Why make your own perfumes? Why not!
If you’re a fan of essential oils, you probably already have most of what you need to create your own custom perfume at home. DIY perfumes can be tailored to suit your mood and style, and they’re much cheaper than the chemical-laden options from the store. Before you dive in, here’s a simple guide to making your own perfume.
Carrier Oils
Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils before you apply them to your skin. Essential oils are very potent and can cause irritation if used directly. Plus, using a carrier oil helps you get the most out of your essential oils since they can be expensive. Carrier oils serve as the base for your essential oil mix and generally don’t have strong scents of their own, with added benefits for your skin. Popular options include jojoba, sweet almond, olive, Argan, fractionated coconut, and grapeseed oils.
You can use any carrier oil you prefer. I chose Argan oil because it absorbs easily and has a mild, sweet scent. Argan oil is also great for your skin, helping with elasticity, and softening wrinkles and fine lines. It’s good for your hair too!
Mixing Your Own Scents
Before you start combining essential oils, it’s important to understand the scent notes of the oils you’re using. A well-rounded perfume typically has three notes:
– Top Note: This is the first scent you smell, but it fades quickly. Examples include lemon, orange, grapefruit, lime, tangerine, citronella, bergamot, eucalyptus, lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, and spearmint.
– Middle Note: This forms the heart of the perfume and fades within a couple of hours. Examples include chamomile, cinnamon, clove, cypress, fennel, geranium, jasmine, juniper, marjoram, neroli, nutmeg, pine, fir, rose, rosemary, spruce, tea tree, thyme, and ylang-ylang.
– Base Note: This is the longest-lasting scent that anchors the perfume. Examples include cedarwood, frankincense, ginger, helichrysum, myrrh, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla, and vetiver.
A good blending ratio is 20% base, 50% middle, and 30% top. However, this isn’t set in stone. Your nose will guide you in creating a scent you love. Just remember to keep the base note the lowest, as it’s the strongest and most potent.
Experimentation is key! You’ll know instantly if a blend works for you. Keep notes on what scents work well together and try to replicate natural scents you like.
DIY Fruity Spring Bloom Solid Perfume
I’m a big fan of fruity scents, and this blend is bright with a hint of spice, mixing citrus with exotic notes. A solid perfume has the added benefit of beeswax for your skin and lasts longer than liquid perfumes.
Supplies:
– 1 tablespoon beeswax pastilles
– Carrier oil of your choice (I used Argan oil)
– Essential oils of your choice
– A small container (like a travel lip balm or recycled eye shadow container)
– Heatproof container or small paper cup
Instructions:
1. Add the beeswax pastilles to a small paper cup or heatproof container. Melt the wax using a microwave in 30-second increments.
2. Add your essential oil blend to the melted wax. My blend ratio was:
– 20 drops sweet orange essential oil
– 7 drops grapefruit essential oil
– 7 drops spring blossom essential oil
– 10 drops sandalwood essential oil
3. Heat a couple of tablespoons of your carrier oil and add it to the melted beeswax blend. Mix gently and let it solidify. Your solid perfume is ready to use!
Some Blends to Try:
– Romantic Blend:
– 25 drops rose essential oil
– 10 drops lime essential oil
– 10 drops vetiver essential oil
– Sensual Blend:
– 20 drops sweet orange essential oil
– 15 drops ylang-ylang essential oil
– 10 drops cedarwood essential oil
– Energy Blend:
– 12 drops grapefruit
– 8 drops ylang-ylang
Where To Buy Essential Oils
When buying essential oils, make sure they’re 100% pure and free from additives. For this project, we used Plant Therapy Essential Oils.
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