Lance Carson
Creating perfume from flowers is a great way to capture the fragrances that evoke nostalgic memories. The process of making a floral perfume involves extracting the natural volatile organic compounds from flower petals and combining them with a base to create a personalised scent. While alcohol is commonly used in perfumery, it is possible to make perfume without it by using alternative bases such as oils or water. This allows individuals to experiment with different flowers and create unique fragrances that enhance their mood, provoke wonderful memories, and provide an all-natural alternative to synthetic perfumes.
How to make perfume with flowers without alcohol
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Flowers | Arabian Jasmine, Rose, Honeysuckle, Lavender, Milkweed, Clary Sage |
| Flower preparation | Rinse petals in cold water to remove debris, dirt or sediment. Pat dry with a fan to remove excess moisture. |
| Container | Glass jar or bowl |
| Liquid | Distilled water or plain water |
| Oil | Unscented oil (sunflower oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil), carrier oil or vegetable oil |
| Other ingredients | Fragrant plant materials (moss, cedar leaf, bark, sweetgrass, balsam fir, pine tree needles, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla beans, honeycomb, kelp, seaweed, chopped ferns, mints, roots, spices) |
| Equipment | Cheesecloth, strainer, fine mesh strainer, small saucepan, ladle, small glass containers or spray bottles |
| Process | Put petals in the container and cover with water. Add oil. Let sit for 24-48 hours. Strain the liquid to remove petals. Heat the liquid until reduced. Pour into bottles. |
| Preservation | Beeswax, vodka, witch hazel, ethanol, tincture |
| Notes | The perfume will last for up to a month if stored in a cool, dark place. |
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What You'll Learn
Choose flowers with a strong fragrance, like rose, honeysuckle, or lavender
Roses, honeysuckle, and lavender are some fantastic options for making DIY perfume. Roses have a wide range of fragrances depending on the variety, from fruity options like Jude the Obscure to musky ones like Snow Goose. They are also known to draw bees and butterflies with their sweet smell. Honeysuckle is another fragrant flower that can be used to make perfume. It is a night-blooming flower with a strong, sweet scent. Lavender is a highly fragrant flower that can be used to create a beautiful DIY perfume. The scent of lavender is known for its calming and relaxing properties.
Other strongly scented flowers that can be used to make perfume include gardenias, which have a strong, intoxicating scent, and peonies, which are known for their beautiful, romantic fragrance. Sweet peas are also a great option, with a strong fragrance that can waft down the street. For a powerful floral scent, tuberose is a popular choice in perfumery, reminiscent of gardenia but with stronger earthy notes.
When choosing flowers to make perfume, consider the recipient's tastes and preferences. You can also get creative and experiment with different combinations of flowers and essential oils to create unique and personalised scents. Making your own perfume is a great way to eliminate potentially harmful chemicals or preservatives often found in synthetic fragrances.
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Wash petals and remove all water droplets
When making perfume with flowers, it's important to start with clean petals. This helps to ensure that your perfume is free from dirt, sediment, debris, dust, or any chemicals and pesticides that may have been sprayed on the flowers.
To begin, gently rinse the petals in cold water. You can do this by holding the petals under running water or by submerging them in a bowl of water and gently agitating them with your hands. Take care not to bruise or damage the petals, as they are delicate. Another option is to place a cheesecloth inside a bowl with the edges overlapping the bowl. Put the flowers into the cheesecloth-lined bowl and pour water over them, fully submerging the petals.
After rinsing, carefully inspect the petals to ensure that all visible dirt and debris have been removed. If necessary, use a soft, clean brush to gently dislodge any remaining particles. Be gentle and avoid using too much pressure, as you don't want to damage the petals.
Once the petals are clean, use a paper towel or a soft, absorbent cloth to gently pat them dry. It's important to remove as much water as possible without damaging the petals. Make sure that all droplets are completely gone before moving on to the next step in your perfume-making process.
By following these steps, you can effectively wash and dry flower petals, ensuring they are clean and ready for creating your own natural, floral perfume.
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Place petals in a glass jar and cover with distilled water
To make perfume with flowers without alcohol, you'll need to start by picking fresh, fragrant flower petals. Ensure they are clean and free from any insects or dirt. Rinse the petals in cold water to remove any debris or dust.
Next, place the petals in a glass jar and cover them with distilled water. Add 3-4 tablespoons of a carrier oil such as sunflower oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil. Stir gently to ensure all the petals are submerged.
Cover the jar with a lid and let it sit for 24-48 hours. This allows the fragrance of the flowers to infuse into the water and oil. If you are in a hurry, you can place the oil and petals in the sun to extract the scent, but this method can take a few weeks.
Once the petals have infused, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to remove them. You can now add grated beeswax to the oil and stir it in. Most of the wax will melt on its own, but you may need to heat the mixture gently to fully incorporate it.
Finally, transfer your perfume into small glass containers or spray bottles. Your homemade, natural perfume is now ready to use and will last for up to a month if stored in a cool, dark place.
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Add carrier oil, stir, and let the mixture sit for 24-48 hours
Once you've picked your flowers, washed the petals, and placed them in a glass jar with distilled water, it's time to add the carrier oil. Carrier oils are unscented and act as a base that traps the volatile organic compounds present in the flowers, preserving their scent. You can use sunflower oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil as your carrier oil. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of the oil to the jar.
Next, gently stir the mixture. It is important to ensure that all the petals are fully submerged in the liquid. This will help ensure that the oil captures the fragrance of the petals effectively.
After stirring, cover the jar with a lid and let the mixture sit for 24 to 48 hours. This step is crucial as it allows the fragrance of the flower to infuse into the water and oil. The length of time needed will depend on the strength of scent you desire. For a more subtle fragrance, 24 hours may be sufficient, while a stronger scent may require the full 48 hours.
During this time, the volatile organic compounds in the flowers will be released and captured by the carrier oil, creating a beautifully scented perfume. This process of infusing the oil with the flower's fragrance is known as enfleurage, and it is a simple yet effective method for creating homemade perfumes.
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Strain the liquid and add preservatives like witch hazel
Once you have prepared your flower petals and distilled water mixture, you will need to strain the liquid. Place a cheesecloth inside a bowl, with the edges overlapping the bowl. Put the petals and water mixture into the cheesecloth-lined bowl and pour the water over them, covering them. Cover the bowl and let the petals soak for 24-48 hours. The next day, remove the lid and gently bring the four corners of the cheesecloth together, lifting the flower pouch out of the water. Squeeze the pouch over a small saucepan, extracting the flower-scented water.
Now, you can add preservatives to your perfume. One option is to use witch hazel, which is a natural preservative. It is made from the witch hazel plant through a steam distillation process and can be purchased as a pure distillate or in products with additional ingredients. Witch hazel is mostly water, but some products may contain a small amount of alcohol as a preservative. If you wish to avoid alcohol, look for alcohol-free formulations.
When adding witch hazel to your perfume, you can follow a similar process as when adding alcohol. Measure out the desired amount of witch hazel into a measuring cup. Then, pour the witch hazel into a funnel inserted into the bottle of your flower-scented water. Finally, put the lid on the bottle, shake it up, and store your perfume in a cool, dark place.
Alternatively, you can use vodka as a preservative, opting for the highest proof available. Avoid using rubbing alcohol, as this is not suitable for perfumes.
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Frequently asked questions
To make a simple water-based perfume, you will need:
- 3 or 4 flowers with a sweet fragrance (e.g. Arabian Jasmine, Rose, Honeysuckle, or Lavender)
- Unscented oil (e.g. sunflower oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil)
- A spray bottle or glass jar
First, rinse the petals in cold water to remove any debris or dust. Place the petals in a bowl lined with cheesecloth and pour water over them. Cover the bowl and let the flowers soak overnight. The next day, squeeze the pouch of flower petals over a saucepan to extract the flower-scented water. Simmer the water over low heat until you have about a teaspoon of liquid. Allow the water to cool, then pour it into your bottle.
To intensify the scent of your perfume, you can add more petals to the strained oil and repeat the process. The fragrance will become stronger each time you add more petals.
Homemade, all-natural, water-based perfumes are a great way to eliminate the potentially harmful chemicals or preservatives often found in synthetic fragrances. For example, scientists and activists have argued that phthalates in perfume and other cosmetics are unsafe. Making your own perfume allows you to capture the fragrance of your favourite flowers and create a unique scent that provokes wonderful memories, enhances your mood, and helps you sleep better.
