Seamus Hammond
Making perfume from flowers is a fun and cost-efficient way to create a personalised gift. Peonies, in particular, can be extracted through the enfleurage process, which involves using a fat, like shea butter, to absorb the scent of the petals. To start, spread a layer of shea butter on a glass plate and press peony petals into it. Cover with another layer of shea butter and repeat the process. Wrap the plates tightly to prevent the scent from escaping and leave for 24 hours. The next day, remove the petals and repeat the process with fresh petals. After a few days, scrape the shea butter into a container, and your peony perfume is ready!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Peony flower petals, shea butter, olive oil, corn oil, sesame oil, vodka |
| Equipment | Glass plates, plastic wrap, glass container with a tight-fitting lid, cheesecloth, bowl, small dark bottle |
| Process | Pick peony flower petals, spread shea butter on a glass plate, press petals into the shea butter, cover with another plate, repeat the process to create multiple layers, wrap in plastic wrap, leave for 24 hours, remove petals and replace with fresh petals, scrape shea butter into a glass container, add alcohol to preserve |
| Other Information | Peonies are best extracted through the enfleurage process, the longer the perfume is left to sit, the stronger the scent will be |
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What You'll Learn
Choose a dominant floral scent
The first step in making perfume is to choose a dominant floral scent. This can be any flower that you like, such as peony, rose, honeysuckle, jasmine, violet, lavender, or gardenias. You can also use other plants like mint, rosemary, or citrus blossoms and leaves. It is important to choose flowers that are local to your area and organic, as you will be applying the perfume to your skin.
Once you have chosen your flower, you will need to collect the petals. The best time to do this is when the scent of the flower is at its strongest and the leaves are still dry. If you are using peonies, as I did, you may want to use a variety of different colours. However, keep in mind that the availability of different peony colours may depend on the season.
After you have collected your petals, you can begin the process of extracting their fragrance. One way to do this is through a method called enfleurage, which involves using a fat, such as shea butter or palm oil, to absorb the scent of the flowers. Spread a layer of shea butter on a glass plate and press the petals into it. Then, cover with another glass plate and repeat the process to create multiple layers of petals and shea butter. Wrap the plates tightly in plastic wrap to keep the scent from escaping and leave for 24 hours.
Another method for extracting fragrance is to use a solvent, such as olive oil, corn oil, sesame oil, or alcohol. Place the petals in a jar or bowl, cover with the solvent, and shake until the petals are fully coated. Then, seal the container and leave it in a dark place for 24 hours. This will allow the solvent to absorb the flower's scent.
Once you have extracted the fragrance from your chosen floral scent, you can begin blending it with other scents to create your unique perfume.
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Gather flowers
To make peony perfume, you'll need to start by gathering some flowers. Peonies are a great choice for homemade perfume as they are commonly used for their floral fragrance. You can pick the peonies right from your backyard garden or buy them from a florist or flower market. If you're buying them, make sure they are organic blooms as you will be applying the perfume directly to your skin.
When choosing your peonies, opt for a variety of colours as different shades will offer different scents. You can also choose other flowers to complement the peonies, such as roses and honeysuckle, which are also commonly used in homemade perfumes. Try to select flowers when their scent is at its strongest and the leaves are dry.
Once you've picked your flowers, you'll need to separate the petals from the heads. You can do this gently by hand. Remove the petals from the stem and any other parts of the flower that you don't want to use. You can also use just the petals if you prefer.
After you have prepared your petals, you can begin the process of extracting their fragrance. There are several methods for doing this, such as steeping them in alcohol or oil, or using the enfleurage process. For the enfleurage method, you will need to spread a thick layer of shea butter onto a glass plate and press the petals into it.
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Wash petals
To make peony perfume, you'll first need to wash the petals. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Start by picking the peony flower petals you wish to use. It's important to only use organic blooms, as you'll be applying the final perfume directly to your skin. Ensure you collect the petals when their scent is at its strongest and the leaves are dry.
Next, you'll need to dry out the petals. This can be done by air-drying them until they are limp. This process is known as the clover drying method.
Once your petals are dry, you can begin the washing process. Take a clean mason jar or empty bowl and place a piece of cheesecloth inside, allowing the four corners to hang outside of the container. The cheesecloth will act as a filtration system, so it should be made of a flexible and malleable material.
Place your petals inside the cheesecloth and pour just enough water to cover them. Put the lid on the container and let the mixture rest overnight.
The next day, remove the lid and gently combine the corners of the cheesecloth. Lift the pouch out of the container, ensuring the water and petals remain inside the pouch. To release the flower-scented water, gently squeeze the cheesecloth over a small saucepan.
Now that your petals are washed and scented, you can proceed to the next steps of making your peony perfume!
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Soak petals in water
Making perfume from peony petals involves a few simple steps. First, pick the petals from the peony flower. Place a cheesecloth inside a clean bowl or jar, with the edges hanging out, and put your petals on top. You can also use a fine mesh net instead of a cheesecloth. Next, pour just enough water over the petals to cover them and place a lid on top of the bowl or jar. Allow the mixture to rest and soak for 24 hours or even up to a few days. The longer it soaks, the stronger the scent will be.
After the petals have soaked, gently combine the corners of the cheesecloth and lift the pouch out of the bowl, keeping the water and petals inside. Then, strain the mixture by squeezing the cheesecloth over a small saucepan, which will release the flower-scented water. This water can be used as a light perfume.
Alternatively, you can use an 'enfleurage' process, which involves extracting the scent of the petals by pressing them into a fat, such as shea butter. First, spread a layer of shea butter on a clear glass plate. Then, gently pull the petals off the peony head and press each petal into the shea butter. Cover with another glass plate and press the plates together to further compress the petals. Repeat this process, adding more shea butter and layers of petals. Wrap the plates tightly in plastic wrap to prevent the scent from escaping.
After 24 hours, remove the petals and replace them with fresh ones. You can use light pink peonies for the first few days and then switch to white peonies. Once you have finished adding petals, remove all the plant matter from the shea butter and scrape it into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid. The resulting scented butter can be used as a solid perfume.
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Add essential oils
To make peony perfume, you'll need to create a peony essential oil. One way to do this is through the enfleurage process. First, collect your peony heads and gently pull off each petal. Then, get some shea butter and spread it onto a clear glass plate. Press each petal, one by one, into the shea butter, repeating the process until the shea butter is completely covered in a single layer of petals. Place another glass plate on top and press down to further compress the petals into the shea butter. Continue adding layers of shea butter and petals, using multiple plates if desired. Wrap the plates tightly in plastic wrap to prevent the scent from escaping.
After 24 hours, remove the petals and replace them with fresh ones. For variety, you can use light pink peonies for the first few days and then switch to white peonies. Repeat this process for 8 days, then transfer the shea butter into a container. Scrape off any remaining plant matter and place the shea butter into a glass container with a tight-fitting lid.
Alternatively, you can create a peony-scented oil by using a different type of oil, such as olive oil, grapeseed oil, corn oil, or sesame oil. Place your peony petals in a jar or bowl, covering them with the oil of your choice. Seal the container and leave it in a dark place for 24 hours. This process will allow the fragrant compounds from the flowers to infuse into the oil, creating a pleasant scent.
Once you have your peony essential oil, you can use it as a base note for your perfume. Add 25 drops of the oil to a small, dark bottle. You can also add a middle note, such as another floral scent like rose or lavender, and a top note like orange or grapefruit. The top note is the first scent you will smell, followed by the middle and base notes. Feel free to experiment with different combinations of scents until you find one that appeals to you.
If you wish to preserve your perfume, you can add a small amount of alcohol, such as vodka, which has a neutral smell. Give the bottle a good shake to mix all the ingredients, and then let it sit for a month to allow the scents to strengthen and develop. The longer you leave it, the more potent your perfume will become.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to pick the petals from the peony flower.
Place the petals in a clean bowl or jar with a cheesecloth inside, with the edges hanging out. Pour just enough water to cover the petals, close the lid, and let the mixture rest overnight. The next day, remove the lid and gently combine the four corners of the cheesecloth. Lift the pouch out of the bowl and gently squeeze the cheesecloth over a saucepan to release the flower-scented water.
You can add a known volume of oil to the scented water to make your perfume. We recommend a minimum of 50 mL of oil, and you can use olive oil, corn oil, sesame oil, or grapeseed oil.
You should store your perfume in a small, dark bottle, preferably made of glass, and keep it in a cool, dark place.
