Anisha Riggs
Perfume oils are a great alternative to traditional spray perfumes. They are more concentrated and longer-lasting, and a little goes a long way. You can make your own perfume oil by combining essential oils and a lightweight, non-greasy carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil or jojoba oil. The ratios of the notes are typically 2 parts base, 1 part heart, and 1 part head, with the rest being the carrier oil. Once you've created your desired fragrance, it's important to let it age for at least 48 hours to a month so that the scents can mingle and strengthen. To apply perfume oil, simply dab a small amount onto your pulse points, such as your wrists, neck, inner elbows, or behind your ears, as the heat from these areas helps release the fragrance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Essential oils, fragrance oils, infused oils, flavour extracts (vanilla extract), vodka, Jojoba oil, Sweet Almond Oil, fractionated coconut oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, tomato seed oil, safflower oil |
| Containers | Glass bottles, preferably coloured |
| Tools | Pipette or glass dropper, funnel |
| Ratios | 2 parts base: 1 part heart: 1 part head: the rest is carrier oil |
| Dilution | 2 tablespoons of distilled/spring water, 5 drops of glycerine |
| Application | Apply to pulse points (wrists, neck, inner elbows, behind the ears, back of the knees), use a rollerball, dab onto skin or garments, rub palms together and apply to clothes |
| Storage | Store in a cool, dark location for 48 hours to 1 month |
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What You'll Learn
Choose your base, heart and head notes
The choice of base, heart, and head notes is a crucial step in creating a harmonious and well-balanced perfume. These notes work together to create a unique and captivating fragrance.
Head Notes (Top Notes)
Head notes, also known as top notes, are the first scents that greet your senses when you spray a perfume. They create the initial impression and play a crucial role in setting the tone of the fragrance. Common top notes include fresh and uplifting scents like citrus (lemon, orange, bergamot), light fruits (grapefruit, berries), and herbs (clary sage, lavender). These notes have a lighter molecular structure, causing them to evaporate quickly, typically within 5-15 minutes.
Heart Notes (Middle Notes)
Heart notes, or middle notes, emerge once the fleeting top notes dissipate. They form the heart and essence of the fragrance, providing depth and balance. Heart notes typically consist of floral, fruity, or spicy scents, creating a seamless transition and keeping the scent engaging. Common heart notes include geranium, rose, jasmine, lavender, cinnamon, and nutmeg. These notes usually last between 3 to 5 hours, although they can linger for up to 6 to 8 hours, depending on the perfume concentration.
Base Notes
Base notes form the foundation of the fragrance, providing depth, complexity, and longevity. They are often rich, deep, warm, and long-lasting. Base notes kick in after about 30 minutes, adding an earthy, musky, or resinous quality to the fragrance. Common base notes include cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla, amber, patchouli, oakmoss, and musk. These notes linger on the skin for hours, even after the top notes have completely dissipated, creating a lasting impression.
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Dilute with a carrier oil
Diluting perfume oils with a carrier oil is a great way to create a unique fragrance that suits your preferences. It is also a cost-effective method, as perfume oils can last between 5 to 12 hours, depending on their strength.
To begin diluting your perfume oil, you will need to determine the concentration of your fragrance oils. Generally, perfume oils have a 20-80% concentration of fragrance oils to the carrier. For a lighter perfume, you can opt for a lower concentration of fragrance oils.
Once you've decided on the concentration, it's time to mix your oils. For a 20% fragrance concentration in a 5ml bottle, you would add 10 drops of base, 5 drops of heart, 5 drops of head, and fill the rest of the bottle with 80 drops of your chosen carrier oil. You can use carrier oils such as jojoba, sweet almond, fractionated coconut oil, or dipropylene glycol. These carrier oils are typically odourless and will not interfere with your chosen fragrance.
After mixing your oils, it is important to let the perfume mature. Store your perfume in a cool, dark location for at least 48 hours and up to a month. During this time, the scents will mingle and become stronger. After ageing your perfume, give it a final smell test. If needed, you can adjust the fragrance by adding a few more drops of scent and ageing it again.
Creating your own perfume oil by diluting fragrance oils with a carrier oil allows you to personalise your scent. It is a fun and creative process that lets you experiment with different combinations of oils to find your signature fragrance.
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Mix and let it age
Once you have mixed your perfume, it is important to let it age. The ageing process allows the scents to mingle and become stronger. The length of time you should let your perfume age depends on the ingredients used and the desired strength of the final product.
It is recommended to let your perfume sit in a cool, dark place for a minimum of 48 hours and up to a month. During this time, the different notes of the perfume will blend together, creating a more seamless and soft fragrance. The longer you let it age, the more the scents will meld and mature, resulting in a smoother and more well-rounded perfume.
However, it's important to note that some top notes, such as citrus, tend to "age out" of a scent first. They are not the strongest of notes and will break down and disappear over time. On the other hand, base notes like vanilla, resins, and musks will deepen and strengthen with age. Therefore, the ideal ageing time for your perfume will depend on the specific notes and ingredients used.
Additionally, the type of carrier oil used can also affect the ageing process. For example, fractionated coconut oil has an indefinite shelf life, while grapeseed oil has an expected shelf life of about 6 months. Jojoba oil falls somewhere in between, with a long but indefinite shelf life.
While ageing your perfume, it's important to store it properly to prevent it from going rancid or losing its potency. Avoid exposing it to high temperatures, direct sunlight, or intense light and heat, as these factors can shorten its shelf life. Instead, keep it in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard or a box, to ensure it ages gracefully and retains its scent.
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Apply to pulse points
Pulse points are areas of the body where blood vessels are closest to the skin's surface. These zones emit more heat than the rest of the body, which helps to diffuse the fragrance, creating a lasting scent. The warmth from these areas allows the fragrance to interact with your body chemistry, enhancing both its projection and longevity.
The wrists are perhaps the most common place to apply perfume, and for good reason. They offer the perfect vehicle to distribute your scent to other pulse points. However, it is important to note that you should avoid rubbing your wrists together after application, as this can break down the top notes of the perfume and affect the way the scent develops on your skin. Instead, gently dab if needed.
The neck is another popular pulse point for perfume application. A spritz here ensures your perfume will wind up in your hair, contributing to its range and longevity while guaranteeing an all-day diffusion. If you are eager to emulate the experts, start with the neck.
Other effective pulse points to apply perfume include behind the ears, the hair, the jawline, the inside of the elbow, behind the knees, and the chest. These areas retain heat, helping to maintain the fragrance's lasting trail.
Remember, when it comes to perfume application, less is more. Perfume tends to intensify as it warms up on your skin, so it is always better to start with a small amount and then add more if needed. Additionally, make sure your skin is well-moisturized before applying perfume, as hydrated skin retains essential oils better.
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Warm the oil first
Warming the oil before applying it to your skin helps the fragrance blend with your body heat and enhances its aroma. There are several ways to warm the oil before applying it.
One way is to rub your fingers together with the oil before applying it to your skin. This will help to slightly increase the temperature of the oil and make it more pliable. You can also try cupping your hands together to generate some heat, then applying the oil to your fingertips and rubbing it onto your skin.
Another way to warm the oil is to place the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes before using it. This method is especially useful if your oil has thickened or solidified due to cold temperatures. Just make sure the water isn't too hot, as you don't want to alter the composition of the oil or burn yourself.
You can also apply the oil to your pulse points, which are the areas of your body where you can feel your heartbeat, such as your wrists, inner elbows, neck, back of your knees, and behind your ears. These areas tend to be warmer and will help to enhance the fragrance of the oil.
Additionally, taking a shower before applying perfume oil is recommended. The clean, fresh skin will help the perfume stick to you and last longer. Applying an unscented moisturiser to your skin before the perfume oil can also help it adhere better and prevent your skin from drying out.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a vessel to heat water in, a source of heat, gauze or muslin, thread, a delivery tube, a receiving vessel, ice, and a pretty bottle to store your scent. You will also need a dropper pipette for each raw oil you use.
You will need a lightweight, non-greasy oil such as sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or safflower oil, and essential oils. You can extract essential oils from scented leaves like lavender, mint or thyme, flowers like roses or violets, fruits like citrus or apple peels, spices like cinnamon stick, liquorice root or vanilla pod, or "green" smells like moss or twigs.
First, gently heat water in your vessel so that it simmers. Then, arrange your equipment so that steam passes through your chosen scented material on its way out. Next, add your essential oils to a glass bottle, dilute with water and glycerine, and pour into your chosen container. Finally, store your perfume oil in a cool, dark location for up to a month to allow the scents to mingle and become stronger.
Essential oils are divided into three categories: top, middle, and base notes. Top notes are usually sweet or floral, middle notes are often aromatic, and base notes are typically musky or woody. You can experiment with different combinations of notes to create your desired fragrance.
