Antonio Mcgowan
Vodka can be used as a base to create perfume, but it is not the best option. Vodka is mostly water, which does not help with extraction. It is also usually only around 40% alcohol, which is not high enough proof for perfumery—you're looking for 95%+ alcohol. A better option is to use pure (190+) proof ethanol, either undenatured or SDA40B denatured. This will help to create a stronger scent. If you are set on using vodka, you can follow these steps: collect your favourite types of essential oils, get yourself a perfume bottle, and prepare for an aromatic journey! There are three grades of oils required: top note, middle note, and base note. Different essential oils have different evaporation rates, so it is important to know each rate well to make a good perfume. Blend the oils together in an opaque bottle until you like their smell, then add the vodka, tighten the cap, and shake well. Put the bottle away for at least one month in a cool, dark place. Aging your fragrance allows the scents to mingle and become stronger.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol used | Ethanol/Everclear/Vodka |
| Vodka characteristics | Colourless, odourless, evaporates quickly |
| Vodka alternatives | Jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, grapeseed oil |
| Alcohol proof | 190-191+ |
| Alcohol percentage | 95% |
| Water | Distilled/spring water, deionized water |
| Water percentage | 5% or less |
| Aging | Minimum 48 hours, up to a month |
| Aging location | Cool, dark place |
| Aging effect | Scents mingle, become stronger |
| Notes | Top, middle, base |
| Top notes | Lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime, bergamot, spearmint, peppermint |
| Middle notes | Coriander, palmarosa, marjoram, basil, rosemary, rose geranium, pettitgrain, lavender |
| Base notes | Patchouli, vetiver, frankincense, cedarwood, sandalwood |
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What You'll Learn
Vodka is not suitable for perfumery
Secondly, vodka is mostly water, which can hinder the extraction of fragrances from spices, herbs, or flowers. It may result in a faint scent, as seen in an example where vanilla beans were infused in vodka for an extended period, yielding a weak vanilla fragrance.
Thirdly, the use of vodka in perfumery may lead to issues with oil and alcohol separation. This can result in an uneven distribution of scents, with some fragrances becoming dominant while others fade into the background.
Additionally, vodka is not recommended for perfumery due to the presence of compounds like Monopropylene glycol and Isopropyl myristate. These compounds are acceptable for personal use but may not be approved for commercial perfume sales in certain regions.
Finally, while vodka is a colourless liquid with little to no odour, it may not provide the same longevity or tenderness on the skin as carrier oils like jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, or grapeseed oil. These carrier oils offer a colourless medium, a longer shelf life, and are gentler on the skin.
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Use pure 190+ proof ethanol
Vodka is not a suitable base for making perfume as it is mostly water and has a low alcohol content of around 40%. Instead, you should use pure 190+ proof ethanol, which is 95% ethanol and 5% water. This type of ethanol is food-grade, safe for consumption, and suitable for use in perfumery. It is often used by professionals and hobbyists alike as a carrier for essential oils and fragrance ingredients, helping to safely apply the fragrance to the wearer, carry the scent, and dilute the fragrance to a safe concentration.
One brand of 190-proof ethanol is Everclear, which is a high-proof grain alcohol made in the USA. It is available at some local liquor stores, though not in all states, and is subject to excise taxes. If you cannot find Everclear, you can use Perfumer's Alcohol from a trusted manufacturer with the stated use case of making perfumes, or SD-40b, a cosmetic-grade denatured alcohol.
When using 190-proof ethanol, it is important to avoid denaturing the alcohol, as this can make your perfume toxic. Denaturing agents such as tert-butyl alcohol and denatonium benzoate (Bitrex) are added to products to deter ingestion of toxic chemicals, but these substances can be irritating to the skin and eyes. Instead, look for cosmetic-grade or food-grade ethanol that does not contain these denaturing agents.
In addition to ethanol, you will need essential oils or fragrance ingredients, such as herbs, flowers, spices, or natural ingredients like gums, oud, citrus, roots, balsams, grasses, cedarwood, leaves, patchouli, fruit, wood, sandalwood, or amber. It is important to choose non-toxic ingredients with a good shelf life and to consider the evaporation rate of each ingredient to ensure your perfume has the desired scent profile.
Once you have your ingredients, you can combine them and let them infuse for several months to create a tincture. The longer you let the ingredients infuse, the stronger your tincture will be. You can also try recharging your ethanol by tincturing some ingredients, straining out the solids, and then adding a new batch of ingredients to create a more concentrated scent.
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Do not heat the mixture
When making perfume, it is important to remember not to heat the mixture. This is because heat can negatively impact the quality of the vodka. While vodka has an almost indefinite shelf life, extreme temperatures—both high and low—can affect its flavour over time. Heat can cause the liquid to expand, which may eventually lead to the bottle bursting.
Additionally, heat can cause the alcohol in vodka to evaporate, reducing its shelf life and altering its flavour. Vodka is typically around 40% alcohol, which is not a high enough proof for perfumery as the desired percentage is 95% or higher. Heating the mixture can further reduce the alcohol content, making it less suitable for perfume.
Heating the mixture can also affect the fragrance of the perfume. This is because heat breaks down fragrant materials. Instead of using heat, it is recommended to allow the mixture to infuse over time. For example, vanilla beans will create a stronger tincture the longer they are allowed to soak in the ethanol.
Furthermore, heating the mixture can cause the oils and alcohol to separate. This can result in an uneven distribution of scents in the final product. By not heating the mixture, you can avoid this separation and create a more consistent perfume.
Overall, it is important to refrain from heating the mixture when making perfume with vodka to maintain the integrity of the vodka, preserve the fragrance, and prevent separation of the ingredients. Allowing the mixture to infuse over time in a cool, dark place will yield better results.
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Use carrier oils
Vodka is not an ideal alcohol for making perfumes because it contains too much water. Commercial vodka has a percentage of alcohol that is usually around 40%, which is not high enough for perfumery as you need 95%+. However, some sources suggest that vodka can be used as a carrier to extract fragrances from spices and orange peels. Vodka evaporates quickly, carrying the essential oils with it.
Carrier oils are a good alternative to vodka as a base for perfumes. Carrier oils such as jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, or grapeseed oil provide a colourless medium with a longer shelf life than alcohol-based perfumes and are also gentler on the skin. Natural infusions can be created by infusing carrier oils with herbs, botanicals, spices, or dried flowers to add a light scent and dimensionality to your perfume.
It is important to note that some carrier oils, like jojoba, may not bond with alcohol and can cause the mixture to turn milky or form layers. This is due to the Tyndall effect, where suspended droplets scatter light, causing the cloudiness. To avoid this, remove any fixed oils like jojoba, almond, or grapeseed oil from your mixture.
Avocado oil is another carrier oil option that has a mild to no scent and stays liquid regardless of temperature. It also has added benefits for the skin and hair.
When creating your perfume, it is essential to consider the different grades of oils: top note, middle note, and base note. Top notes are usually light and airy, with anti-viral properties, and evaporate the fastest. Middle notes add depth and warmth to the scent, while base notes provide a deep, earthy fragrance that anchors the perfume. Different essential oils have different evaporation rates, so it is crucial to know each rate to create a well-balanced perfume.
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Age the fragrance
Once you have created your fragrance, it is time to let it age. Place it in a cool, dark location for a minimum of 48 hours, or up to a month. Aging your fragrance allows the scents to mingle and become stronger. The longer you let your fragrance age, the more concentrated it will become.
If you are aging a vanilla tincture, for example, the longer you let the vanilla beans soak in the ethanol, the stronger your tincture will be. You can leave them to soak for several months for a more concentrated scent.
After aging your fragrance for the desired length of time, smell it again. The mingling of scents may have changed the overall scent, so feel free to add a few more drops of scent to tweak it. If you do add more scent, you will need to age the fragrance again.
Once you are happy with the fragrance, it is time to dilute it. If you are making a perfume spray, add more water. However, adding water may make your perfume cloudy, so this is optional.
After aging, you can test your fragrance by spritzing a little on your pressure points. The alcohol smell should dissipate after a few seconds, leaving only your desired scent. If the alcohol smell is all you can detect, you may have put in too much alcohol, or your blend of scents may not be right. In this case, you may need to let the perfume sit for longer.
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Frequently asked questions
Pure ethanol is the best type of alcohol for making perfume. Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks like vodka, but vodka is usually only around 40% alcohol, which is not high enough for perfumery. You should aim for 95%+ alcohol, or 190-proof.
Carrier oils such as jojoba oil, fractionated coconut oil, or grapeseed oil can be used as a base for perfume. These oils provide a colourless medium with a longer shelf life than alcohol-based perfumes.
Vodka is a colourless liquid with little to no odour that evaporates quickly, making it possible for anyone to bring their customised mixture of essential oils to life.
Collect your favourite types of essential oils, get yourself a perfume bottle, and prepare for an aromatic journey! There are three grades of oils required: top note, middle note, and base note. Different essential oils have different evaporation rates, so it is important to know each rate well in order to make good perfumes. Blend the oils together in an opaque bottle until you like their smell, then add the vodka. Leave the ingredients alone in a bottle for a few days to allow the scents to mix, then put the bottle away for at least one month in a cool, dark place.
