Creating Your Own Fabric Cologne: A Simple Guide

Creating a fabric cologne is a simple process that requires just a few ingredients. To make a fabric cologne, you'll need high-proof vodka, distilled water, and essential oils. The vodka acts as a natural odour neutralizer, while the distilled water ensures the mixture doesn't leave any mineral deposits. Essential oils are added for fragrance, with popular choices including lavender, lemon, and tea tree oil. Simply combine the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well, and your fabric cologne is ready to use!

Choose your essential oils

There are so many options when it comes to essential oils, and it can be difficult to pick a favourite. If you lean toward woody, slightly sweet scents, you might reach for cedarwood, which is very grounding. If romantic florals are more your thing, try jasmine, rose or ylang-ylang. Remember that whatever scent you select will be diluted and blended, so the final result will likely be different and more muted than the first whiff of one scent alone.

If you want to eliminate and freshen fabrics, you don’t need to add a scent to your fabric freshener spray. But if you love the scent of Febreze, but don’t want the toxic chemicals, you can add a natural scent with an essential oil.

Lavender is calming, lemon invigorates and freshens, and tea tree oil is antibacterial (helping to eliminate any bacteria-causing odours). You could also try lavender, lemon, and tea tree, which are incredibly versatile and safe to use around children. Eucalyptus is another option, or this germ-fighting blend of oils.

Essential oils are not the same as fatty oils like olive oil and coconut oil, so they should not stain or leave oil spots on fabric when diluted. However, essential oils may stain some fabrics, so always be careful when spraying this solution on delicate fabrics/linens.

Blend the essential oils

Now comes the fun part: mixing your chosen essential oils. Remember, not all notes go well together, so this is where the trial and error comes into play. Start by dropping a few oils (one by one) and begin mixing. It is recommended to use no more than 30 drops in total, and if one scent is much stronger than the rest, use less.

For a woody, slightly sweet scent, you might reach for cedarwood. If romantic florals are more your style, try jasmine, rose or ylang-ylang. Remember that whatever scent you select will be diluted and blended, so the final result will likely be different and more muted than the first impression of one scent.

Base notes like sandalwood, tonka bean, violet leaf, and vanilla blend well with middle notes like geranium, ylang-ylang, rose, and lotus flower. Top this formula off with lavender, neroli, magnolia, or mandarin, and your fragrance is worthy of signature scent status.

Once you have your desired formula, add two ounces of alcohol. Now the cologne needs time to compose. Allow the fragrance to brew and sit for 48 hours. You can then refrigerate for two weeks straight, then shake it up so that the molecules can mix.

Add alcohol

Alcohol is a key ingredient in making a fabric cologne. It acts as a natural odour neutraliser, helping to eliminate unwanted scents from fabrics. Vodka is a popular choice, as it is odourless, clear, and evaporates quickly. It is also safe to use on most fabrics and will not cause staining. However, it is important to note that alcohol can damage certain types of fibres, such as acetate, triacetate, modacrylics, and acrylic fibres. Therefore, it is recommended to dilute the alcohol with water before using it on these types of fabrics.

When creating a fabric cologne, it is best to use high-proof vodka, as the higher the alcohol content, the more effective it will be at cleaning and sanitising. For a natural fabric cologne, combine half a cup of high-proof vodka with half a cup of distilled water. You can also add 25 drops each of lavender and lemon essential oil, as well as 10 drops of tea tree essential oil, for a fresh and natural scent. Shake the bottle well to combine the ingredients. This fabric cologne can be sprayed on most surfaces, including fabric and linens, but avoid using it on speciality surfaces like leather, suede, or silk. Always spot test on a small area first to ensure it won't cause any damage.

If you want to use the fabric cologne to eliminate strong odours, you can add a deodorising ingredient like baking soda. Add one to two teaspoons of baking soda to half a cup of hot water (not boiling) and mix it with the vodka in the spray bottle. However, keep in mind that baking soda may leave white spots on coloured fabrics and could potentially clog your spray nozzle.

In addition to vodka, rubbing alcohol can also be used as a fabric cologne ingredient. It is effective at removing stains and neutralising odours. Simply sponge the stain with rubbing alcohol, rinse thoroughly, and then launder the fabric. You can also dilute the rubbing alcohol with water if you're concerned about potential damage to certain types of fibres.

Add glycerin

Glycerin is a key ingredient in making fabric cologne. It is a natural substance that helps the cologne stick to fabric and adds longevity to your formula. When making your own fabric cologne, you will need to add glycerin to your mixture of alcohol, essential oils/absolutes, and water.

When adding glycerin to your fabric cologne, it is important to use the correct amount. Too much glycerin can create solubility problems and make your cologne sticky. A good rule of thumb is to use a ratio of 60% base notes, 30% middle notes, and 10% top notes, with glycerin comprising a small portion of your base notes. This will ensure that your cologne has a well-rounded scent that is not too overpowering.

It is also important to use pure or near-pure essential oils when creating your fabric cologne. This will ensure that the glycerin can properly interact with the other ingredients and create a stable emulsion. If your essential oils are not pure, the glycerin may not be able to dissolve in the mixture, causing your cologne to separate.

Once you have added the glycerin to your fabric cologne mixture, be sure to shake or stir it well to combine all the ingredients. Then, allow the cologne to sit for at least 48 hours so that the fragrances can blend and mature. After this ageing process, your fabric cologne will be ready to use!

You can also use glycerin to help remove perfume stains from fabric. Simply add a few drops of glycerin to the stain, making sure to cover it completely. This will help soften the stain so that it can be removed more easily. Then, run the fabric under water and gently wipe the stain with your finger. Most, if not all, of the staining should come out with this method.

Dilute and bottle

Once you've created your fabric cologne, it's time to dilute it and bottle it. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Diluting Your Fabric Cologne:

• In a spray bottle, add two tablespoons of distilled water. Using distilled water helps ensure that your cologne stays fresh and free from potential contaminants found in tap water.
• Add five drops of glycerin to the spray bottle. Glycerin is a natural preservative that will help your cologne last longer and stick to fabrics effectively.
• Slowly and carefully, swirl in your bespoke fragrance mixture. Take your time with this step to avoid excessive bubbling or splashing.

Bottling Your Fabric Cologne:

• Choose an appropriate bottle for your fabric cologne. Consider using a fancy spray bottle that's worthy of display on your vanity.
• If desired, add extra flair to your bottle. You can include dried flowers or other decorative elements to make your fabric cologne bottle unique and aesthetically pleasing.
• Carefully pour your diluted cologne into the bottle. Use a small funnel if needed to avoid spills.
• Secure the spray nozzle or cap on the bottle. Ensure that it's tightly closed to prevent leaks.
• Label your bottle. Create a custom label with the name of your fabric cologne and the date it was created. You can also include a list of the essential oils used or any other relevant information.
• Store your fabric cologne in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. This will help preserve the fragrance and maintain its potency.

Your fabric cologne is now ready to use! Remember to shake the bottle gently before each use to ensure the ingredients are well combined. Enjoy your custom fragrance and feel free to experiment with different essential oils to create new and exciting blends.

Frequently asked questions