Heidi Norton
Making perfume with essential oils is a fun and easy DIY project. You can create your own signature scent with essential oils, a lightweight carrier oil, and perfumer's alcohol. The first step is to select your base, heart, and head notes. Base notes are earthy scents that last the longest, heart notes are the middle notes that form the heart of the fragrance, and head notes are the top notes that you smell first. You can experiment with different essential oils to find your perfect blend, but popular options include citrus, floral, and woody scents. Once you've chosen your notes, add 15-20 drops of your base note, 10-15 drops of your middle note, and 10 drops of your top note to an amber or dark-coloured bottle. Then, add 1 to 4 fl oz of perfumer's alcohol or a carrier oil like jojoba, sweet almond oil, or fractionated coconut oil to dilute the essential oils. Always shake your perfume before applying it and store it out of direct sunlight to keep the fragrance fresh.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of essential oils | 3 |
| Type of essential oils | Top, middle and base notes |
| Essential oils examples | Citrus, herbal, floral, woody, earthy, musky |
| Essential oils to avoid | Tea tree, cinnamon, clove, anise, peppermint, pine, ylang-ylang, citrus, wintergreen, sweet birch |
| Carrier oils | Jojoba, sweet almond, fractionated coconut, grapeseed, sunflower, tomato seed, safflower |
| Number of drops | 10-20 drops of each essential oil |
| Bottle | Amber or dark-coloured |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a base note
When creating a perfume with essential oils, the base note is the first thing you'll add to your blend. It's the scent that will last the longest and is usually an earthy fragrance that forms the foundation of your perfume.
Woody scents are a great option for a base note as they have longevity. Cedarwood, sandalwood, pine, and labdanum are all popular choices. Cedarwood has a warm, woodsy scent with a sedative effect, while sandalwood is a classic perfume ingredient. You could also try pairing these with a brighter, crisper scent like cognac extract.
Earthy, musky scents are another option for a base note. Patchouli is a common choice as it has a sweet, musky fragrance that's said to have a grounding and balancing effect on emotions. A little goes a long way with these spicy aromas. Ginger is another option, providing a warming, energizing, and stabilizing scent. Clove is a strong, spicy, and woodsy scent that's soothing and comforting. Vanilla bean extract mixed with jojoba oil creates a sweet, comforting, and relaxing scent. These earthy scents often skew masculine.
Citrus scents like bergamot, lemon, and grapefruit are on-trend for warmer seasons but can also brighten up any perfume. They are strong, crisp, and revitalizing. However, be aware that some citrus essences, like lime oil, can cause photosensitivity.
Herbal scents like lavender, chamomile, and rosemary are lighter and more grounding. Lavender is a classic, fresh, and soothing scent.
Floral scents are also an option for a base note, although they are more commonly used as heart notes. Jasmine, rose, geranium, iris, magnolia, peony, ylang-ylang, and neroli are all popular choices. Ylang-ylang is said to help alleviate stress, improve mood, and boost libido, while neroli has similar effects and encourages circulation.
When choosing your base note, experiment with different scents and combinations to see what you like. You can also follow a guideline that suggests the base note should be 5 to 20 percent of your blend. For a 5ml bottle of perfume, this would be 10 to 20 drops of essential oil.
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Selecting a middle note
The middle note, or heart note, is the heart of your fragrance. It is the smell that appears after your top note has dissipated and before the base note, which lasts the longest. Middle notes usually make up the biggest portion of your blend, typically ranging from 50 to 80% of your fragrance. However, this can vary with experimentation.
When selecting a middle note, it is important to consider the scent you are trying to create. Floral scents, such as rose, geranium, iris, jasmine, magnolia, peony, and ylang-ylang, are popular choices for middle notes. These scents can add a romantic or calming touch to your fragrance.
You can also experiment with herbal scents, such as lavender, chamomile, and rosemary, which tend to be lighter and more grounding. Citrus scents like bergamot, lemon, and grapefruit are strong, crisp, and revitalizing, making them perfect for brightening up any perfume.
If you want a more sensual and earthy fragrance, you can opt for ginger as your middle note. Vanilla, with its pure vanilla bean extract, can also create a sweet and comforting scent.
For a unique and unexpected twist, consider using cinnamon as your middle note. However, it is important to note that cinnamon may cause skin irritation in some individuals.
When blending your middle note with other notes, you can follow a basic formula. For a 5ml bottle of perfume, you would typically use 10-15 drops of your chosen middle note. This can be adjusted based on the strength and smell of your oils, as well as your personal preferences.
Creating your own perfume with essential oils allows you to experiment and customize a fragrance that truly represents your taste and mood.
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Picking a top note
The top note, or head note, is the scent that you'll notice first when applying your perfume. It's a good idea to pick something potent and assertive for your top note. Citrus scents like bergamot, lemon, and grapefruit are strong, crisp, and revitalizing. They're also especially trendy during warmer seasons. However, you might want to avoid citrus if you plan to spend time in the sun, as some citrus essences, like lime oil, can cause photosensitivity.
Floral scents are another option for your top note. Rose, geranium, iris, jasmine, magnolia, peony, and ylang-ylang are some of the most popular florals. Ylang-ylang, in particular, can help alleviate stress, improve your mood, and boost your libido. If you're looking for something more grounding, herbal essences like lavender, chamomile, and rosemary tend to be lighter.
Woodsy scents like cedarwood, pine, and sandalwood are another option, but they may be better suited to a base note as they have more longevity.
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Blending the oils
Blending essential oils is a creative process that can result in a unique and personalised fragrance. The first step is to decide on the scent you wish to create. Do you prefer woodsy, citrus, floral, or musky perfumes? Perhaps you want to blend several categories, or maybe you want to create a perfume that resembles your natural aroma.
Once you have an idea of the scent you want to create, you can select your essential oils. Citrus scents like bergamot, lemon, and grapefruit are strong, crisp, and revitalising. Bergamot, in particular, has a clean and refreshing fragrance that can brighten moods and calm nerves. Herbal scents like lavender, chamomile, and rosemary are lighter and more grounding. Floral scents like rose, geranium, iris, jasmine, magnolia, and peony are classic feminine perfumes, while ylang-ylang, although floral, is less commonly used and can help alleviate stress and improve mood. Woody scents include cedarwood, labdanum, pine, and sandalwood. Earthy, musky scents like patchouli, vanilla, ginger, and clove are often considered romantic and stabilising.
When blending your oils, it's important to consider the notes of the fragrance. The three main notes are the top, middle, and base notes. The top note is the scent that you'll notice first when applying the perfume. Citrus scents are often used as top notes because they are potent and assertive. The middle note is the heart of the fragrance and appears after the top note has dissipated. Floral scents are commonly used as middle notes. The base note is the scent that lasts the longest in your perfume and is usually an earthy, woody, or musky scent. When blending, add your base note first, followed by the middle note, and finish with the top note.
The number of drops of each note will depend on the desired strength and smell of your perfume. A general guideline is to use 15-20 drops of the base note, 10-15 drops of the middle note, and 10 drops of the top note. However, you can experiment with different ratios to find the blend that works best for you.
It's important to always dilute essential oils and not apply them directly to the skin. You can use a carrier oil like jojoba, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or tomato seed oil to dilute your essential oils. The concentration of essential oils in your carrier oil can vary, but it's generally recommended to use a 20-80% concentration. This means that for a 5ml bottle of perfume, you would use 100 drops of liquid, with 20 drops being your fragrance combination and the remaining 80 drops being the carrier oil.
Creating your own perfume allows you to experiment with different scents and find a fragrance that truly represents your taste and personality.
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Storing your perfume
Keep Out of Direct Sunlight:
Sunlight can cause your perfume to degrade more quickly, so it's important to store your perfume in a dark place, away from direct sunlight. This will help preserve the fragrance and prevent oxidation, which can cause a loss of aroma and nourishing benefits.
Use a Dark-Coloured Bottle:
To further protect your perfume from light exposure, use a dark-coloured or amber-coloured glass bottle. This type of bottle will help keep light out and preserve your fragrance. Rollerball bottles are a great option for direct application to the skin.
Store in a Cool, Dry Place:
Essential oil perfumes should be stored in a cool, dry location. Keeping the perfume in a dry place will help prevent any moisture buildup, while a cool temperature will slow down the oxidation process, maximising the shelf life of your perfume.
Keep Away from Children and Pets:
Fragrance oils are highly concentrated and can be harmful if ingested. Always keep your perfume out of the reach of children and pets to avoid any accidental exposure.
Write the Opening Date:
To keep track of your perfume's expiry, write the date you first opened it on the bottle. Most fragrance oils will last between one and two years, but this can vary depending on storage conditions and usage.
Refrigerate or Freeze for Long-Term Storage:
If you plan on storing your perfume for extended periods, consider storing it in the refrigerator or freezer. This is especially useful if you use your perfume infrequently. When freezing, ensure the bottle cap is loose to prevent pressure buildup, and allow the oil to return to room temperature before use.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need essential oils of your choosing, an amber or dark-coloured bottle, and perfumer’s alcohol. You can also use a lightweight, non-greasy oil like sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, or safflower oil.
First, add 15-20 drops of your base note (the scent that will last the longest) to the bottle. Then, add 10-15 drops of your middle note (or heart note) and 10 drops of your top note (or head note). Finish by adding 1 to 4 fl oz of perfumer's alcohol or a carrier oil to dilute the essential oils.
Essential oils typically fall into scent categories such as citrus, floral, herbal, and woody. Citrus scents like bergamot, lemon, and grapefruit are revitalizing, while floral scents like rose, jasmine, and lavender are classic and romantic. Herbal scents like rosemary and chamomile are lighter, and woody scents like cedarwood and sandalwood have longevity.
