Make Your Own Aroma Therapy Fragrances At Home

Aromatherapy is an easy and fun DIY project that can be done in a matter of minutes. All you need to make your own signature fragrance are a few essential oils of your choosing, a dark-coloured bottle, and perfumer's alcohol. You can also use a carrier oil such as jojoba, sweet almond, or grapeseed oil.

To make your fragrance, add 15-20 drops of your base note, or the scent that lasts the longest. Base notes are often earthy scents that provide a lasting smell. Then, add 10-15 drops of your middle note, which is the heart of your fragrance and usually a more floral scent. Finally, add 10 drops of your top note, or the scent that you'll notice first when applying your perfume. This note is often fruity, minty, or refreshing.

Once you've added all your ingredients, shake your perfume and let it rest for about a month before using it. The scents will meld and become stronger the longer it rests. Apply the perfume to your pulse points, such as your wrists, inner arms, the backs of your ears, and your sternum.

Choose your essential oils: floral, citrus, herbal, woody, musk

When making your own aromatherapy fragrances, choosing the right essential oils is crucial. Here's a guide to help you select from the various categories, including floral, citrus, herbal, woody, and musk:

Floral

Floral essential oils are classic scents often used in feminine perfumes. Examples include jasmine, ylang-ylang, lavender, and neroli. Jasmine is known for its calming properties and aphrodisiac qualities, while ylang-ylang can help alleviate stress and improve mood. Lavender is renowned for its fresh and soothing aroma, and neroli can reduce stress and boost circulation.

Citrus

Citrus oils offer bright and cheerful scents that can energize and uplift your mood. Bergamot, with its clean and refreshing fragrance, is a popular choice. It can brighten moods and calm nerves. Vanilla, combined with jojoba oil, creates a comforting and relaxing aroma. Other options include lemon, sweet orange, and grapefruit.

Herbal

Herbal scents are grounding and tend to be lighter. Lavender, chamomile, and rosemary are commonly used herbal essential oils.

Woody

Woody scents can be balsamic, such as pine, fir, or spruce, or hardwood-like oak or madrone. Sandalwood and rosewood are examples of rich wood notes. Cedarwood is another popular choice, offering a warm and woodsy scent with sedative properties.

Musk

Musk fragrances are often described as a feeling rather than a specific smell. They embrace the boldness of citrus, the complexity of spices, and the sweetness of magnolia. Key notes in musk fragrances include lemon, citrus, and bergamot, with middle notes of spice, magnolia, and rose, and tail notes of musk and dragon.

Understand the different scent categories: base, middle, and top notes

When creating your own aromatherapy fragrances, it's important to understand the different scent categories: base notes, middle notes, and top notes. These are the building blocks of a fragrance and contribute to its overall scent profile.

Base notes, also known as the dry-down, are the notes that linger the longest on your skin and are the slowest to evaporate. They are more subtle compared to the top and middle notes and you may identify them last in a fragrance. Examples of base notes include woody scents like sandalwood and cedarwood, as well as musk and vanilla.

Middle notes, or heart notes, are multidimensional and can be sensed throughout the fragrance, especially after the top notes have faded. They provide the robust character of the fragrance and make up around 70% of the total scent. Examples of middle notes include florals, light woods, spices, and dark fruits.

Top notes, also referred to as head notes, are the notes that hit you first when you spray or apply a perfume. They are important for creating a first impression and are lighter, more volatile, and fleeting. Common top notes include citrus scents, light herbs, and tart fruits.

When creating your own fragrances, it's important to experiment with different combinations of base, middle, and top notes to find your perfect scent.

Gather your equipment: a rollerball bottle, pipettes, and carrier oil

To make your own aromatherapy fragrances at home, you'll need to gather some equipment. Firstly, you'll need a rollerball bottle. This is a great option for aromatherapy fragrances as it allows you to roll the perfume directly onto your skin. You can buy these online or from health and beauty stores. Next, you'll need some pipettes or glass droppers. These are used to carefully measure out your essential oils and carrier oil. Finally, you'll need a carrier oil. Carrier oils have a minimal odour and are used to dilute your chosen essential oils. Good options include jojoba, sweet almond, grapeseed, fractionated coconut, or avocado oil. Once you've gathered your equipment, you're ready to start creating your own aromatherapy fragrances!

Follow a recipe or create your own blend

Aromatherapy is a creative endeavour that can be guided by both your intuition and classifications that align essential oils with their aromas and/or individual characteristics. Essential oils are often grouped into scent types (e.g. floral vs. woody) and notes (e.g. top vs. middle). You can follow these classifications to create a well-balanced fragrance.

Floral Essential Oils

These include geranium and lavender.

Woody Essential Oils

These include cedarwood.

Menthol Essential Oils

These include eucalyptus and peppermint.

Citrus Essential Oils

These include lemon, lemon myrtle, and orange sweet.

Herbal Essential Oils

These include lemongrass.

Creating a Blend

Ideally, your essential oil blend contains a top, middle, and base note. The top note is light and subtle and evaporates quickly. The middle note makes up the bulk of the fragrance and is apparent under the top note. The base note is the heaviest scent and slowest to disperse.

Follow the 30:50:20 ratio when mixing scent notes: 30% top note (3 drops), 50% middle note (5 drops), and 20% base note (2 drops).

Diluting Your Blend

If you plan on using your essential oil blend as part of a skin or body treatment, it must first be diluted. Do this by adding 1 drop of your essential oil blend to 1 teaspoon of your favourite carrier oil. For sensitive skin, add 1 drop of your essential oils blend to 1 tablespoon of your favourite carrier oil. Some common carrier oils are jojoba or sweet almond.

Apply your perfume to pulse points and enjoy

Now that you've made your own aromatherapy fragrances, it's time to apply them to your pulse points and enjoy the scent!

Pulse points are areas on your body where your heart pulse can be felt. These spots are ideal for applying your perfume because the warmth from your blood will enhance the fragrance and make it last longer.

The wrists are perhaps the most common place for perfume application. You can use your wrists to create any fragrance blends before touching your neck, hair, and other pulse points. Just remember not to rub your wrists together, as this can break down the top notes of the perfume and affect how the scent develops on your skin.

Another important pulse point is the area behind your ears. Applying perfume here ensures that it winds up in your hair, contributing to its range and longevity. This is especially nice if you plan on hugging anyone, as they'll be able to smell your fragrance as they embrace you.

The neck is another classic spot for perfume application. You can spritz your neck or dab perfume on the centre of your throat, which is another pulse point.

If you're wearing a dress or shorts, you might want to spritz the back of your knees with perfume. This is another pulse point that will help your scent waft around you as you move.

You can also apply perfume to the inside of your elbows, your ankles, your chest, and your torso. These areas may not hold fragrance as well as the pulse points, but they can still help to boost your overall scent.

Remember, you don't need to apply perfume to all of these areas at once. Pick a few spots, depending on what you're wearing and what you plan to do that day. You can always reapply your perfume if needed.

Frequently asked questions