Heidi Norton
Creating your own body fragrance is a fun and simple process that allows you to customize your scent and save money. By making your own fragrance, you can also avoid the harmful synthetic chemicals found in many commercial perfumes, body sprays, and colognes, which can cause negative health effects. With a few basic ingredients, such as essential oils, alcohol, distilled water, and glycerin, you can create endless combinations of scents to layer and blend. You can even add some shimmer with loose eyeshadow or market your creations as room spritzes, shoe deodorizers, and aromatherapy fragrances.
How to Make Body Fragrance
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Essential oils, alcohol, distilled water, glycerin, hydrosols, witch hazel extract, fragrance oil, vegetable glycerin, argan oil, jojoba oil, rose hydrosol, vodka |
| Equipment | Spray bottle (glass or high-quality plastic), funnel, stirrer |
| Process | Mix ingredients, pour into bottle, shake, spritz |
| Benefits | Customizable, fun, simple, inexpensive, healthier than commercial perfumes |
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What You'll Learn
Using essential oils
Making your own body fragrance with essential oils is a fun and rewarding process that allows you to create a custom scent that reflects your personality and preferences. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
Choosing Your Essential Oils
The first step is to select the essential oils you want to use. Essential oils come in a variety of scents, and you can choose just one or create a blend of several oils. Some popular essential oils for body fragrances include lavender, peppermint, basil, eucalyptus, neroli, verbena, sandalwood, vanilla, and grapefruit. You can also experiment with different combinations to create a unique scent.
Understanding Fragrance Notes
When creating a blend, it's important to understand the concept of fragrance notes. Fragrance notes refer to the different layers of a scent, and they are typically categorized as top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are bright and sharp aromas that grab your attention but don't last long. Middle notes, also called heart notes, have more complex scents that last longer. Base notes provide depth and help to balance the fragrance.
Diluting Your Essential Oils
Essential oils are highly concentrated and need to be diluted before applying them to the skin. The recommended dilution ratio for safe use is 1-5%. For a body oil that will be applied to a large area of the body, dilute the essential oil to 1%. For a perfume or a small application area, you can use a 3-5% dilution. Always do a patch test before using any new essential oil blend, and if you have sensitive skin, consider lowering the concentration to around 15%.
Choosing a Carrier Oil
Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils and help "carry" the fragrance onto the skin. Some popular carrier oils include jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, and grapeseed oil. When choosing a carrier oil, consider your skin type and scent compatibility. Lighter oils like grapeseed work well for oily skin, while richer oils like jojoba are better suited for dry skin. Neutral-scented carrier oils are best for strong fragrances to avoid overpowering the scent.
Creating Your Blend
Once you've chosen your essential oils and carrier oil, it's time to create your blend. Using a pipette, add the essential oils to a rollerball or spray bottle, following the dilution ratio you've calculated. Add your carrier oil, replace the lid, and shake well to combine. It's a good idea to label your bottle with the fragrance and the date created. Store your body fragrance in a cool, dark space, away from direct heat and light.
Applying Your Fragrance
When applying your DIY body fragrance, focus on pulse points such as behind your ears, the back of your knees, the inside of your elbows, wrists, and throat. These areas emanate more heat, increasing the projection of the scent. You can also apply the fragrance to other areas like the nape of your neck, collarbone, chest, and tops of your arms for a lasting impact.
Creating a body fragrance with essential oils offers a natural and customizable way to smell divine while also providing aromatherapeutic and skincare benefits. Enjoy experimenting with different blends to find your signature scent!
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Adding shimmer with eyeshadow
To make a body fragrance, you can use essential oils, alcohol, distilled water, and glycerin. Start by stirring 10 tablespoons of isopropyl alcohol with half a tablespoon of your chosen essential oil until they are evenly blended.
Eyeshadows are a great way to add a little shimmer to your makeup routine, especially for your eyes. You can use a combination of products and application techniques to make the shimmer stand out.
Firstly, it is recommended to use a primer or a setting spray. NYX Glitter Primer is a popular choice for making shimmer eyeshadows stand out. You can spritz some setting spray on your brush or use your fingers to apply the eyeshadow for the most pigment. You can also try the foil method, where you spritz some primer or setting spray on your brush to make the eyeshadow, especially metallic glittery shades, stand out.
The shade of the base eyeshadow can also make a difference. Some shimmer eyeshadows look better over a white base, while others look best over black. You can also try using a dark colour underneath and then dabbing on the shimmer eyeshadow with your finger to make it stand out.
Liquid shimmer eyeshadows can also be a great option, and you can use your favourite highlighter as eyeshadow to achieve a similar look.
Additionally, you can use loose glitter powder on your lips or even use your favourite eyeshadow or highlighter to add some sparkle.
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Using a glass bottle
Glass bottles are the ideal choice for storing body fragrances. They are highly effective in preserving the scent and quality of the perfume, and their diverse sizes and shapes make them convenient for carrying. When choosing a glass bottle, it is important to inspect the surface for any cracks or imperfections. The weight-to-size ratio is also a factor to consider, with denser and more compact bottles generally being more reliable. Ultraviolet glass bottles are recommended to protect the fragrance from sunlight, which can cause the scent to break down and depreciate its quality.
To make a simple body fragrance, you will need a 2 to 3-ounce (60 to 90 ml) glass spray bottle, a funnel, distilled or filtered water, and essential oils of your choice. Place the funnel into the mouth of the bottle and pour in 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of water. If you want to add some shimmer to your fragrance, you can also add 3 teaspoons of argan oil or jojoba oil. For a unique colour, add 2 teaspoons of loose eyeshadow or cosmetic pigment powder. Close the bottle and shake it well to mix the ingredients.
The final step is to add your choice of fragrance. You can experiment with different essential oils and create a unique blend by adding 20 to 25 drops of essential oil to the bottle. Close the bottle and shake it again. Your custom body fragrance is now ready to use! Remember to shake the bottle before each use, as the ingredients will naturally separate over time.
You can also get creative with your glass bottle by upcycling it. Instead of throwing it away when it's empty, you can turn it into a flower vase, a mini plant holder, or even a water mister to cool you down on hot days. If you have a vintage or exclusive bottle, you could consider selling it to collectors.
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Combining with vodka or isopropyl alcohol
Vodka is usually around 40% alcohol and is not high enough proof for perfumery, as you need 95%+ alcohol. However, some people have experimented with using vodka to make fragrances, and you can use it as a substitute for perfumers' alcohol. One source suggests using potato vodka, which can be 192 proof. Another source recommends using a blend of vodka, water and glycerine.
Isopropyl alcohol is a different chemical to ethanol and has a strong smell, which can be harsh on the skin. It is not recommended for use in perfumes as it will alter the smell of the fragrance oil. However, some people have experimented with using it to make fragrances, and it can be used as a substitute for perfumers' alcohol. One source recommends using 91% isopropyl alcohol and adding 10-15 drops of essential oil or fragrance oil. Another suggests using 80% isopropyl alcohol. You can also add water to this mixture, but be aware that this will affect how long the scent lingers.
Perfumers' alcohol is made up of ethanol (denatured) alcohol, isopropyl myristate, and monopropylene glycol. The high alcohol content means it evaporates quickly, leaving only the fragrance behind. Isopropyl myristate is used to enhance absorption speed, and monopropylene glycol is a cosolvent that helps fragrance oils to be solubilised in the alcohol.
Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks. It can be obtained by the fermentation of grains and other plants and can be organic. It is suitable for use in perfumery, but it can be difficult to source. One recommended brand is Everclear, which is extremely high-proof grain alcohol (190 proof).
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Using hydrosols
Hydrosols, also known as floral water or herbal distillate, are a great way to create a natural body fragrance. They are the aqueous by-product of the essential oil distillation process, capturing the essence and therapeutic properties of plants in a delicate form. Here is a step-by-step guide to making your own hydrosol-based body fragrance:
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients and Materials
For this process, you will need a combination of herbs, flowers, or fruit peels of your choice. Common options include rosemary, mint, grapefruit, thyme, lemon peel, lavender, chamomile, and cucumber peels. You will also need a large pot or saucepan, a heatproof bowl (such as a glass liquid measuring cup) and a dark-coloured glass misting bottle for the final product.
Step 2: Prepare Your Botanicals
Decide on the combination of botanicals you want to use. You can use fresh or dried plant material. The more herbs or fruits you use, the stronger the scent will be. A "healthy handful" is usually a good amount to start with.
Step 3: Set Up Your Distillation
Place your chosen botanicals in the bottom of the pot or saucepan. Then, fill the pot halfway with water (cold tap water works fine). Next, place the heatproof bowl in the centre of the pot, ensuring there is enough space for the boiling water to not spill over into the bowl. The bowl will collect the distilled hydrosol.
Step 4: Simmer and Condense
Bring the pot to a gentle simmer. Avoid a rolling boil, as this may result in an under-extracted and oddly acidic hydrosol. As the water evaporates, it will turn into steam, capturing the plant's essential oils and organic compounds. This steam will then condense and collect in the bowl, forming your hydrosol.
Step 5: Cool and Bottle
Once the distillation process is complete, carefully remove the pot from the heat and take out the bowl containing the hydrosol. Allow the hydrosol to cool, then pour it into your glass misting bottle.
Step 6: Storage and Usage
Store your homemade hydrosol in a cool location, away from direct sunlight. The refrigerator is an ideal storage place, and your hydrosol should last between 8 and 18 months. You can use your hydrosol as a natural body fragrance by spritzing it onto your skin or hair as desired. Hydrosols can also be used for aromatherapy, skincare, or as a room freshener.
Hydrosols are a wonderful way to create natural, subtle fragrances that capture the essence of your favourite plants. Experiment with different combinations of botanicals to create unique and personalised scents. Enjoy exploring the world of DIY fragrances!
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Frequently asked questions
The four basic ingredients for a DIY body fragrance are essential oil(s), alcohol, distilled water, and glycerin.
It is best to use a glass bottle as essential oils can degrade plastic over time. A blue or brown bottle is ideal to protect the oils from sunlight.
This depends on the size of your perfume bottle. For Eau De Parfum, add 20% fragrance oil, and for Eau De Toilette, add 10%.
Measure the perfumer's alcohol in a clean container. Add your desired percentage of fragrance oil. Mix thoroughly, then allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes. Test the mixture on your skin, then pour it into your bottle.
