Seamus Hammond
Solid perfume is an increasingly popular alternative to artificial fragrances, offering a natural, inexpensive, and creative way to smell good. With solid perfume, you can experiment with different scents and ingredients to create a unique fragrance that suits your individuality. The process is simple and similar to making lip balm or lotion bars. You'll need a liquid oil, a wax, and essential oils or cosmetic-grade fragrance oils. For the wax, you can use beeswax, soy wax, or candelilla wax. The amount of soy wax used can be the same as the amount of beeswax, but for candelilla wax, you should halve the amount. For the liquid oil, choose an option with a neutral scent, like jojoba oil, unless you want to add a tropical scent with coconut oil. Once you've measured your oil and wax, place them in a double boiler and heat until the wax melts. Remove from the heat, add your essential oils, stir, and pour the mixture into small containers. Allow the perfume to cool and set for 5-10 minutes, and it's ready to use!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Soy wax, carrier oil, essential oils |
| Carrier Oils | Grapeseed oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, coconut oil |
| Essential Oils | Bergamot, orange, peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, rose, jasmine, sandalwood, vanilla, etc. |
| Application | Swipe finger across the surface and massage into skin, or use a cotton swab |
| Storage | Store in a closed tin or glass jar for 6-12 months |
| Container | Lip balm tubes, small tins, lockets, small glass jars |
| Process | Melt wax and oil in a double boiler, stir, add essential oils, pour into container, let it cool |
| Notes | Top notes evaporate quickly, middle notes last up to 4 hours, base notes linger all day |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a wax: beeswax, soy wax, or candelilla wax
When making solid perfume, the type of wax you choose will depend on your preferences and requirements. Here is a detailed comparison of beeswax, soy wax, and candelilla wax:
Beeswax
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by bees and has a subtle earthy, sweet scent. It is rich in vitamin A, which promotes skin cell regeneration and improves hydration. Beeswax is also an excellent emulsifier and stabiliser, making it ideal for recipes with liquid oils. It acts as a humectant, attracting moisture to the skin and creating a protective barrier without suffocating it. Beeswax has a relatively high melting point, making it suitable for solid perfumes as it helps the perfume set into a solid form. However, it can be sticky in hotter climates and may not be suitable for vegans.
Soy Wax
Soy wax is derived from soybeans and is a popular alternative to paraffin wax. It is economically priced and readily available. Soy wax is often used by vegans and those seeking scented candles. It has a lower melting point compared to beeswax, resulting in a softer consistency. Soy wax is a good option if you prefer pillar or taper candles over jars and tealights.
Candelilla Wax
Candelilla wax is a plant-based wax derived from the candelilla shrub found in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. It is a suitable vegan alternative to beeswax, with similar properties. Candelilla wax is odourless, nutrient-rich, and has a high melting point, making it a great stabiliser and emulsifier in balms and perfumes. It is denser than beeswax, so you will need to use less when substituting it in recipes. Candelilla wax provides a wonderful gloss and is easily absorbed by the skin.
When choosing a wax for your solid perfume, consider factors such as availability, cost, and your personal values. Beeswax is a natural option with added skincare benefits, while soy wax is a vegan and economically friendly alternative. Candelilla wax is another vegan option that provides similar functionality to beeswax with a denser composition.
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Picking a carrier oil: jojoba, almond, or coconut oil
To make solid perfume with soy wax, you'll need a liquid oil and some wax. When it comes to picking a carrier oil, there are a few options to choose from, each with its own unique benefits:
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is a popular choice for carrier oil due to its ability to absorb easily into the skin without clogging pores. It is also non-greasy, making it a wonderful option for skincare products. Additionally, jojoba oil can help lock fragrance molecules onto your skin, prolonging the longevity of your perfume.
Almond Oil
Almond oil is celebrated for its soft and subtle scent, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin. It is gentle yet powerful, suitable for all skin types, and has a pleasant aroma. Almond oil is also an extremely emollient substance, making skin pliable, supple, and well-hydrated.
Coconut Oil
Fractionated coconut oil is a versatile option that remains liquid at all temperatures, making it easy to blend with essential oils. It is lightweight, non-greasy, and leaves the skin feeling fresh and fragrant. Regular coconut oil, on the other hand, solidifies at cooler temperatures, which can make the final product more solid.
When choosing a carrier oil, consider your skin type, fragrance longevity, and personal preference. You can even use a combination of carrier oils to create distinct layers in your perfume.
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Selecting essential oils
The essential oils you choose will determine the scent of your solid perfume. You can keep it simple by choosing just one essential oil, or you can create a unique blend by mixing different oils.
When mixing essential oils, it is important to understand the concept of "notes". Notes refer to the different scents that an essential oil can have, and they are typically divided into three categories: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are light, herbal, or citrusy scents like bergamot, orange, peppermint, or eucalyptus. Middle notes should make up half or more of your blend and provide a solid foundation with scents like lavender, rose, and jasmine. Base notes are deep, rich, musky, or woody scents like patchouli, sandalwood, and vanilla. These scents are long-lasting and appear once the top notes evaporate.
You can follow the ratio of 3:2:1, with top notes making up the bulk of your fragrance and base notes making up the least. This is because top notes will be the first thing you smell, but they will quickly evaporate, while middle notes can last for up to four hours and base notes can linger all day.
It is important to note that essential oils should never be applied directly to the skin at full strength. Always perform a patch test on your hand or arm to ensure that your blend does not cause any irritation. A carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil, is used to dilute the essential oils and safely carry them onto the skin.
When creating your blend, feel free to combine whichever scents you prefer. There are no rules when it comes to combining scents, but you can follow some general guidelines to make a successful perfume blend. You can also pick a pre-blended synergy of essential oils if you don't want to create your own blend from scratch.
Once you have selected your essential oils, simply add them to the melted wax and oil base, stir to blend, and pour the mixture into your chosen containers. Allow the perfume to cool and set before using it.
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Heating and mixing the ingredients
Once the wax has melted, remove the mixture from the heat source. Work quickly, as the mixture will start to set. Use oven mitts to handle the hot bowl. Use a wooden stick to stir the wax and oil together until they form a smooth, shiny mixture. Be aware that the stick will get wax on it, so don't use anything you plan to cook with later.
Now you can add your chosen essential oils to the base oil and wax. You can experiment with different scent combinations and ratios to create your unique fragrance. When mixing essential oils, you can follow the fragrance pyramid to combine different notes. Top notes are light, herbal, or citrusy, like bergamot or eucalyptus. Middle notes should make up half or more of your blend and provide a solid foundation, such as lavender or rose. Base notes are deep, rich, musky, or woody, like sandalwood or vanilla. You can also add fragrance oils to enhance the scent.
Stir the mixture gently to combine all the ingredients. Try not to spend too much time on this step, as the wax will start to harden. The scent may be very intense at first, but it will spread out as the mixture cools.
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Pouring the mixture into containers
When making solid perfume with soy wax, the first step is to gather your supplies, including a small container for holding the perfume. You can use lip balm tubes, small tins, or glass jars. Once you have your container ready, follow these steps:
Preparing the Mixture
Start by measuring out your oil and wax. For the oil, you can use a neutral-scented option like jojoba oil, or coconut oil for a tropical scent. For the wax, you can use soy wax or beeswax, or a vegan alternative like candelilla wax. Place your wax and oil in a double boiler and gently heat them until the wax has melted. Remove the mixture from the heat source and add your chosen essential oils or fragrance oils. Stir the mixture gently to combine all the ingredients.
Work quickly at this stage as the mixture will start to set. Pour the warm mixture into your chosen containers, filling them almost to the top. You can use lip balm tubes, small tins, or glass jars—whatever suits your preference. Leave a small gap at the top to prevent overflow as the mixture settles.
Place the caps or lids on your containers tightly to prevent evaporation. Allow the mixture to cool and set for about 5-10 minutes, depending on the size of your container. Your solid perfume is now ready to use!
Storage and Application
Store your sealed perfume in a cool, dry place. The shelf life will depend on the type of oil used as a carrier. If you used grapeseed oil, use your perfume within 6 months. If you used olive oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil, it can be stored for up to 12 months.
To apply, simply swipe your finger across the surface of the perfume and massage it into your skin. You can apply it to your wrists, neck, behind your ears, or anywhere you desire. Solid perfume is not as strong as liquid perfume, so you don't have to worry about applying too much. Enjoy your unique, homemade fragrance!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a liquid carrier oil, soy wax, and essential oils or cosmetic-grade fragrance oils.
You can use grapeseed oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil. If you use grapeseed oil, your perfume will last for about 6 months. If you use olive oil, jojoba oil, or almond oil, it will last for about 12 months.
You can use soy wax, beeswax, or candelilla wax. Beeswax is a popular option, but candelilla wax is a great vegan alternative. Soy wax is a 1:1 substitute for beeswax, but if you use candelilla wax, you will need to halve the amount.
First, measure your oil and wax and place them in a double boiler. Heat the mixture until the wax melts. Remove the mixture from the heat and add your fragrance oils. Stir to combine, then pour the mixture into small containers and let it cool.
You can apply solid perfume by rubbing a finger or cotton swab over the surface to warm it up, then dabbing or rubbing it onto your skin. Apply it to your wrists, neck, behind your ears, the back of your neck, your chest, or the insides of your elbows.
