Start With Educating Yourself on Scent
Before you begin mixing, it’s important to understand how fragrances work. Every perfume, whether a $300 high-end bottle or a cheap rollerball, follows the same basic structure: top notes, middle notes and base notes.
- Top Notes are the first thing you smell when you spray or apply a perfume. These notes are usually light, sharp or refreshing scents and quickly evaporate.
- Middle Notes (or “heart” notes) emerge once the top notes fade away. They make up the core of the fragrance and usually include florals (like rose or jasmine), spices (like cinnamon or cardamom) or fruits.
- Base Notes are what give a perfume its depth and longevity. These heavier scents remain on the skin long after applying. Popular choices for base notes tend to be scents like sandalwood, patchouli, tonka bean or vanilla.
Using these three layers, each fragrance becomes a unique blend of its own. While making your own perfume you can make a harmonious blend that perfectly suits you and smells just like you.
Gather Necessary Tools and Materials
The best part of making your own perfume at home is that you don’t need much to get started. Most of the materials and equipment can be found online or at any local natural foods store. Here are the basics that you will need:
- Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils: Start with a variety of notes to include, at least two top notes, two middle notes and two base notes. Some popular options include bergamot, lemon, lavender, rose, ylang ylang, sandalwood and vanilla.
- Carrier Oil or Alcohol: If you’re making an oil-based perfume, go with jojoba or fractionated coconut oil. These oils tend to work with fragrances best. For a spray, opt for perfumer’s alcohol, which you can find online at Amazon.
- Small Funnels or Droppers: These help you measure and mix precisely without wasting ingredients.
- Dark Glass Bottles or Rollerballs: These protect your blend from light and keep it fresh longer.
- Blotting Strips or Cotton Pads: Use these to test scents as you build your formula.
You can also find beginner perfume kits online that include a basic set of oils and instructions, which may be ideal if you are completely new to fragrance.
Craft Your Signature Blend
Now the most exciting part: crafting your own scent. Start light-handed, you don’t want to waste expensive oils on your first few tries. A good rule of thumb for your blend is 30 percent top notes, 50 percent middle notes and 20 percent base notes.
Begin with around 15 drops total, give or take. You might try something like four drops of bergamot for the top note, seven drops of rose for the middle note and four drops of sandalwood for the base. Mix the oils in a glass container and add your carrier oil or perfumer’s alcohol. Use about two tablespoons of alcohol or 10 milliliters of carrier oil for a light perfume.
Let your blend sit in a dark place for a minimum of 48 hours but ideally for one to two weeks. This gives the oils time to blend and settle into their final scent profile.
Test, Adjust and Make It Uniquely Yours
After your perfume has rested, apply a small amount to your skin and let it sit for at least 30 minutes. Perfume evolves over time, so the dry-down is just as important as the first impression.
Don’t be discouraged if your first blend isn’t perfect. This process is all a part of discovering your preferences and perfumer’s nose. Keep notes in a perfume journal with your formulas, changes and any thoughts. Over time, you’ll start to understand what combinations suit your skin chemistry and personal vibe best.
Store It Well
Proper storage ensures your perfume lasts and maintains its intended scent. You can ensure it lasts by using dark glass bottles to protect it from light exposure, keeping your bottles away from hot or humid locations and labeling bottles with the name, date and ingredients to keep record.
If stored properly, your perfume can last anywhere from six to 12 months or even longer. And if you're planning to gift your blends to friends or family, you can order custom labels or decorate the bottles for an extra touch.
