Creating Alcohol-Free Cologne: A Simple Guide

Creating your own alcohol-free cologne is a great way to save money and avoid the harshness of chemicals found in store-bought fragrances. All you need are some simple, easy-to-find, non-toxic ingredients and a glass bottle. The process is fairly straightforward: combine your chosen ingredients, shake well, and store in a cool, dark place for a week or so. One recipe suggests using 50ml each of vodka and distilled water, along with 2-3 drops of your favourite essential oil. Another recipe replaces the vodka with sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil. With a bit of experimentation, you can create a unique, affordable, natural cologne that suits your personal preferences.

How to Make Alcohol-Free Cologne

Choose essential oils

When it comes to choosing essential oils for your cologne, the options are endless. You can create any blend you like, from woody and herbal to floral and powdery.

If you lean towards woody, slightly sweet scents, cedarwood is a great option. It is a very grounding oil that combines beautifully with citrus notes. If romantic florals are more your style, try jasmine, rose or ylang-ylang. Remember, the final result will likely be more muted than the first impression of any one scent.

You can also try sandalwood, which blends well with middle notes like geranium, ylang-ylang, rose, and lotus flower. Top this formula off with lavender, neroli, magnolia, and mandarin.

For a citrusy, aromatic base that gives a refreshing feeling, you can use lemon and orange essential oils.

If you want to create a more masculine scent, bay essential oil has a sweet but spicy odour with uplifting properties. It is a middle note that comes through just after the top notes of citrusy lime and bergamot, followed by deep and woody cedarwood.

For a light, fresh, and sharp scent, lime essential oil is a great choice. It mixes well with other citrus oils like bergamot, as well as sweet and woody scents.

If you're looking for an essential oil that's often referred to as the "happy oil," lemony bergamot is a fantastic option. It's a citrus oil that frequently appears in perfumes and skincare products, earning its reputation as the "king of essential oils" in the cosmetic world.

When choosing essential oils, it's important to understand the fragrance scale and the different notes. Top notes will be the first thing you smell, followed by middle notes, and then base notes, which form the fragrance foundation. A good starting point for beginners is the basic pyramid accord, which consists of 60% base notes, 30% middle notes, and 10% top notes. However, you can also experiment with different ratios to find the formula that works best for your desired profile.

Blend the oils

Now that you've gathered your essential oils, it's time to start blending them. This is the fun part of the process, where you can experiment and get creative. Remember that not all notes will go well together, so be prepared for some trial and error. It's recommended to use no more than 30 drops in total, and if one scent is much stronger than the others, use less.

• Bay essential oil, lime essential oil, bergamot essential oil, and cedarwood essential oil.
• Laurel essential oil, clove essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, and orange zest.
• Rose essential oil, bergamot essential oil, and lavender essential oil.
• Sandalwood essential oil and geranium essential oil.
• Ylang-ylang essential oil and rose essential oil.
• Jasmine essential oil and rose essential oil.

Once you've chosen your essential oils, add them one by one to your carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil) and start mixing. You can also add in some vodka or distilled water to help dilute the mixture.

After you've created your desired formula, it's time to let the fragrance brew and sit. It's recommended to refrigerate it for at least 48 hours to two weeks, and then shake it up so that the molecules can mix.

If you're using a spray bottle, you can then add some distilled water and a few drops of glycerin to help the cologne stick to your skin. Slowly and carefully swirl your bespoke fragrance mixture into the bottle, and you've created your own signature cologne.

Add alcohol

Adding Alcohol to Your Cologne

Choosing the Right Alcohol

The type of alcohol you use is important. Perfumers alcohol is a popular choice, but pure grain alcohol or even vodka can be used. Alcohol acts as a solvent for the aromatic compounds in your cologne, helping to extract the essential oils from natural ingredients. It also helps to dilute the cologne to the right strength and evenly disperses the scent molecules.

Essential Oils

The essential oils you choose will depend on the scent you are trying to create. Woody, sweet scents like cedarwood are a good option for a masculine fragrance, while romantic florals like jasmine, rose or ylang ylang are better suited for a feminine cologne. You can also use citrus oils like lime and bergamot to create a fresh, sharp scent.

Blending the Oils

Once you have chosen your essential oils, it's time to start blending. Remember that not all notes go together, so you will need to experiment to find the right combination. Start by adding a few drops of each oil to your alcohol base, one by one, and mix. It is recommended to use no more than 30 drops in total, and less if one scent is stronger than the others.

Maturing and Diluting

Once you have added your essential oils, the cologne needs time to mature. Leave the mixture for at least 48 hours, or even refrigerate it for two weeks. After this, you will need to dilute the cologne. In a spray bottle, add two tablespoons of distilled water and five drops of glycerin, then slowly swirl in your cologne mixture.

Dilute the cologne

Diluting the cologne is the final step in the cologne-making process. Once you have designed your scent and allowed the fragrance to brew and sit, it's time to dilute it. This step is crucial as it ensures the cologne is suitable for use on the skin and helps to disperse the oils.

To dilute your cologne, you will need to add a few additional ingredients and follow some simple steps. Firstly, gather your fragrance mixture, distilled water, and glycerin. The distilled water helps to create the fragrance, especially in water-based perfumes, while glycerin, a vegetable oil, adds longevity to your formula and helps it stick to your skin.

For this step, you will need a spray bottle. Add two tablespoons of distilled water and five drops of glycerin to the spray bottle. Then, slowly and carefully swirl in your bespoke fragrance mixture. And that's it—you've created your own alcohol-free cologne!

It is important to note that the dilution process may vary depending on the specific recipe you are following. Some recipes may call for different amounts of distilled water and glycerin, or even additional ingredients. Be sure to follow the instructions for your chosen recipe carefully.

Additionally, the maturation time for your fragrance mixture may differ. While some recipes suggest 48 hours, others recommend refrigerating for two weeks or leaving the mixture to sit for three weeks. Always refer to the instructions provided by your chosen recipe for the best results.

Creating your own cologne allows you to design a unique scent that suits your preferences. By diluting the cologne, you ensure that it is safe and effective for use, providing you with a personalised fragrance that you can enjoy.

Leave to mature

Leaving your cologne to mature is a crucial step in the perfume-making process. This is when the magic happens, and your carefully selected blend of essential oils transforms into a harmonious fragrance. The length of time needed for maturation varies depending on the recipe and desired intensity, but it typically ranges from a couple of days to several weeks.

During the maturation process, the perfume's scent will evolve and deepen as the oils interact and meld together. The longer you leave it, the more complex and well-rounded your cologne will become. This is because the fragrance molecules need time to blend and mature fully, creating a more balanced and nuanced aroma.

For example, one recipe suggests leaving the cologne undisturbed for 48 hours at room temperature, followed by refrigeration for two weeks. This temperature change helps to enhance the blending process and ensures the fragrance molecules mix effectively. Another recipe, which includes perfumer's alcohol, recommends a maturation period of approximately three weeks. This extended time allows the alcohol to work its magic, effectively blending and intensifying the scent.

While waiting for your cologne to mature can be challenging, it is essential for developing a well-rounded and long-lasting fragrance. During this time, you can continue experimenting with different essential oil combinations, creating unique scent profiles, and refining your perfume-making skills.

Frequently asked questions