Ok, you say...now she's taking it to far! Making my own perfume? Well, I have to admit, I do buy perfume. For instance I am totally smitten with Chanel Madamoiselle and never want to be without it. It is nice to be able to experiment with scents, however, and create your own one of a kind concoction especially for you. Also, the holidays are coming up and if you'd like to make some special gifts it's time to get started!
Have you ever smelled a fragrance and you just knew that if you were a perfume that this one would be you?
Essential oils can set you back a dollar or two, but don’t panic, you need only a drop or two of jasmine, for example, to infuse a bottle of really luxurious perfume.
Unlike many store bought perfumes you can be sure that you are buying the real thing. You don’t have to worry about added chemicals and preservatives going onto your skin and drying it out or even worse having a severe reaction to it. Each person has an individual chemistry in their body, so it might be best to try a sample of the essential oils.
The strength of your aromatic liquid or perfume depends on the ratio of essential oils to water and alcohol. Perfume is the strongest formula: 15-30 percent essential oil, 70-85 percent alcohol, and the remainder or at least 5 percent water. Be sure to use bottled distilled or spring water only. 100 proof vodka should be used for the alcohol. If you want to add color, use a high quality, natural, vegetable food dye. You will also need sterilized bottles to put your creations in, and as much as you want to use the pretty clear cut glass bottles, please don’t. They attract perfumes worst enemy: the sun. But if you feel you must display your new creations in a beautiful bottle, at least store the majority of your perfume in a separate container and only what you want to display in the pretty glass one.
Finally, you need a notebook to record the exact formulas, in drops of essential oils, that you use when making up your concentrate. Remember that one drop of essential oil can change the whole formula. For instance you know you put in jasmine, ylang-ylang, and vanilla, but was it one drop or two of jasmine, and 3 or 4 drops of vanilla? So if you stumble upon a masterpiece you sure want to have everything nice and neat to look back on.
Step-By-Step Instructions:
Concentrate of essential oils
2 1/2 oz of 100 Proof Vodka
2 tbsp of Distilled or Spring Water (add more water if needed)
Take your essential oil concentrate and add to Vodka, stirring slowly but long enough to disperse the oils. Let this mixture stand for 48 hours, then add 2 tbsp of distilled or spring water, again stir slowly and thoroughly. Let this mixture stand another 48 hours. You can let your perfume stand anywhere from four to six weeks curing time, this way you will get a stronger perfume, and not a cologne. This choice is up to you, just remember if the formula seems too strong you can always add more water and dilute it back down. After letting the perfume mature or cure, pour through a coffee filter (so any sediment does not get into the final product). Now you have your own signature perfume!
Since essential oils can be a little pricey you may want to invite some of your friends over to make their own fragrance. Have them each bring one or 2 oils and you can mix it up a bit. Most of all have fun! Here are a couple to try:
Misty Passions perfume
Ingredients:
3 drops passionflower essential/fragrance oil
2 drops ylang ylang essential/fragrance oil
3 drops neroli essential/fragrance oil
2 1/2 oz of 100 Proof Vodka
2 tbsp of Distilled or Spring Water (add more water if needed)
Directions:
Pour the alcohol into a dark bottle or jar. Add the oils and shake well. Leave for 1 week. Store in a cool dry area.
Orient Nights perfume
Ingredients:
4 drops sandalwood essential/fragrance oil
4 drops musk essential/fragrance oil
3 drops frankincense essential/fragrance oil
2 1/2 oz of 100 Proof Vodka
2 tbsp of Distilled or Spring Water (add more water if needed)
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients together, shake well. Place in a dark color bottle. Then allow the perfume to settle for at least 12 hours. Store in a cool dry area.
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