilla bean or coffee can be added for an extra hint of sweetness or warmth.
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Mixing and melting
Melting the Wax Base:
Firstly, prepare your workspace by gathering all the necessary equipment, including a heat source, a heat-proof container, and a stirring utensil. For the heat source, you can use a stove, a candle, or a microwave, depending on your preference. Place your chosen wax base, typically beeswax, in the heat-proof container. The amount of wax will vary depending on the desired quantity of perfume, but a tablespoon is a common measurement. Melt the wax thoroughly until it becomes a liquid. This should only take a few minutes.
Mixing in the Oils:
Once your wax is melted, it's time to add your chosen oils. For a natural perfume, use essential oils like jojoba, almond, or coconut oil. You can also add cosmetic-grade fragrance oils for a longer-lasting scent. Before adding the oils to the wax, experiment with different combinations and quantities to create a unique fragrance. Once you've achieved your desired scent, slowly pour the oil mixture into the melted wax, stirring continuously. Ensure the wax doesn't harden too quickly, and be careful not to splash the hot liquid.
Customising Your Scent:
At this stage, you can further customise your perfume by adding natural extracts like vanilla bean or coffee for a hint of sweetness or warmth. You can also include decorative elements like dried flowers or herbs for added visual appeal and extra scent. Additionally, consider adding shea butter to enhance the texture and leave your skin feeling soft and supple. Play with the ratios to get the desired consistency.
Preparing for Solidification:
After incorporating all your desired ingredients, it's important to work quickly as the mixture will start to harden. Before it solidifies, use a pouring jug or pipette to transfer the liquid perfume into your chosen containers. You can use small tins, lockets, compacts, or any small compartment. Place the containers in a cool space and let the mixture harden, which typically takes about an hour.
Creating solid perfume through mixing and melting is a fun and rewarding process. With these steps, you can design a unique fragrance and customise it to your preferences. Remember to take precautions when working with hot liquids, and always clean your equipment promptly to avoid wax buildup.
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Pouring and setting
Once you have created your desired scent, it's time to pour your mixture into its containers. If you are using small lockets, a pipette is a useful tool to transfer the liquid without spilling. You can also use a small funnel to avoid any mess.
If you are making different scents, you can add a few drops of your chosen fragrance to the bottom of each container and mix well with a spoon or toothpick once you have poured in the wax.
Place your containers in a cool, dry place and leave them to set. The perfume will take around an hour to harden in a cool space. The perfume is then ready for immediate use, but it is recommended to wait a few days as solid perfumes tend to smell better after they have sat untouched for a week.
If your perfume comes out too soft, you can remelt the mixture and add more beeswax. If it is too hard, you can remelt and add shea butter or a carrier oil such as jojoba or almond oil.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a liquid oil, wax, and essential oils or cosmetic-grade fragrance oils. For the liquid oil, choose an oil with a neutral scent, like jojoba oil, unless you want to add the scent of the oil to your fragrance. You can use beeswax or a vegan alternative as your wax.
You will need a stainless steel saucepan, a heatproof bowl, a pouring jug, a spatula, and small jars or lockets to contain your perfume.
First, prepare your area by gathering all the necessary equipment and weighing out your wax and oil. Next, create a double boiler by adding water to a small pan and placing it on the hob to heat. Then, place your wax and oil in a heatproof bowl and carefully put it on top of the pan to melt. Once melted, remove the mixture from the heat source and add your fragrance. Pour the mixture into your jars or lockets and leave to set.
