Antonio Mcgowan
Creating a nice-smelling perfume is an art that involves blending different scent levels, known as notes. Top notes, which are the first scents that disappear within 10-15 minutes, include basil, lavender, and rosemary. Middle notes form the perfume's core, determining its family, such as floral or woody. Lastly, base notes accentuate the middle notes and make the scent last longer, typically up to 4-5 hours. When crafting a perfume, it's essential to choose complementary scents carefully, as too many notes can ruin a fragrance. A carrier oil, such as olive oil, is used to carry the scents and dilute concentrated oils that may irritate the skin. Alcohol, such as vodka, is also a key ingredient in DIY perfumes. To make your perfume last longer, apply it to pulse points like your wrists and neck, and spritz it on a hairbrush to add an extra layer of scent. Clean and hydrated skin holds fragrances better, so moisturize before applying perfume.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Notes | Top, middle, and base notes |
| Top notes | Basil, bergamot, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lime, mint, neroli, rosemary, sweet orange |
| Middle notes | Determine the perfume family, e.g. oriental, woody, fresh, or floral |
| Base notes | Accentuate and fix the middle notes, making the scent last up to 4-5 hours |
| Carrier oil | Olive oil, vitamin E oil, rose petals in virgin olive oil |
| Alcohol | 80- to 100-proof (40% to 50% alc/vol) vodka, or 190-proof (80% alc/vol) alcohol |
| Application | Apply to pulse points like wrists, neck, and behind the ears |
| Hair | Spritz a hairbrush and brush through hair |
| Skin | Apply to clean and hydrated skin right after showering and moisturizing |
| Storage | Keep in a cool, dark place, away from sunlight and heat |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a scent family, like citrus, woody, spicy, or floral
Choosing a scent family is an important step in creating a nice-smelling perfume. While there are an infinite number of olfactory notes and combinations, most people tend to be drawn to certain types of scents time and time again.
The four main scent families are Woody, Floral, Amber (previously known as Oriental), and Fresh. Each family has distinctive characteristics, and individuals often gravitate towards one scent family over another when choosing a personal fragrance.
The Woody family includes warm and opulent scents, mixing incense-like fragrances such as sandalwood and patchouli with drier notes like cedar. Woody fragrances are a popular choice for evening wear.
The Floral scent family is one of the most common and broadest families, often used in women's fragrances but also occasionally in men's. Floral fragrances can range from light and delicate to more complex and intense, with notes such as roses, jasmine, lilies, and peonies. They are perfect for spring and summertime.
The Amber/Oriental family includes warm, sensual, and exotic scents, with herbs, spices, and dry powdery resin notes. Oriental fragrances can also be floral or woody and often include interesting notes such as cardamom, cinnamon, and vanilla.
The Fresh family is defined by zingy, aromatic compositions backed by underlying woodsy notes. This family includes bright, herby, citrusy, clean, and oceanic scents. Fresh fragrances generally rely on aquatic and citrus notes.
When choosing a scent family, consider your personal preferences and the occasion for which you will be wearing the perfume. You may also want to think about the season, as fresh and floral fragrances are often better suited for spring and summer, while woody and oriental fragrances are more commonly worn in the evening or during cooler months.
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Pick essential oils with top, middle, and base notes
When blending essential oils, each oil has a note that determines how it interacts with other oils. These notes can be divided into three categories: top, middle, and base.
Top notes are usually the first scent you'll notice in a fragrance. They tend to be light, fresh, and uplifting, but they evaporate quickly. Citrus oils like lemon and grapefruit are commonly used as top notes, as are eucalyptus and bergamot.
Middle notes help give body and fullness to a blend. They balance and soften the blend, rounding out any harsh lines between the contrasting top and base notes. Middle notes usually appear after about 15 minutes, once the initial impression of the top note begins to fade, and they can last for up to two hours. Common middle notes include lavender, clary sage, tea tree, and rosemary.
Base notes form the foundation of an essential oil blend and last the longest due to their heavier molecules. They are similar to the lingering scent of perfume on your skin after the higher notes have evaporated. Popular base notes include ylang-ylang, frankincense, jasmine, clary sage, and peppermint.
When creating your blend, you can follow the 30/50/20 rule for balancing the different notes: use 30% top note, 50% middle note, and 20% base note. However, this rule can be adjusted to accommodate blends with more than three oils or different combinations of notes.
It's important to keep in mind that some oils don't fit neatly into one category and can be used as either middle or base notes, or top or middle notes, depending on the blend. Taking notes as you experiment will help you remember your favourite combinations and ratios. Fragrance strips can also be useful for testing and comparing different scents.
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Use a carrier oil, like sweet almond, coconut, or jojoba
To make perfume, you'll need a carrier oil, such as sweet almond, coconut, or jojoba oil. Carrier oils are used to dilute concentrated oils and aromatics that may irritate the skin. They are usually unscented, but you can also use olive oil if you don't mind its scent. One popular method is to simmer rose petals in virgin olive oil and then combine it with vitamin E oil to stabilize it.
Carrier oils form the base of your perfume and help to carry the scent onto your skin. You can choose from a variety of carrier oils, each with its own unique properties and benefits. Sweet almond oil, for instance, is rich in vitamins and minerals, making it an excellent choice for nourishing the skin. Coconut oil, on the other hand, offers a tropical twist to your fragrance and is known for its moisturising properties. Jojoba oil is another popular option, valued for its ability to closely resemble the natural oils of the skin.
When selecting a carrier oil, consider your skin type and any specific benefits you want to derive from it. For example, if you have dry skin, you might opt for coconut or jojoba oil for their hydrating properties. Alternatively, sweet almond oil can be a great choice if you're looking for a light, nourishing base. You can even get creative and experiment with blending different carrier oils to find your perfect combination.
In addition to choosing a carrier oil, you'll also need to select the right essential oils or fragrances to create your desired scent. This is where you can let your creativity flow and blend different notes to craft a unique fragrance. Popular top notes include basil, bergamot, grapefruit, lavender, and sweet orange. However, don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations to find a scent that truly speaks to you.
Once you've chosen your carrier oil and desired fragrances, simply mix them together, and your custom perfume is ready! You can adjust the intensity of the scent by adding more or less of the essential oils. Remember to store your perfume in a cool, dark place to preserve its freshness and maximise its longevity. Enjoy experimenting and creating your signature scent!
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Add alcohol to make an Eau de Parfum
To make an Eau de Parfum, you'll need to use perfumer's alcohol as your base. This is ideal because it's formulated specifically for making perfumes. It evaporates quickly, and carries the fragrance without altering the scent profile. Make sure to use pure, undenatured ethanol, specifically for use in perfume. You can use 10-30% of essential oil or fragrance oil in total.
For a 30ml bottle, you'll need 30ml of perfumer's alcohol. If you're using fragrance oil, you can start with a ratio of 3ml of fragrance to 30ml of perfumer's alcohol. This is a 10% fragrance usage rate, but you can use more or less depending on the strength you desire. Swirl gently to mix.
For a 10ml bottle, you'll need 20 drops of your base note, 10 drops of your heart note, and 10 drops of your head note. Once you've added the three essential oils to your bottle, close the lid and shake it gently to mix the oils.
Now, you need to let your perfume sit. Place it in a cool, dark location for a minimum of 48 hours, or up to a month. Aging your fragrance allows the scents to mingle and become stronger. After aging, smell your perfume. If it has a strong odor of alcohol, that's generally okay. The alcohol smell should dissipate after a few seconds, leaving only the scent of your perfume notes. If all you smell is alcohol, you may have put in too much, or your perfume might need to sit for longer. Eau de Parfums are ready to wear after about a month, but three months is ideal.
Once your perfume has matured, filter out any sediment using a coffee filter or a fine mesh strainer. Then, funnel the liquid into your final storage bottle, preferably made of dark glass to protect the oils from light.
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Store in a dark glass bottle to protect from light
When it comes to storing your perfume, it's important to take the necessary steps to protect it from deterioration and ensure its longevity. One crucial aspect of this is using the right type of bottle. Dark glass bottles are ideal for this purpose.
Dark glass bottles, often referred to as amber glass bottles, are specifically designed to protect their contents from the harmful effects of light exposure. They are made with a special type of glass that has been tinted or coloured, usually with a dark amber hue, hence their name. This dark tint acts as a barrier, blocking out light rays that can cause degradation.
By storing your perfume in a dark glass bottle, you're essentially providing a protective shield against light-induced damage. This is particularly important for natural or organic perfumes, which may contain ingredients that are more susceptible to light-induced oxidation or spoilage. The dark glass helps prevent this, preserving the integrity and quality of your fragrance over time.
Additionally, dark glass bottles offer some discretion. Their opaque nature prevents others from easily seeing the contents inside, providing a level of privacy, which can be especially useful if you want to keep the formula of your perfume a secret or simply prefer a more understated presentation.
To further extend the shelf life of your perfume and protect it from external factors, it is recommended to store it in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and heat. This could be a closet, a drawer, or a cabinet, as long as it is well-ventilated and not exposed to extreme temperatures.
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Frequently asked questions
First, you need to buy a carrier oil, such as olive oil, to carry the scents onto your skin. Then, you need to buy a strong alcohol, such as vodka, to mix with your carrier oil. Next, you need to decide on the notes of your perfume. Notes are the different levels of scent in a fragrance, and they unfold in the following order: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Popular top notes include basil, lavender, and rosemary. Once you've gathered your ingredients, you can start mixing them together and adjust until you're happy with the scent.
Clean and hydrated skin holds onto fragrance better, so spritz your perfume right after showering and moisturising. You can also spritz your hairbrush with perfume and run it through your hair—hair holds scent longer than skin.
One common mistake is using too many notes, which can ruin a fragrance. It's important to smell each ingredient and consider whether they will complement each other. Another mistake is not preserving your perfume, which can cause it to spoil. You can add a natural preservative such as vitamin E or grapefruit seed extract to extend its life.
