Heidi Norton
Making perfume at home is an art form and a challenging process, but it's easier than you think. With a few simple ingredients, you can create your own unique fragrance or signature scent. The basic ingredients include a carrier oil, such as jojoba or sweet almond oil, alcohol, distilled water, and essential oils or fragrance oils. You can also add flower petals or use vodka instead of alcohol. The process involves blending the ingredients in specific ratios, allowing the mixture to infuse, and then transferring it to a dark glass bottle for storage. It's important to be patient and open-minded when creating your own perfume, as not every fragrance blend will be perfect on the first try, and preferences vary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Alcohol, essential oils, distilled water, glycerine, carrier oil, flower petals |
| Equipment | Funnel, coffee filter, glass bottle, measuring cup |
| Process | Combine ingredients, dilute, pour into bottle, store in a dark place |
| Notes | Top notes, middle notes, base notes |
| Number of Notes | Maximum of 3-4 dominant notes |
| Ratios | 80% carrier agents, 20% oils |
| Storage | Dark glass bottle, away from light, heat and air |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a carrier oil
The carrier oil is an important component of your perfume, as it is the agent that will carry the scent onto your skin. Carrier oils are generally unscented and are used to dilute concentrated oils and aromatics that may otherwise irritate your skin.
There are many carrier oils to choose from, and you can even use olive oil if you don't mind the scent. One popular method is to simmer rose petals in virgin olive oil and then combine it with vitamin E oil to stabilize it. Popular choices for carrier oils include sandalwood, jojoba, sweet almond, and grape seed oil.
If you are making a solid perfume, similar to a lip balm, you can use melted beeswax as a fixative instead of a carrier oil.
When choosing essential oils for your perfume, make sure to look up any health advisories they may carry as not all are safe for skin application.
The ratio of carrier oil to fragrance oil is usually around 80% carrier oil to 20% fragrance oil. You can adjust this to your preference, adding more fragrance oil if you desire a stronger scent.
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Blending essential oils
Firstly, you will need to select your essential oils. Popular choices include lavender, rosemary, rose geranium, jasmine, bergamot, cinnamon, patchouli, cedarwood, and orange. You can also add fragrance oils to your blend to create interesting combinations. For example, pairing jasmine fragrance with geranium essential oil will result in a floral and slightly sweet scent.
Once you have selected your oils, decide on the ratios. A typical blend consists of top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are what you smell first, followed by middle notes, and then base notes, which accentuate and fix the fragrance's middle notes. When mixing your perfume, start by adding your base notes, then middle notes, and finally your top notes. You can also classify scents into different families, such as floral, oriental, woody, and fresh, and combine scents from neighbouring families to create harmony in your perfume.
When blending, it is recommended to start with a small number of drops, such as 10, and adjust from there. Essential oils are potent, so it is important to begin with fewer drops and then add more to your preference. You can use glass droppers or pipettes for controlled blending, adding drops of each oil to a small glass bottle. Be sure to keep track of the amounts of each oil used so that you can recreate the blend or scale it up later.
Once you have created your blend, test it by putting a small amount on a perfume blotter or cotton ball. Observe how the aromas evaporate and make adjustments as needed. You can also retest the blend the following day to see if further adjustments are required.
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Adding alcohol
When making perfume, alcohol is a popular choice as a fixative, or binding agent, because it evaporates quickly and helps diffuse the perfume's notes. Alcohol is also resistant to microbial growth. Purified forms of alcohol are used to sterilise our hands and wounds, so they are safe to use on the skin.
Vodka is a common choice for DIY perfumers, as it is easy to get hold of and can be used to create a high-quality perfume. If you're serious about perfumery, you might want to spend a little more on 190-proof grain alcohol, which is the best option for homemade perfume. However, this is hard to find and often expensive. If you're just having fun, a cheaper alternative is to use a vodka from the store.
The amount of alcohol you add will depend on the strength you want to achieve. A typical eau de parfum is made up of 70% alcohol, 20% essential oils, and 10% distilled water. If you are making a perfume spray, you will need to add more water. You can also add a few drops of glycerine to help preserve the fragrance.
To add the alcohol, first blend your essential oils in a bottle and leave in a dark place for a week to infuse. Then, add the alcohol. You can use a funnel to pour the alcohol into the bottle of oil, which minimises mess. Put the lid on the bottle, shake it up, and it's ready to use.
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Diluting the fragrance
The type and amount of carrier agent used can vary depending on the desired consistency and strength of the perfume. Alcohol is a popular choice because it evaporates quickly, increasing the 'presence' of the fragrance. It also doesn't support microbial growth, which can help extend the lifespan of the perfume. For a stronger perfume, a high-quality vodka with an alcohol content of 80 to 100 proof (40% to 50% alcohol by volume) is recommended. However, if you're just experimenting, a lower-proof alcohol or even store-bought vodka can be used.
If you want to make a solid perfume with a balm-like consistency, you can substitute the alcohol with melted beeswax. This creates a thicker, more viscous perfume that can be applied directly to the skin.
On the other hand, if you prefer a spray perfume, you might opt for water as your primary carrier agent. Distilled or spring water is recommended to avoid any unwanted contaminants. To ensure the fragrance lasts longer on the skin, it's advisable to apply the perfume to moisturized skin, as the lotion provides a base for the scent to cling to.
When diluting your fragrance, it's important to add the carrier agent gradually and blend thoroughly. Start by adding a few drops of your chosen carrier oil, alcohol, or water to your essential or fragrance oils. You can always add more, but it's challenging to remove ingredients once they're in the blend. As you add each ingredient, you can dip a piece of paper into the mixture to gauge the scent and determine if adjustments are needed.
Once you're satisfied with the fragrance, it's time to let it rest. Store your blend in a dark place, as light can negatively affect the perfume oils and alter the scent. Leave the mixture for at least 48 hours, as the longer it rests, the stronger the scent will become. After this ageing process, you can make any final adjustments by adding water to dilute the fragrance further or essential oils to enhance it.
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Storing the perfume
Storing your perfume correctly is essential to ensure its longevity and maintain its scent. There are several factors to consider when storing your perfume, including temperature, light exposure, humidity, and the type of storage container.
Firstly, it is important to store your perfume in a cool, dry, and dark place. Avoid exposing the perfume to direct sunlight or artificial light, as light can break down the chemical structure of the fragrance, altering its scent and colour. Keep the perfume away from windows and sources of heat, such as heaters or ovens. A closet, cupboard, or drawer in a bedroom or hallway is generally a good option, as these areas tend to have consistent temperatures and are protected from light.
Secondly, humidity can negatively impact the quality of your perfume. Avoid storing perfume in humid environments, such as bathrooms or kitchens, as the moisture can cause chemical reactions and alter the scent. If possible, use a dehumidifier to protect your perfume from moisture damage.
Thirdly, choose the right storage container. Keep the perfume in its original bottle and box whenever possible, as these are designed to protect the fragrance from light and temperature changes. If the original bottle is not attractive, you can transfer it to a dark glass bottle, such as amber or cobalt blue, which blocks out harmful light. Avoid using plastic containers, as they can react with the perfume's ingredients and alter the fragrance. Additionally, plastic is more permeable to air and light, which can compromise the quality of the perfume.
Finally, ensure that the storage area is free from other scents and that the perfume bottle is properly sealed. Fragrances can easily acquire strange scents from those stored nearby, altering their unique aroma. Keeping the bottle sealed will also prevent leakage and evaporation.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a bottle, preferably a dark glass bottle to protect your perfume from light, a funnel, a coffee filter, and a measuring cup.
You will need a carrier oil, such as jojoba or sweet almond oil, essential oils or fragrance oils, and alcohol. You can also add distilled water and glycerine.
First, add your base notes, then your middle notes, and finally your top notes. The general ratio is 80% carrier agents and 20% oils.
You should let the perfume rest in a dark place for at least 48 hours. The longer you let it rest, the stronger the scent will be.
Apply the perfume to your pulse points, such as your wrists, behind your ears, inner elbows, belly button, and behind your knees. Dab the perfume on these points instead of rubbing it in.
