Heidi Norton
Creating your own perfume is a fun and rewarding project, and a great way to avoid the questionable ingredients found in many commercial fragrances. With a few inexpensive ingredients and a little time, you can make your own hyacinth perfume at home. This guide will take you through the steps, from preparing the hyacinth flowers to storing your finished fragrance.
How to Make Hyacinth Perfume
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flowers | Hyacinths |
| Flower Preparation | Cut racemes/bloom spikes with a sharp knife when flowers are nearly or fully open. Rinse under cool water, drain, and gently shake to remove excess water. Pluck blooms from greenery and place in a plastic bag. Squeeze out the air and press with the palm to bruise the petals. |
| Oil | Grape seed or virgin olive oil |
| Container | Glass quart jar |
| Storage | Store in small dark glass jars in a cool, dark place for up to six months. |
| Additional Notes | If the scent is too strong, dilute with distilled water. |
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What You'll Learn
Harvesting hyacinth blooms
To make your own hyacinth perfume, you will need a plentiful supply of blooming hyacinths. The hyacinth, or Hyacinthus orientalis, is a spring flower with a powerful fragrance. It is best to plant the bulbs in the fall, six to eight weeks before the first frost, usually between October and December. They should be placed root end down, about 4 to 6 inches deep, and spaced 3 to 6 inches apart.
When harvesting hyacinth blooms, cut the racemes or bloom spikes from the plant with a clean, sharp knife when the flowers are nearly or fully open. Rinse them under a slow stream of cool water, then set them aside for an hour or two to drain. Shake the flowers gently to remove any remaining water. Pluck the blooms free of all the greenery, which can be composted.
To release the flowers' natural oils, place them in a clear plastic bag and press them firmly with the palm of your hand. You want to damage the petals, but not squash them to a pulp. Place the bruised flowers into a glass jar, filling it about three-quarters of the way. Add a cup of grape seed or virgin olive oil and fill the jar. Cover the jar tightly with a lid and shake vigorously.
If you don't have enough hyacinth blooms, you can supplement them with a few jasmine or gardenia flowers, which have complementary fragrances.
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Preparing the flowers
To make hyacinth perfume, you will need to start by preparing the flowers. Pick your hyacinth flowers early in the morning, as this is when the blooms are most fragrant. The best time to pick hyacinth flowers is when they are nearly or fully open, as this is when they contain the most fragrance.
Once you have picked your flowers, you will need to remove any greenery and rinse the blooms under a slow stream of cool water. Allow the flowers to drain for an hour or two, then gently shake them to remove any remaining water.
Next, you will need to bruise the petals. Place the flowers in a clear plastic bag and use the ball of your hand to firmly press the blooms until they are damaged, but not squashed to a pulp. The idea is to bruise the petals so that they release their natural oils more readily.
Alternatively, you can use a wooden mallet to lightly tap the bag and bruise the petals. This method helps to release the fragrance oils from the flowers.
Once your petals are bruised, you can place them into a clear glass jar. Pack the jar with the bruised blooms until it is about three-quarters full. At this stage, you can also add other fragrant flowers, such as jasmine or gardenia, to complement the scent of the hyacinths.
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Choosing a base oil
When it comes to choosing a base oil for your hyacinth perfume, there are a few options to consider. The type of base oil you select will depend on your desired scent and the availability of ingredients. Here are some factors to keep in mind when making your decision:
Type of Oil:
Firstly, decide on the type of oil that will serve as the base for your perfume. Common options include grape seed oil and virgin olive oil, as suggested by Garden Guides. These oils are neutral in scent, allowing the fragrance of the hyacinth to shine through. Alternatively, you can opt for an unscented oil or a prepared essential oil, as mentioned by eHow. Using an essential oil as your base can add complexity to your perfume and potentially enhance the longevity of the scent. Popular essential oils used in perfumery include jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and fractionated coconut oil. These oils are known for their neutral scents and ability to absorb and carry fragrance.
Availability and Cost:
Consider your budget and the accessibility of the base oil. Some oils, such as grape seed and olive oil, are readily available and affordable. However, if you're open to exploring essential oils, you may find a wider range of options with varying price points.
Skin Benefits:
If you plan on applying the perfume directly to your skin, consider the skin benefits offered by different base oils. For example, jojoba oil is known for its moisturising properties, while sweet almond oil is rich in vitamins and can help soothe and nourish the skin.
Complementary Scents:
Think about any additional scents you want to incorporate into your perfume and choose a base oil that can complement those notes. For instance, if you're looking to add spicy or vanilla notes to your hyacinth perfume, consider using a base oil like sweet almond oil, which has a subtle, nutty aroma that can enhance those flavours.
Experimentation:
Don't be afraid to experiment with different base oils to find the perfect match for your hyacinth perfume. You can create small batches of perfume with different base oils and compare the results. This trial-and-error process will help you discover the base oil that best suits your preferences.
Remember, the choice of base oil will influence the overall character of your hyacinth perfume, so take the time to select an option that aligns with your desired scent profile, budget, and availability.
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Infusing the oil
Plucking and Preparing the Blooms
Start by plucking the hyacinth blooms, separating them from any greenery, which can be discarded or composted. Rinse the flowers under a gentle stream of cool water and set them aside to drain thoroughly. Shake off any excess water, ensuring the blooms are dry before proceeding.
Bruising the Petals
Place the rinsed blooms into a clear plastic bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing it. Using the palm of your hand, firmly press the bagged flowers. This step aims to damage the flowers by bruising their petals without turning them into a pulp. Bruising the petals will help release their natural aromatic oils.
Combining with Oil
Take the bruised flowers and place them into a clean, clear glass jar, preferably a quart jar. Pack the flowers until they fill about three-quarters of the jar. At this point, you can add a cup of grape seed or virgin olive oil. Make sure the oil covers the flowers completely.
Sealing and Shaking
Securely tighten the lid on the jar and shake it vigorously. This step helps combine the flowers and oil, initiating the infusion process.
Outdoor Infusion
Set the sealed jar outdoors in direct sunlight for approximately four weeks. This process allows the oil to absorb the fragrance of the hyacinth blooms. Remember to bring the jar inside and shake it vigorously at least once a day during this period.
Straining and Storing
After four weeks, bring the jar inside and shake it one last time. Open the jar and slowly strain its contents through multiple layers of cheesecloth or coffee filters. This step separates the oil from the hyacinth blooms. Finally, pour the infused hyacinth oil into small dark glass jars. Tightly cap the jars and store them in a cool, dark place for up to six months.
Your hyacinth-infused oil is now ready for use as a natural perfume!
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Storing the perfume
Once you have made your hyacinth perfume, it is important to store it correctly to ensure it lasts as long as possible.
Perfume should be stored in a cool, dry place, and out of direct sunlight. Ideally, you should use a dark glass jar to protect the perfume from light, but if you don't have one, you can cover a regular glass jar with dark tape. Make sure the jar is small and the lid fits tightly to minimise the amount of air that will come into contact with the perfume.
If you have made a water-based perfume, it will only last for about a month. Oil-based perfumes will last longer, up to six months if stored correctly.
You should also consider where you store the perfume before you use it. It is best to keep it somewhere that you can easily access it when you want to wear it, such as on your dressing table or in a bathroom cabinet.
If you have decorated the bottle or added a label, make sure that the paint or glue you have used won't be affected by the perfume over time. You don't want to ruin your hard work or have the paint run and make a mess!
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Frequently asked questions
To make your own hyacinth perfume, you will need a plentiful supply of blooming hyacinths, a couple of other inexpensive ingredients, and a little time. First, cut the hyacinth racemes or bloom spikes from the plant with a clean, sharp knife when the tiny flowers are nearly or fully open. Rinse them under a slow stream of cool water and set them aside to drain. Shake them gently to remove any remaining water. Pluck the blooms free of all the greenery, then place the flowers into a clear plastic bag. Squeeze the air out of the bag and repeatedly press the bagged flowers firmly with the ball of your hand so that they are damaged but not squashed to a pulp. Place the bruised flowers into a clear glass quart jar, packing them so that they fill it about 3/4 of the way. Add 1 cup of grape seed or virgin olive oil, cover the jar tightly with the lid, and shake it vigorously. Set the jar of hyacinths and oil outdoors in the bright sunshine for four weeks, shaking it a couple of times a day. Bring the jar inside and shake it thoroughly. Slowly strain the contents through several layers of cheesecloth or a few coffee filters. Pour the hyacinth oil into small dark glass jars, cap them tightly, and store in a dark, cool spot for up to six months.
If you think the oil smells too strong, pour a small amount into a separate glass jar and dilute it with distilled water until you are satisfied with the scent.
If you don't have enough hyacinth blooms, you can supplement them with a few jasmine or gardenia flowers, as their fragrances complement that of the hyacinth.
Your homemade hyacinth perfume should last for up to six months if stored in a dark, cool spot.
