Creating Cologne: A Beginner's Guide To Fragrance Formulation

Creating your own cologne is a fun way to make a unique scent that expresses your personality. It's also a great way to save money on expensive brand-name fragrances. All you need are some essential oils, alcohol, glycerine, water, and a spray bottle. You can experiment with different combinations of essential oils to create a signature scent that's truly yours. The process is simple: just blend your chosen essential oils, add alcohol, glycerine, and water, then pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Give your cologne a name, and you're ready to spritz!

Choosing a fragrance

The fragrance is the most important part of the cologne, and it can be difficult to choose the right one. The fragrance you choose will depend on the type of cologne you want to make. Do you want it to be woody, herbal, floral, or powdery? Once you have an idea of the type of cologne you want to create, you can start experimenting with different essential oils.

It's important to understand the fragrance scale when creating your own cologne. Fragrances are typically divided into three classes: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are the first scents you smell when you apply the cologne, but they fade quickly. Middle notes appear once the top notes disappear and blend the scents together. Base notes are the scents that last the longest and bring the fragrance together.

When creating your cologne, you'll want to use a combination of top, middle, and base notes. A suggested ratio for a DIY cologne is 60% base notes, 30% middle notes, and 10% top notes. However, you can experiment with different ratios to find the perfect blend for your cologne.

Top notes:

• Wild orange
• Lemon
• Bergamot
• Lime
• Lavender
• Neroli
• Magnolia
• Mandarin

Middle notes:

• Sandalwood
• Cardamom
• Ylang-ylang
• Geranium
• Rose
• Jasmine
• Basil
• Coriander

Base notes:

• Frankincense
• Vetiver
• Cedarwood
• Tonka bean
• Violet leaf
• Patchouli
• Vanilla
• Douglas fir

You can also add dried flowers to your cologne to give it a unique twist.

Essential oils

When creating your own cologne, it's important to understand the different fragrance notes: top, middle, and base. Top notes are the initial scent you notice after application, but they fade quickly. Middle notes come into play once the top notes disappear, and they help blend the scents together. Base notes are the longest-lasting scents and form the foundation of your cologne.

To make cologne, you'll typically use a blend of three essential oils: a top note, a middle note, and a base note. The ratio of these notes is crucial to achieving the desired fragrance. As a starting point, you can try using 10-15% top notes, 25-30% middle notes, and 55-65% base notes. However, feel free to adjust these percentages based on your preferences.

• 4 drops of wild orange (top note), 6 drops of sandalwood (middle note), and 10 drops of frankincense (base note).
• 3 drops of lemon (top note), 4 drops of cardamom (middle note), 4 drops of ylang-ylang (middle note), and 6 drops of vetiver (base note).
• 3 drops of lemongrass (top note), 3 drops of basil (middle note), 4 drops of cedarwood (base note), and 6 drops of Douglas fir (base note).
• 2 drops of bergamot (top note), 3 drops of lemon (top note), 6 drops of clove (middle note), and 8 drops of white fir (base note).
• 4 drops of lemongrass (top note), 6 drops of copaiba (middle note), and 8 drops of frankincense (base note).
• 2 drops of wild orange (top note), 6 drops of sandalwood (middle note), and 8 drops of frankincense (base note).

When blending essential oils, it's important to play around with different combinations and adjust the ratios until you achieve the desired scent. Creating your own cologne is a fun and creative process, and you can customize it to your liking.

Alcohol

Perfumers use alcohol because it is unlikely to affect the formula. However, it is important to note that using alcohol can dry the skin when used often. If you are sensitive to alcohol, you can use more distilled water in your cologne.

There are different types of alcohol that can be used in cologne-making. Perfumers alcohol is one option, as is pure grain alcohol or Everclear. Vodka is also an option, with higher-percentage alcohol being better. Rubbing alcohol can be used, but it is important to use 100-proof alcohol if including it in your recipe.

Glycerin

The cologne mixture is then added to a spray bottle and diluted with distilled water. The glycerin, therefore, plays a crucial role in ensuring the fragrance is preserved and lasts longer on the skin.

Dilution

Diluting cologne serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it reduces the intensity of the fragrance, making it more pleasant and less overwhelming. Secondly, it improves the longevity of the cologne by slowing down the evaporation of the fragrance oils. Additionally, dilution helps to disperse the oils evenly, ensuring a consistent scent with each application.

What to Dilute With:

The most common diluent for cologne is alcohol. Perfumer's alcohol, also known as perfumer's liquid or pure grain alcohol, is ideal as it does not affect the formula and helps to intensify the fragrance. Rubbing alcohol or witch hazel can also be used. However, it is important to note that alcohol may not be suitable for those with sensitive skin.

Another option for dilution is distilled or spring water. While water can help to reduce the strength of the cologne, it may not mix well with oil-based fragrances and could cause cloudiness. Therefore, it is often combined with alcohol to create a more stable mixture.

How Much to Dilute:

The amount of dilution depends on the desired strength of the cologne. For a typical cologne, the essential oil concentration ranges from 2% to 5%. This means that for every 100 ml of cologne, you would use 2 to 5 ml of essential oils. The remaining volume would be the diluent (alcohol and/or water).

How to Dilute:

The process of dilution is straightforward. Measure the desired amount of essential oils and add them to a container with the chosen diluent. Stir or shake the mixture gently to ensure the oils are thoroughly dispersed. It is important to use a scale, rather than drops, for accurate measurements.

Aging and Filtering:

After dilution, the cologne should be allowed to age. Store it in a cool, dark location for at least 48 hours to several weeks. Aging allows the fragrance to mature and the scents to blend harmoniously. After aging, it is recommended to filter the cologne through a coffee filter to remove any sediment.

Final Steps:

Once the aging and filtering processes are complete, the cologne is ready to be bottled. Use a funnel to pour the cologne into a glass perfume bottle. If using clear bottles, cover them with aluminium foil or wrapping paper to protect the fragrance from light, which can cause the scent to deteriorate.

Frequently asked questions