How to Make Perfume

With perfumes seemingly getting more expensive by the bottle, it’s not surprising that many people are turning to making the stuff at home. Consider that your favorite designer perfume or cologne can run over 100 dollars, and that will probably be enough to convince you to at least contemplate the possibilities of producing your own unique scent. The process isn’t as daunting as you might think: here’s a quick primer on what it takes to make perfume yourself.

1. First, you have to understand exactly what goes into each batch of high-quality perfume. Though these measurements aren’t exact, they give you a basic idea of what is necessary. Here’s the formula: approximately 25% essential oil, 70% grain alcohol (think vodka), and 5% bottled spring water. Essential oil is usually found in health stores, or alternatively, in craft stores.

2. Some experimentation is needed to produce the scent that appeals most to you. The most important factor that will determine what your perfume smells like is the choice of essential oil. A well stocked store will have a variety of options, so choose a couple of bottles that sound and smell appealing, and make that your base. Mix ¼ cup of your grain alcohol with approximately 5 drops of the essential oil, and set the mixture aside. The longer you wait, the more powerful your perfume will be. That said, make sure you wait at least 2 days if you’re looking for something that won’t smell like straight alcohol.

3. Now that you’ve made your first simple batch of perfume, you’re ready to start combining scents to make your own signature perfume. This is where the process becomes individualized, and where you’ll have the chance to showcase your creative and imaginative prowess.

4. Understand the basic chemistry behind creating fragrances. Base notes are the compounds that will stay on your skin for the longest. These oils include common scents such as sandalwood, vanilla, and cinnamon. Next come middle notes, a group that includes geranium, ylang-ylang, and lemongrass. Finally, top notes add a powerful punch to the fragrance, but don’t last quite as long as the other two kinds of notes. These top notes include jasmine, rose, and lavender, among many others.