Make Your Own Axe-Scented Cologne With Essential Oils

Many commercial colognes contain synthetic fragrances and chemicals, which can be toxic. Making your own cologne at home is a great way to ensure that you're using a product filled with natural, safe ingredients. Essential oils are a fantastic alternative to artificial fragrances, and they can be blended to create a range of unique scents. When creating a cologne, it's important to understand fragrance notes, which are divided into three classes: top, middle, and base. The top note is the first scent that will be noticed, followed by the middle note, and then the base note, which is the longest-lasting scent. By blending different essential oils, you can create colognes with woodsy, citrus, or spicy scents, among others.

Cedarwood, bergamot and sandalwood essential oils

Ingredients:

• 5 drops cedarwood essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil
• 2 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 8 ounces (300ml) 70% alcohol or vodka
• Glass roll-on tube or glass cologne spray bottle

Instructions:

• Mix all the ingredients together.
• Store the mixture in a glass bottle.

This cologne will have a woody and earthy scent with bright, citrusy top notes. The alcohol or vodka will help to disperse the essential oils and make the cologne more suitable for use on the skin.

You can also add other essential oils to this blend to create a unique fragrance. For example, you could add a few drops of lavender essential oil for a relaxing and soothing effect. Or, for a more masculine scent, you could add some bay essential oil, which has a sweet and spicy odour.

Alcohol-based perfumes

Alcohol is the most common carrier agent for perfume oils. It allows your perfume to be sprayed and enables the fragrance to be dispersed. Alcohol-based perfumes are typically made in the same way: the perfumer selects the correct oils to create the desired scent and then adds alcohol to the mixture.

The alcohol used in perfumes is usually denatured ethanol, which has been made unfit for consumption by adding various chemical compounds to change its taste, colour, and smell. This type of alcohol is a good carrier for the fragrance because it is neutral, odourless, and volatile. It evaporates quickly, carrying the scent away from the wearer and allowing for a stronger presence. It also helps the cologne last longer and makes the fragrance more intense.

Perfumers use alcohol to make their colognes more suitable for use on the skin by diluting the essential oils. Alcohol-based perfumes typically contain around 70% to 92% alcohol, depending on the type of fragrance chosen (e.g. eau de cologne, eau de toilette, or eau de parfum). The scent of a cologne generally lasts for around two hours, making it suitable for everyday use, although it may need to be topped up occasionally.

One downside of alcohol-based perfumes is that they can be very harsh initially due to the high evaporation rate of alcohol. This gives the false impression that an alcohol-based fragrance is much stronger than it actually is. Oil perfumes, on the other hand, have a slower evaporation rate, and the initial impression of the scent is more accurate.

Another benefit of using alcohol as a carrier is that it helps preserve the perfume over time. However, this also means that alcohol-based perfumes are highly flammable, which can make it difficult to ship them abroad.

Top, middle and base notes

Top notes are the first scents you notice after application and also the quickest to fade. Citrus oils like wild orange, lemon, and bergamot are popular choices for top notes in men's colognes. You can also use lemongrass, basil, or rosemary for a refreshing, natural scent.

Middle notes blend the scents together and are the next most powerful fragrances after the top notes have faded. Spicy and earthy scents like cardamom, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, and frankincense are often used as middle notes.

Base notes are the longest-lasting scents and are usually woodsy or earthy. Cedarwood, vetiver, clove, and fir are common base notes in men's colognes.

Nightlife Blend

• Top notes: 3 drops of lemon, 2 drops of bergamot
• Middle note: 6 drops of clove
• Base note: 8 drops of white fir

Outdoor Blend

• Top note: 3 drops of lemongrass
• Middle note: 3 drops of basil
• Base notes: 4 drops of cedarwood, 6 drops of Douglas fir

Earthy Blend

• Top note: 4 drops of wild orange
• Middle note: 6 drops of sandalwood
• Base note: 10 drops of frankincense

Relaxing, Pre-Sleep Blend

Lavender

Energizing Blend

Grapefruit and lemon

When creating your cologne, add approximately 10-15% top notes, 25-30% middle notes, and 55-65% base notes. These percentages are just a starting point, so feel free to experiment and adjust to your preference.

Manly scents

Creating a masculine fragrance is all about selecting the right essential oils. Typically, colognes are designed for men due to their lower essential oil percentage, with around 3-5% essential oils, compared to perfumes, which contain 15-30% scent.

When it comes to essential oils, there are three types of categories: top, middle, and base notes. The top note is the first scent noticed after application, but it also fades the quickest. The middle note blends the scents together and is the next most powerful lasting scent. The base note is the longest-lasting scent.

If you want to create a masculine scent, it's best to stick to earthy, woodsy, spicy, and citrus essential oils. Here are some examples of essential oils in each category to help you get started:

Top Notes (most noticeable at first impression)

• Wild Orange
• Lemongrass
• Bergamot
• Basil
• Lemon
• Siberian Fir
• Bay
• Lime

Middle Notes (blends the scents together)

• Sandalwood
• Cardamom
• Ylang Ylang
• Cedarwood
• Clove
• Copaiba
• Sweet Bay
• Bergamot

Bottom Notes (longest-lasting scent)

• Frankincense
• Vetiver
• Douglas Fir
• White Fir
• Cedarwood
• Hinoki
• Black Pepper
• Coriander

Once you've selected your essential oils, you can start blending them to create your desired fragrance. The art of fragrance blending can take years to perfect, so don't be discouraged if your first attempt isn't perfect. Experiment with different combinations and ratios of oils, and don't be afraid to adjust as needed.

Remember, the key to a masculine scent is often in the choice of essential oils and the ratios in which you blend them. You can also add a carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, or sunflower oil, to dilute the essential oils and create a roll-on cologne.

Have fun creating your unique cologne, and feel free to share your blends and experiences!

DIY cologne

Many commercial colognes contain synthetic fragrances and chemicals that can be toxic. Making your own cologne at home is a great way to ensure that you're using a product filled with natural ingredients that are safe for your skin.

Cologne Notes

Before mixing your cologne, it's important to understand fragrance notes. Notes are divided into three classes: top, middle, and base. The top note is the first scent that will be noticed after application, but it will also be the quickest to fade. The middle note is the next most powerful lasting scent, and the base note is the scent that lasts the longest. When mixing your cologne, you can add approximately 10-15% top notes, 25-30% middle notes, and 55-65% base notes. These numbers are just a starting point, so feel free to play around with the amounts to create your perfect blend.

Essential Oils for Men's Cologne

When creating a cologne for men, it's important to choose essential oils that have a woodsy, earthy, spicy, or citrus scent. Here are some great options:

• Wild Orange (top note)
• Sandalwood (middle note)
• Frankincense (base note)
• Lemon (top note)
• Cardamom (middle note)
• Ylang Ylang (middle note)
• Vetiver (base note)
• Cedarwood (base note)
• Lemongrass (top note)
• Basil (middle note)
• Douglas Fir (base note)
• Bergamot (top note)
• Clove (middle note)
• White Fir (base note)
• Siberian Fir
• Copaiba
• Northern Lights Black Spruce
• Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood
• Idaho Balsam Fir
• Idaho Blue Spruce
• Helichrysum
• Cardamom
• Hinoki
• Black Pepper
• Coriander
• Cypress
• Marjoram
• Wintergreen

To make a spray cologne, you'll need a glass spray bottle, essential oils, and witch hazel or alcohol. Here's a sample recipe:

• 2-ounce glass spray bottle
• 8 drops of your chosen essential oils
• 1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
• Top off the bottle with witch hazel or alcohol

Simply add the essential oils to the spray bottle, shake well, add the glycerin, shake again, and then top off the bottle with witch hazel or alcohol. Secure the spray nozzle and shake one more time. Your cologne is now ready to use!

DIY Roll-On Cologne

If you prefer a roll-on cologne, you'll need a 10mL roller bottle, essential oils, and a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut oil. Here's how to make it:

• Add 8-10 drops of your chosen essential oils to the roller bottle and shake well.
• Fill the rest of the roller bottle with your carrier oil.
• Secure the lid and shake again.

Your DIY roll-on cologne is now ready to use! Apply it to your chest, wrists, and neck as needed.

Storing Your Homemade Cologne

It's important to use glass bottles when making cologne with essential oils, and it's best to use amber or dark-colored bottles to avoid the essential oils losing their potency. Store your cologne in a cool, dark place for the best results.

Frequently asked questions