Natural Perfume Basics

There are three ways to make a natural perfume.

• Spray Perfume: The first option is to make a perfume by diluting an essential oil (or oils) in distilled water and alcohol. Spray the perfume on your neck and wrists. Learn how to make this perfume. 
• Roll-On Perfume: Another option is to use a roller bottle and dilute an essential oil (or oils) in a carrier oil. Roll the perfume on your wrists and neck. Learn how to make this perfume. This is an alcohol-free way to make homemade perfume. 
• Solid Perfume: The third option is to use a carrier oil, beeswax, and essential oil (or oils) to make a solid perfume. This is also an alcohol-free way to make homemade perfume. This article is all about how to make solid perfume. 

Carrying a liquid oil in your purse can be quite messy, so a solid perfume is the way to go. Before I share my solid perfume recipe, let’s talk about each of the essential ingredients needed.

How to Make Solid Perfume with Essential Oils

Main Ingredient: Carrier Oil

Oil is the main ingredient used to make solid perfume. The oils used in do-it-yourself skincare recipes are typically referred to as carrier oils, although I usually call them nourishing carrier oils. Carrier oils dilute and “carry” essential oils safely on the skin. Essential oils should not be used directly on the skin without dilution. This is why you need a carrier oil.  

The carrier oil used to make an essential oil perfume is completely up to you. Grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, or jojoba oil are my top picks for making perfume. Virgin coconut oil may also be used, but it will impart a coconut scent on the final product.

Main Ingredient: Beeswax

Beeswax takes the carrier oil from a liquid to a solid state. Beeswax also acts as a barrier, which helps an essential oil perfume last a longer when it’s applied to the skin.

Main Ingredient: Essential Oil

Making your own natural perfume fragrance can be as easy or as complex as you’d like it to be. There are three ways to achieve a naturally-scented perfume with essential oils.

What essential oils are good for perfume?

Fragrance Option 1: Use a Single Essential Oil

To keep things simple, a single essential oil (like lavender essential oil) may be used to create a “one-and-done” perfume. This is an easy way to make a fragranced perfume at home. 

Fragrance Option 2: Use Pre-Blended Essential Oils

Another simple, “one-and-done” scent option is to add a pre-made blend of essential oils to your own perfume, like: Tranquil (bergamot, patchouli, blood orange, ylang ylang, grapefruit), Love Vanilla (vanilla, ylang-ylang), Blues Buster (tangerine, geranium, grapefruit), or Spring Blossoms (neroli, sweet orange, Lime). A blend of individual essential oils, pre-mixed by the essential oil company, takes all the guess work out of creating a complex natural fragrance for perfume.

Fragrance Option 3: Blend Essential Oils to Make Your Own Scent 

Individual oils may be combined to create your own perfume fragrance. To do this, you’ll need to understand the basics of blending essential oils.

How to blend essential oils for perfume…

Essential oils are divided into three main categories, based on their unique scent profile: Base Notes, Middle Notes, and Top Notes.

• Base Notes (scents are uplifting, very sharp, and slow to evaporate): cedarwood, frankincense, ginger (to Middle), jasmine (to Middle), patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, ylang ylang (to Middle).
• Middle Notes (scents last a couple of hours, supportive): bay, cardamom, geranium, fir balsam, geranium, ginger (to Base), helichrysum, jasmine (to Base), lavender (to Top), lemongrass, palmarosa, orange (to Top), rosemary, ylang ylang (to Base).
• Top Notes (introduce the perfume, quick to evaporate, uplifting): bergamot, clary sage (to Middle), eucalyptus, grapefruit, juniper, lemon, lime, neroli, orange (to Middle), palmarosa, peppermint, pine, tangerine, verbena.

To make your custom perfume fragrance, experiment with just a few essential oils (3-6 individual oils– preferably a good mix of Base, Middle, and Top Notes). Add two drops of a Base Note to a small amount of carrier oil, smell the oil and evaluate which Middle Note (from your oil choices) will best accompany the scent. Add two drops of the desired Middle Note, and then repeat the smell test. Finally, add a drop at a time of the desired Top Note, taking time to swirl the mixture and conduct a smell test before adding new drops. If you’d like to go back and add more of the Base Note or Middle Note, now is the time to experiment. Creating a custom scent is all about trial and error, so have fun with the process and take notes.

The essential oil (or oils) used to create your perfume will depend on your scent preferences as well as the mood you want to create. Once you know which scent you’ll be using, it’s time to make your solid perfume. Below, you’ll find my basic recipe for creating a custom perfume.

How do you make fragrance essential oil last longer?

To make a fragrance essential oil last longer, apply the perfume to areas of your skin that heat up, such as: the arm crease at the elbow, behind the ears, or your wrists. As the day goes on, your body heat will trigger the oils and you will have a longer-lasting scent. Beeswax, used to make solid perfume, also acts as a barrier and helps an essential oil perfume last a longer when it’s applied to the skin.

Keep in mind, a natural perfume, made with essential oils, will never have the staying power like those made with toxic chemicals, like phthalates. You may need to apply this perfume a couple of times a day (learn more about the toxicity of fragrance).

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How to Make Solid Perfume with Essential Oils

Solid perfumes do not contain alcohol and they are healthier than regular perfumes. Creating a solid perfume doesn’t have to be difficult. With just a few simple and natural ingredients you can make your own solid perfume with essential oils. Use this recipe as a base, adding your own custom scent. See the article above for information about blending essential oils.

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Solid Perfume

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 1 2-ounce jar

Author Kristin Marr

Equipment

• small bowl
• medium saucepan
• small tin or you could use a recycled mint container

Ingredients

• 1 TB carrier oil (14.5g)
• 2 tsp beeswax pellets (6g)
• 35-40 drops essential oil of choice: single essential oil, a blend of individual oils, or a pre-made blend (see article above for suggestions.

Instructions

• Place a glass bowl (or glass measuring cup that's heat-safe, like this) on top of a saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat (this creates a DIY double boiler and keeps the wax and oil away from the direct heat). Place the oil and beeswax in the glass bowl, and allow the beeswax to fully melt (about 4-5 minutes). 
  
• Carefully remove the bowl from the heat source, and stir the liquid. 
• Pour the liquid into a storage container. I use a 2-ounce tin container or recycled mint/candy tin.
• Once the liquid begins to cool (just a minute or two), add the essential oil(s) of choice. Gently stir the essential oils into the oil. Place the lid on the container to keep the essential oils from evaporating. 
• Allow the perfume to solidify (just a few minutes) before use. Keep in mind, as the perfume matures, the fragrance will intensify. 

To Apply the Perfume:

• Rub a clean finger across the top of the solid perfume. Apply the perfume to your wrists, neck, etc.. Repeat as needed. The perfume will keep for 6-12 months, depending on the carrier oil used (grapeseed: 6 months; sweet almond and jojoba: 12 months).  

Video

More DIY Recipes to Try

• How to Make a Simple 3-Ingredient Lip Balm
• Best Natural Face Cleansers and Face Wash
• Homemade Foundation Powder
• DIY Homemade Perfume (Spray or Roll-On)
• DIY Lavender-Rosemary Candles

The post How to Make Solid Perfume with Essential Oils appeared first on Live Simply.

I remember as a child how I used to beg my mother to allow me to use her perfume. I felt so grown up when wearing it, almost like it was magical. Fast forward to today and my relationship with perfume is not as magical. The idea of going to a department store to sift through the hundreds of scents gives me a migraine (literally!) just thinking about it. The pushy sales people, the $100 price tag, and the inability to find a scent that is “just right” also adds to my disdain.

Finally, one day when I was at my local farmer’s market, I came across someone who made perfume out of essential oils. I found a scent that I loved and soon returned to buy more, but they were just traveling through. It was then that I had the idea to make my own. Who better to customize a scent for myself, but me! I would be in control of the ingredients, to make sure that what I was using was organic and complimentary to my health. Store-bought perfumes are loaded with toxic chemicals that have have links, in various studies, to cancer. Eeek!

This DIY homemade perfume recipe is so easy to make and easy to customize. You will never buy perfume again! And homemade perfume is perfect for gift giving, too! Making your own perfume at home so simple, I promise! Let’s get started…

How do you make your own perfume at home?

• Spray Perfume: The first option is to make a perfume spray by diluting an essential oil (or oils) in distilled water and alcohol. Or, you can use an oil and essential oils (that’s what we’re going to make today).
• Roller Bottle: The second option, is to use a roller bottle and dilute an essential oil (or oils) in a carrier oil. You’ll also learn how to make this option today.
• Solid Perfume: The third option is to use a carrier oil, beeswax, and an essential oil (or oils) to make a solid perfume.

Today, we’re going to make the first and second option, a perfume that you can spray or roll on your body. Here’s what you’ll need to make this perfume recipe.

What are the ingredients for making perfume?

• Perfume Bottle: I bought a glass bottle from Amazon (the bottle I bought is no longer available, this is a similar option). You can also use a small spray bottle, just make sure the oil doesn’t clog the spray nozzle. If you don’t want to make a spray perfume, use a roller bottle and apply the perfume by rolling the ball tip on your wrist and neck.
• Essential Oils for Fragrance: You can use one single scent essential oil, like lavender, a few different essential oils to create your own custom scent, or a pre-made blend of essential oils (most essential oil companies sell their own custom blends, making a custom scent super easy to achieve). The scent is where you can get creative and customize.
• Carrier oil: There are different types of carrier oils you can use. I like to use fractionated coconut oil (the liquid version of coconut oil), but any carrier you have on hand will work (such as: jojoba oil, almond oil, apricot kernel oil, or avocado oil.)

How to make perfume the easy way

Yes, there are more detailed ways to go about making perfume, but who has time for that? Unless you’re selling perfume or want to spend hours creating your own perfume. With this recipe, you can make perfume in just 2 simple steps!

Step 1: Fill a perfume bottle with carrier oil and essential oils 

To make the perfume, simply fill the bottle of choice half-way with your carrier oil. Only half way? Well yes, there is a reason for that. It’s much easier to add then to take away and since you’re experimenting with the scents that work for you, you will want some leeway just in case. For more information on creating your own custom scent, scroll to the next section, “How to add a natural fragrance to your perfume.”

Step 2: Double the ingredients and shake 

Once you find your perfect mixture, double the ingredients and shake! Seriously it’s that simple!

The end result is a customized perfume that is inexpensive (think of the cost of just one bottle of perfume that you can’t reuse) and healthy. I suggest putting the perfume on areas of your skin that heat up, such as: the arm crease at the elbow, behind the ears, or your wrists. As the day goes on, your body heat will trigger the oils and you will have a longer-lasting scent. Keep in mind, a natural perfume, made with essential oils, will never have the staying power like those made with toxic chemicals, like phthalates. You may need to apply this perfume a couple of times a day (learn more about the toxicity of fragrance).

How to add a natural fragrance to perfume

Individual essential oils may be combined to create your own custom perfume scent. Essential oils are divided into 3 main categories, based on their unique scent profile: Base Notes, Middle Notes, and Top Notes.

• Base Notes (scents are uplifting, very sharp, and slow to evaporate): cedarwood, frankincense, ginger (to Middle), jasmine (to Middle), patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver, ylang ylang (to Middle).
• Middle Notes (scents last a couple of hours, supportive): bay, cardamom, geranium, fir balsam, geranium, ginger (to Base), helichrysum, jasmine (to Base), lavender (to Top), lemongrass, palmarosa, orange (to Top), rosemary, ylang ylang (to Base).
• Top Notes (introduce the perfume, quick to evaporate, uplifting): bergamot, clary sage (to Middle), eucalyptus, grapefruit, juniper, lemon, lime, neroli, orange (to Middle), palmarosa, peppermint, pine, tangerine, verbena.

To make your own custom perfume scent, experiment with just a few essential oils (3-6 individual oils– preferably a good mix of Base, Middle, and Top Notes). Add 2 drops of a Base Note to a small amount of carrier oil, smell the oil and evaluate which Middle Note (from your oil choices) will best accompany the scent. Add 2 drops of the desired Middle Note, and then repeat the smell test. Finally, add a drop at a time of the desired Top Note, taking time to swirl the mixture and conduct a smell test before adding new drops.

If you’d like to go back and add more of the Base Note or Middle Note, now is the time to experiment. Creating a custom scent is all about trial and error, so have fun with the process and take notes. You can also make a custom fragrance easily by purchasing a pre-made essential blend.

My favorite essential perfume combo, for a floral scent that’s not overpowering…

• 17 drops ylang ylang essential oil (should be avoided by pregnant women)
• 17 drops blood orange essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

How much does it cost to make a perfume?

Making your own perfume is about 2 things: saving money and ditching toxins (going natural and knowing exactly what’s in your body-care products). So let’s talk about cost. How much does it cost to make natural perfume?

• Glass Bottle: A bottle will cost anywhere from just a few dollars (roller bottle) to $12+ (for a perfume bottle). This is a one-time purchase, as you’ll reuse this bottle over and over again.
• Essential Oil(s): This is your biggest expense, particularly if you want to experiment with a custom scent as we talked about above. The cheapest option is to buy a single essential oil scent, like lavender, or buy a pre-made blend. I love Plant Therapy for pre-made essential oil blends (explore their essential oil blends).
• Carrier Oil: A carrier oil will cost about $10+. One bottle of carrier oil will make multiple bottles of perfume.

For about $30-40 you can make your own perfume. All of the ingredients will make multiple bottles, too! All in all, making your own homemade perfume is much cheaper, even with the upfront cost involved.

Best Natural Store-Bought Perfumes…

If you’re like, “Hey, I just want to buy perfume. Are there any natural perfumes out there?” I got you covered! Here are my favorite natural, non-toxic perfumes that are already done for you.

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DIY Homemade Floral Perfume

This DIY homemade perfume recipe is so easy to make and easy to customize. You will never buy perfume again! The best part? Homemade perfume is perfect for gift giving! Use this recipe for inspiration, mixing your favorite essential oils to create your own custom perfume scent. See notes above for guidance on how to create your own custom scent.

Course DIY

Cuisine American

Keyword Homemade Purfume

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 5 oz

Author Kristin Marr

Equipment

• perfume bottle or roller bottle for a roll-on perfume

Ingredients

• 4 oz carrier oil I use fractionated coconut oil but any of the carrier oils listed above in the article will also work.
• 17 drops ylang-ylang essential oil
• 17 drops blood orange essential oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

• Fill the perfume bottle or roller bottle with the carrier oil. You'll need less oil if using a roller bottle.
  4 oz carrier oil
• Add in the essential oil drops with a dropper. You can use my recipe or create one of your own (see suggestions in the article above for creating your own custom scents).
  17 drops ylang-ylang essential oil, 17 drops blood orange essential oil, 5 drops lavender essential oil
• Put the lid on the bottle and shake for thirty seconds. Congratulations you have just made perfume!
• Roll on or spray the perfume (depending on your bottle of choice).

Notes

How to Use: I suggest putting the perfume on areas of your skin that heat up, such as: the arm crease at the elbow, behind the ears, or your wrists. As the day goes on, your body heat will trigger the oils and you will have a longer-lasting scent. Keep in mind, a natural perfume, made with essential oils, will never have the staying power like those made with toxic chemicals, like phthalates. You may need to apply this perfume a couple of times a day. 

More DIY Products To Make

• How to Make a Simple 3-Ingredient Lip Balm
• Best Natural Face Cleansers and Face Wash
• Homemade Foundation Powder
• Homemade Solid Perfume (& Video Tutorial)
• DIY Lavender-Rosemary Candles

The post DIY Homemade Perfume appeared first on Live Simply.