Creating Vodka-Based Colognes: A Beginner's Guide

Creating your own cologne can be a fun and rewarding experience, allowing you to express your creativity and develop a unique scent that suits your tastes. By using vodka as a base, you can easily craft a fragrance that rivals any expensive brand. The process is simple and only requires a few additional ingredients, such as essential oils, distilled water, and glycerin. With the right tools and a bit of patience, you'll be well on your way to becoming your very own perfumer.

Gather ingredients: vodka, essential oils, distilled water, and glycerine

To make your own cologne, you'll need to gather a few key ingredients: vodka, essential oils, distilled water, and glycerine.

Vodka is the base alcohol for your cologne, and it's important to use a high-proof vodka to ensure your final product has less of an alcohol smell. The alcohol will also act as a preservative, helping your cologne last longer.

Essential oils will provide the scent for your cologne. You can choose any combination of oils that appeal to you, but it's recommended to select at least three different oils: a top note, a middle note, and a base note. This will create a well-rounded, full-bodied scent. Top notes include citrus scents like grapefruit, tangerine, and bergamot. Middle notes could be floral, such as rose or lavender, while base notes are often earthy or woody, like sandalwood or cedarwood.

Distilled water is an important ingredient, as regular tap water should not be used in cologne production. It helps to dilute the other ingredients and create a more liquid consistency.

Finally, glycerine is a preservative that will help your cologne last longer and stick to your skin. It can be found in pharmacies.

Sterilise bottles and jars

Sterilising bottles and jars is an important step in the process of making cologne to ensure that your product is clean and fresh. If you don't sterilise your bottles and jars, bacteria can form and spoil your cologne. Here is a step-by-step guide to sterilising your bottles and jars:

• Check your bottles and jars for any chips or cracks. Even minor imperfections can become dangerous when the glass is heated and can cause the glass to shatter.
• Wash your bottles and jars with hot, soapy water, giving them a good scrub to ensure they are clean. Don't forget to wash the lids as well.
• Rinse the bottles, jars, and lids thoroughly to remove any soap residue.
• Dry your bottles, jars, and lids. Place them upside down on a clean tea towel or kitchen roll to air dry.
• Preheat your oven to a temperature between 110-160°C. The exact temperature will depend on the type of glass you are using, so it is important to check the heat resistance of your bottles and jars before placing them in the oven.
• Line a baking tray with baking parchment or kitchen roll. Place your bottles and jars upright on the prepared baking tray.
• Put the bottles and jars in the oven for 15-30 minutes. The higher the temperature, the shorter the time needed.
• Remove the bottles and jars from the oven using oven gloves to protect your hands. Be careful as the glass will be hot.
• Allow the bottles and jars to cool slightly before filling them with your cologne. It is important to fill them while they are still warm to avoid bacteria re-entering the container.

Alternatively, you can sterilise your bottles and jars using a dishwasher or a water bath. If using a dishwasher, simply place the bottles, jars, and lids in the machine and run it on the hottest setting. If using a water bath, place the bottles and jars in a large pot, cover them with water, and bring the water to a boil for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the bottles and jars from the pot and allow them to drain upside down on a clean tea towel.

Measure and add vodka

To make your own cologne, you'll need to measure and add vodka to your mixture. Vodka is used as a base alcohol when mixing perfumes. The higher the percentage of alcohol, the better. You can use Everclear if you can get your hands on it—this is a pure 190-proof alcoholic beverage.

The amount of vodka you'll need depends on the other ingredients in your cologne. One source recommends using two and a half ounces of ethanol (e.g. vodka) for every half ounce of jojoba oil or sweet almond oil, and two tablespoons of spring or distilled water. Another source recommends using three tablespoons of vodka for every two cups of distilled water. You can also add five drops of glycerin to this mixture.

If you're using essential oils, you'll need to blend 20% essential oils with 80% alcohol. Add your essential oils to the vodka, shake the mixture, and then let it mature before sealing it in a decorative bottle.

It's important to note that you should not use essential oils if you are pregnant.

Choose and add essential oils

When choosing essential oils for your cologne, it's important to understand the fragrance scale. The three types of notes in perfume are top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are the first thing you'll smell, followed by the middle notes, and finally, the base notes, which form the foundation of the fragrance.

When mixing your cologne, start by adding your base notes, then your middle notes, and finally your top notes. It's recommended to use a ratio of 60% base notes, 30% middle notes, and 10% top notes. However, you can experiment with different ratios to create a unique fragrance.

For woody, slightly sweet scents, consider using cedarwood essential oil, which is very grounding. If you prefer romantic florals, jasmine, rose, or ylang-ylang essential oils might be a better choice. Remember that the final result will likely be more muted than the initial scent of the essential oil.

When blending essential oils, it's important to note that not all notes go together. Start by adding a few drops of each oil one by one and mixing them together. It's recommended to use no more than 30 drops total, and if one scent is much stronger than the others, use less.

Once you've created your desired formula, add two ounces of alcohol, such as vodka, to the mixture. This will help the scent linger longer and act as a preservative.

Dilute and bottle the cologne

Now that you've created your own unique fragrance, it's time to dilute and bottle it.

Diluting the Cologne

Before diluting your cologne, it's important to let it age. Place your mixture in a cool, dark location for at least 48 hours and up to several weeks. This ageing process allows the scents to mingle and become stronger. After the ageing process, you may want to smell your fragrance again, as the mingling of scents may have altered the overall scent. If you're happy with the scent, it's time to dilute it.

Diluting your cologne is a simple process. First, gather your ingredients: distilled or spring water and glycerine. Glycerine can be purchased at most pharmacies. Then, follow these steps:

• Add two tablespoons of distilled or spring water to your mixture. If you're creating a perfume spray, you may want to add more water.
• Add approximately five drops of glycerine. This ingredient helps to preserve your fragrance and make it last longer.
• Stir or shake your mixture to ensure that all the ingredients are combined.

Bottling the Cologne

Now that your cologne is diluted, it's time to bottle it. You'll need a clean glass bottle for this step. Dark-coloured glass bottles are ideal, as they help prolong the life of the perfume. However, clear glass bottles will also work. If you're using a clear glass bottle, cover it with aluminium foil or wrapping paper to protect your fragrance from the light. Here's how to bottle your cologne:

• Use a funnel to pour your diluted cologne into your chosen bottle.
• Seal the bottle tightly with a lid or spray nozzle.
• Label your bottle and decorate it if desired.
• Store your cologne in a cool, dark place when not in use.

Your vodka cologne is now ready to use! Remember to shake the bottle before each use to ensure the ingredients are well combined. Enjoy your unique fragrance and feel free to experiment with different essential oils to create new scents.

Frequently asked questions