Do you want to create your own signature fragrance? Or maybe you want to make a special gift made with your own hands? With simple ingredients that you can find in the supermarket it is possible to create wonderful scents.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Knowing the Science Behind Perfumes
Step 1. Learn to recognize the different notes
Perfumes are a blend of various levels of fragrance, also known as "notes". When you spray a product on the skin, the notes follow each other in the following order:
- The high notes are the first to be heard. They also disappear quite early, usually after 10-15 minutes.
- Middle notes occur when the high ones disappear. They are the heart of the fragrance and determine which family the perfume belongs to, for example oriental, woody, fresh or floral.
- The base notes accentuate the middle ones, correct them and are known as the "theme" of a fragrance. They are the foundation of perfume and can last on the skin for up to 4-5 hours.
Step 2. Familiarize yourself with the most common high notes
These include basil, bergamot, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lime, mint, neroli, rosemary and sweet orange.
Step 3. Find out the most used middle notes
These include black pepper, cardamom, chamomile, cinnamon, cloves, fir needles, jasmine, juniper, lemongrass, neroli, nutmeg, rose, rosewood and ylang-ylang.
Step 4. Know the most common base notes
These include cedar, cypress, ginger, patchouli, pine, sandalwood, vanilla and vetiver.
Step 5. Learn the right relationships between notes
When you create a perfume, start with the base notes, then move on to the middle ones and finally to the high ones. The ideal mixing ratio is 30% high notes, 50% middle notes and 20% base notes.
Some experts recommend mixing a maximum of 3 or 4 dominant notes
Step 6. Learn the basic recipe
To create a perfume, it is not enough to add the notes you prefer: you will need a starting point.
- The process starts with a carrier oil. Common choices include jojoba, sweet almond, and grape seed oil.
- You will then slowly add drops of the base, middle and high notes to the carrier oil.
- Finally, something will be needed to bind the ingredients together. Alcohol is the most common choice, as it evaporates quickly and helps spread the scent notes. A product often used by DIY perfume makers is a high quality vodka, with 40-50% alcohol by volume.
- If you're looking to make a solid perfume instead of a liquid one (like a lip balm), use melted beeswax as a fixer, instead of alcohol or water.
Step 7. Find out which notes your favorite scents contain
If you don't know how to make the structure of a perfume, read the ingredients of the commercial fragrances you like best.
If you can't find the ingredients or make out their notes, the Basenotes website (in English) is a great resource that can answer your questions
Part 2 of 4: Know the Materials You Need
Step 1. Buy dark glass containers
Many people recommend using this type of bottle, because the dark glass protects the perfume from light, which can make it lose its characteristics more quickly.
- You should also make sure that the containers have not already been used for food, as residual odors will transfer to the perfume.
- You can make an exception to this rule if you want the perfume to have some notes of what was previously contained in the bottle. Be careful, though; Peanut butter, banana or chocolate scents may smell worse than their taste!
Step 2. Purchase a carrier oil
This substance carries the fragrances infused in the perfume onto your skin. Generally they are odorless products, used to dilute concentrated oils and flavors that could otherwise irritate the skin.
- You can use a lot of products as a carrier oil. If you like the smell, you could even use olive oil.
- A well-known manufacturer simmers rose petals in extra virgin olive oil and then binds it all with vitamin E oil to stabilize the product.
Step 3. Buy the strongest alcohol you can find
Many DIY producers choose 40-50 ° vodka. Others prefer 80 ° alcohol.
You can find grape and wheat grappa at 80 °
Step 4. Choose the fragrances
You can make your own perfume with many different ingredients. The most common aromas include essential oils, flower petals, leaves and herbs.
Step 5. Decide which method to use
You can produce a perfume in different ways depending on the materials at your disposal. The most used are plant materials (flowers, leaves and herbs) and essential oils; you will need to use specific methods for these products.
Part 3 of 4: Using Fresh Flowers, Leaves or Herbs
Step 1. Find a clean glass container
The type isn't as important as the material - just make sure it's clean and glass. It will also need to have a cap that closes well.
- Perfume manufacturers often recommend dark glass, which can make the fragrance last longer by protecting it from light.
- Avoid using jars that previously contained food, because even if you wash them well, the glass may transfer odors.
Step 2. Get an odorless oil
The most used are jojoba, almond and grape seed oils.
Step 3. Collect pleasantly scented flowers, leaves and herbs
Make sure the materials you use have strong aromas and that the leaves are dry. If they get air, they may lose their scent.
You may want to harvest and dry more plants than you need, to have a chance to reinforce the aroma of the oil in the future
Step 4. Throw away all unnecessary material
If you are using flowers, you will only need the petals. In the case of leaves or herbs, discard the twigs or other parts that may interfere with the aroma.
Step 5. Lightly tamp the material
This step is optional, but it can help you bring out the scent more. Just mash everything with a wooden spoon.
Step 6. Pour the oil into the glass container
A small amount will be enough, enough to cover the petals, leaves and herbs.
Step 7. Add the plant materials to the oil and close the container tightly
Step 8. Let the contents of the jar sit in a cool dark place for a week or two
Step 9. Open, filter and repeat
If the oil doesn't smell strong enough after a week or two, you can strain the old plant materials and add more to the scented oil before letting it rest again.
- You can repeat this for several weeks or months, until the oil reaches the desired intensity.
- Make sure you keep the oil! Instead, you will have to discard the materials.
Step 10. Store the scented oil
When you are satisfied with the final product you can add a drop or two of natural preservative, such as vitamin E or grapefruit seed extract, to extend the useful life of the perfume.
If you want to turn the oil into a conditioner you can add some beeswax: holsters a little in the microwave, mix it with the perfume, then pour the mixture into a container so it can cool and solidify
Part 4 of 4: Using Essential Oils
Step 1. Get the materials you need
You need the following ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of carrier oil (jojoba, almond or grape seed oil).
- 6 tablespoons of alcohol at 50-85 °.
- 2 and a half tablespoons of mineral water.
- 30 drops of essential oil (at least one of each type: basic, medium and high)
- Coffee filters.
- Funnel.
- 2 clean glass containers.
Step 2. Pour 2 tablespoons of carrier oil into the glass bottle
Step 3. Add essential oils
You should put in 30 drops in total. Start with the base notes, then move on to the middle notes and finally to the high ones. The ideal ratio is 20% base, 50% medium and 30% high.
Pay attention to the aromas you add: if a perfume is more intense than the others you will have to use a smaller amount, so that it does not dominate the whole fragrance
Step 4. Add the alcohol
Use a high quality product with a high alcohol content. Vodka is among the most common choices.
Step 5. Let the perfume rest for at least 48 hours
Close the lid and let the contents of the bottle settle for at least two days. You can wait up to 6 weeks, to allow the fragrance to reach maximum intensity.
Check the bottle regularly to assess the intensity of the scent
Step 6. Add two tablespoons of mineral water
When the scent is to your liking, add two tablespoons of water to the bottle.
Step 7. Shake the bottle vigorously
Do this for a minute to make sure the contents are well mixed.
Step 8. Transfer the perfume to another bottle
Pour the perfume into a clean dark glass container using a coffee filter and funnel. If you need to give a gift, you can choose a decorated bottle.
Apply a label with the ingredients and the date on the bottle to get an idea of how long the perfume will last. This way you will know how much you need to prepare next time
Step 9. Try variants
To make a solid perfume (like lip balm) instead of a spray, try replacing the water with melted beeswax. You will need to add this product to the perfume and pour the hot solution into a container to let it solidify.
You can buy beeswax at a herbalist's shop
Advice
- When adding ingredients, don't overdo it: smell them all and find the right combinations. Too many notes can ruin a perfume.
- To clean a glass container, wash it in the hottest water possible, then place it on a baking sheet and dry it in the oven at 110 ° C.
- Try creating fragrances inspired by the foods and drinks you like best. For example, you could make a chai perfume with cinnamon oil, sweet orange oil, clove oil, and cardamom oil. Another example is a pumpkin pie scent, which may contain the following essential oils: cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, vanilla and orange.
