Make Indian Cologne Fragrance Oils: A Beginner's Guide

Creating your own cologne is a fun way to make a unique fragrance blend. It's also a great way to ensure that the product is free of toxins and customised to your liking. The process is simple and only requires a few basic ingredients and materials. To make your own cologne, you will need essential oils, alcohol, glycerin, water, and a spray bottle. You can choose from a variety of essential oils to create your desired scent, such as woody, earthy, spicy, or citrus. The key to a successful blend is understanding fragrance notes, which are divided into three classes: top, middle, and base. By experimenting with different ratios of these notes, you can create a signature scent that expresses your creative side.

Choosing the right oils

Firstly, it's essential to familiarise yourself with the fragrance scale, which consists of three main classes: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are the initial scents that will be noticed after applying the cologne, but they will also be the quickest to fade. Middle notes come through once the top notes disappear and help blend the different scents together. Base notes are the longest-lasting scents and form the foundation of your cologne. When creating your cologne, it's recommended to start with your base notes, then add middle notes, and finally, top notes.

When choosing your fragrance oils, you can select from essential oils, fragrance oils, infused oils, or even flavour extracts such as vanilla extract. Essential oils are natural and derived from plants, while fragrance oils are synthetic and tend to be less expensive. The type of oil you choose will depend on your preference for natural ingredients and your budget.

To create an Indian cologne fragrance, you may want to consider oils with spicy, earthy, or woody notes. Some popular choices include cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver, frankincense, and cardamom. You can also add a touch of citrus to brighten the scent, such as wild orange, lemon, or bergamot. If you want a more floral or romantic scent, jasmine, rose, and ylang-ylang are excellent options.

When blending your oils, it's important to experiment and play around with different combinations. Start with small amounts of each oil and adjust as needed. Remember that the final scent will likely be more muted than the initial whiff of each individual oil. You can follow recommended ratios or create your own unique blend based on your preferences.

Additionally, it's crucial to consider the quality and safety of the oils you choose. Not all essential oils are safe for skin application, so be sure to look up any health advisories before making your selection. Opt for reputable brands and high-quality ingredients to ensure the best results and avoid any potential skin irritation.

Creating your own Indian cologne fragrance oil is a fun and rewarding process. By choosing the right oils and understanding how to blend them effectively, you can design a unique and captivating scent that suits your taste and personality.

Blending the oils

When blending the oils, it's important to add the base notes first, followed by the middle notes, and then the top notes. This is because the top notes are fleeting as they have an explosive scent that evaporates quickly. Over time, the scent will change and melt into the middle and base notes.

The ratios of the notes are important. One suggested ratio is 60% base notes, 30% middle notes, and 10% top notes. Another suggested ratio is 2 parts base, 1 part heart, and 1 part head. However, these ratios can be adjusted based on personal preference and the desired strength of the fragrance.

When choosing the essential oils to blend, consider the type of scent you want to create. For a woody or earthy scent, you might choose cedarwood or sandalwood. For a floral scent, jasmine, rose, or ylang-ylang are good options. If you're looking for a citrus scent, you might choose wild orange or lemon. For a spicy scent, consider clove or black pepper.

Once you have selected your essential oils, it's time to start blending. Add a few drops of each oil one by one, mixing as you go. It's important to remember that not all notes go together, so this is where trial and error come into play. Once you have found a combination you like, add two ounces of alcohol to help preserve the fragrance.

After blending, the cologne needs time to compose. Let the fragrance sit for at least 48 hours, and preferably refrigerate it for two weeks. Then, shake the bottle to allow the molecules to mix.

To further dilute the cologne, add two tablespoons of distilled water and five drops of glycerin. Swirl the mixture slowly and carefully. Your custom cologne is now ready to use!

Adding alcohol

Now that you've chosen your essential oils and have a blend that you're happy with, it's time to add the alcohol. The alcohol you use will act as a preservative and help your cologne to last longer. It will also give your cologne a stronger initial scent, as the alcohol will evaporate quickly, leaving the fragrance oils to linger.

How Much Alcohol to Add

The amount of alcohol you add will depend on the concentration of fragrance oils you want in your cologne. A typical eau de parfum contains around 15-20% fragrance oil, while colognes usually contain between 2-4%. This means that for cologne, you will be using a lower concentration of fragrance oils and a higher proportion of alcohol.

As an example, if you are making a 10ml bottle of cologne, and you want to use a 4% concentration of fragrance oils, you would use 40 drops of essential oil and 140 drops of alcohol.

Types of Alcohol to Use

You can use a variety of alcohols as your base, depending on what you have available and the desired strength of your cologne.

• Vodka: A readily available option that can be purchased at most stores. The higher the percentage of alcohol, the better.
• Everclear: A high-proof grain alcohol that produces excellent results. However, it may be hard to obtain due to its restricted sale in many states.
• Rubbing alcohol or witch hazel: These are suitable alternatives, but be aware that they may affect the final scent of your cologne.
• Grape alcohol: Another option if you are unable to source Everclear.

Adding the Alcohol

Once you have measured out your alcohol, pour it into your jar or bottle containing the blend of fragrance oils. Put the lid on the bottle and shake it gently to allow the oils and alcohol to mix.

Now, the hard part: patience! Your cologne will need time to rest and develop its full scent profile. Place the bottle in a cool, dark location and let it sit for at least 48 hours, or even up to a month. During this time, the fragrance oils and alcohol will mingle and mature, resulting in a more complex and well-rounded scent.

After the resting period, give your cologne a final sniff to ensure it has developed to your liking. If it smells too strong of alcohol, you may need to adjust your ratios or let it sit for a little longer.

Finally, dilute your cologne by adding two tablespoons of distilled water and a few drops of glycerin to help the scent last longer on the skin. Pour your finished cologne into a spray bottle, and voilà! You've just created your own unique, Indian-inspired cologne fragrance.

Aging the fragrance

After blending your fragrance, you will need to let it age to allow the scents to "marry". The fragrance will change as it matures, becoming more seamless, rounded, and soft.

There are two times you can age a blend: before and after dilution. First, combine your raw materials to create your fragrance blend, then add it to your carrier medium.

Aging Before Dilution

After mixing your blend of raw materials, store it in a dark bottle in a cool place to let it age. Sources vary on how long this process should take, with some recommending skipping this step altogether, and others suggesting anywhere from 48 hours to 3 weeks. The most common advice is to wait 4 days, then dilute.

Aging After Dilution

After dilution, most sources agree that you should let an alcohol-based perfume age for 4-6 weeks, while an oil-based perfume should be left for 3 days to a week.

Additional Tips

• Refrigerate your fragrance for two weeks to help it compose.
• After dilution, add your fragrance to a spray bottle with two tablespoons of distilled water and five drops of glycerin, then swirl slowly and carefully.
• Keep your perfumes in their packaging, in a dark and cool place, away from sources of light, heat, and humidity.
• The general shelf life of an eau de toilette is about 3 years, but vintage perfumes can last much longer.
• Avoid exposing your perfume to oxygen, as this will slow down the damaging effects of time.

Diluting the fragrance

One common method is to use a carrier oil as a base. However, it's important to note that while carrier oils such as Jojoba or Sweet Almond Oil are perfect for creating oil-based fragrances for aromatherapy and massage, they are not ideal for creating a long-lasting cologne as they do not aid in the evaporation of the fragrance, thus muting the scent.

For an alcohol-based cologne, it is recommended to dilute the fragrance in perfumer's alcohol. This helps to evaluate the odour profile of the materials and is useful when training your nose to distinguish different scents. However, it's important to note that diluting in perfumer's alcohol may restrict the use of the fragrance in other bases such as candles, creams, detergents, or oils.

Another commonly used solvent in the fragrance industry is Di Propylene Glycol (DPG). DPG is useful when you want to dilute materials that are otherwise insoluble in alcohol. It can be used in a wider range of bases compared to perfumer's alcohol, but it is derived from petrochemicals, making it unsuitable for natural perfumery.

When diluting, it is generally recommended to stick to a 10% concentration for most materials, with some exceptions where even 1% is enough. It's important to use your judgment and remember that the more you dilute, the smaller the amount of fragrance you can add to your final product.

Additionally, it is advised to always use a scale when diluting, rather than relying on drops, to ensure an accurate and repeatable formula. For beginners, a jewellery scale that measures down to 0.01g is a good starting point.

When working with thick materials, gentle heat may be required to mobilise them. This can be achieved using a water bath or an electric leg wax melter.

Lastly, it is important to note that not all materials need to be diluted. Some may need to be used neat, especially when creating a fragrance blend with natural ingredients.

By following these guidelines and tips, you can effectively dilute your fragrance to create a well-balanced cologne that suits your preferences.

Frequently asked questions