The Natural Beauty Workshop

Blending Handmade Perfume Oils

Blending a beautiful aroma is much like any other artistic endeavor.  If you were painting, for instance, you would pay attention to the colors and composition, building a base of neutrals so that the carefully placed bursts of color would be highlighted.  So it is with a great perfume.  Base notes, such as musk, patchouli, or vanilla, build a sturdy foundation that allows mid and top notes, such as grapefruit, geranium, or bergamot to sing.  The experience should start with a zing, and end in a mellow comfort.  In past articles, we've gone over the details of building an aroma.  Once you've crafted a masterpiece from your aromatic notes, how will you use it?  While a blended aroma can be used to scent any number of bath & body products, it is best showcased in a perfume.

Photo by Life Soap Simple via The Natural Beauty Workshop Flickr Photo Group

Perfume Oils are the simplest method of handmade perfumery.  Aromatics are simply dropped into a suitable carrier, and agitated until fully mixed.  You carrier oil should be considered carefully for color, scent, and stability.  Ideally, you are looking for an oil that has no scent of its own, and is very stable.  An oil that lacks color is often ideal, as your aromatics may have colors of their own to showcase.  Some perfumers also choose to tint their perfumes to add to the overall esthetic.  A colorless carrier makes that a lot easier.  Alternatively, you can choose a colorful or fragrant carrier purposely to blend with your perfume.  For instance, Berry Seed Oils often yield a slightly fatty, acidic aroma that could balance a heavy perfume nicely.  For general purposes, I usually recommend Fractionated Coconut Oil or Jojoba, Clear as good, plain carrier oils with high stability.

The next order of business for your perfume oil is to determine the ratio of aromatics to carrier oil.  Most aromatics cannot be used at full strength, and so they must be diluted.  This is important for safety, but also helps the perfume to be less overwhelming.  Natural aromatics are especially strong, and would be far too fragrant for comfort if used at full strength.  Perfume oil should consist of 1% to 5% aromatics.  Keep the strength, toxicity, and irritant value of the aromatics you are using in mind when deciding on the exact proportion.  When in doubt, it is safer to use less aromatics.  After all, the user can always apply more perfume if they prefer a stronger scent.

With these principles of blending handmade perfume oil in mind, I've created a base recipe for you to experiment with.  This recipe uses a ratio of 3% aromatics.  I'll include some notes later on to help you increase or decrease that ratio as needed.

Handmade Perfume Oil Recipe

• 1 ounce Jojoba, Clear (or another stable Carrier Oil)
• 21 drops Aromatics (Essential Oils, Absolutes, CO2 Extracts, Attars, or Fragrance Oils)

Other Ratios

• 7 drops Aromatics to 1 ounce Carrier Oil = 1%

• 14 drops Aromatics to 1 ounce Carrier Oil = 2%

• 21 drops Aromatics to 1 ounce Carrier Oil = 3%

• 28 drops Aromatics to 1 ounce Carrier Oil = 4%

• 35 drops Aromatics to 1 ounce Carrier Oil = 5%

Helpful Links

• Building an Aroma
• Aromatic Notes
• Using Natural Herbs to Color Products
• 1 oz and 1/3 oz Roll On Bottles

Rose & Mimosa Solid Perfume

This all natural, vegan, perfume is made from only three ingredients: Mimosa Floral Wax, Clear Jojoba, and Organic Rose Damnascena CO2 Extract.  This is a pretty luxurious recipe, as it is made with mostly precious ingredients.  You can create a more economic version of this recipe by swapping the CO2 out for something less expensive.  Natural options include our Rose Essential Oil, Rose Absolute, or Rose Attar.  You can make the recipe even less costly by using a Rose Fragrance Oil in place of the CO2.  If you do choose to use a Fragrance Oil, be sure to use a little more than the recipe calls for, as the scent will not be as strong.

Rose & Mimosa Solid Perfumes

Ingredients

• 1/8 ounce Mimosa Floral Wax
• 1/2 ounce Jojoba, Clear
• 5 - 10 Drops Organic Rose Damnascena CO2 Extract

Directions
In a double boiler, gently melt the Floral Wax and Jojoba Oil together.  When the Floral Wax has melted completely, remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool for a few moments.  Add the CO2 Extract and stir well before pouring the mixture into containers.  Allow the containers to cool and harden completely before handling them.

Usage & Packaging
Dab a small amount of perfume onto your neck, behind your ears, on your wrists, or wherever you'd like to enjoy a touch of floral fragrance.  These tiny perfumes can be packaged in numerous ways.  Since they pack a strong scent in a small volume, I would suggest using small containers.  Our Crystal Jars, or Pink Mini Lip Balm Pots would be good choices.  We packaged ours in our 1/4 ounce Slider Tins for this project.  You can download free, printable labels here to make your tins extra pretty:  Download MimosaRosePerfumeSheet

Please note that the label print out includes two different ingredient listings, one that uses CO2 Extract, and one that uses Fragrance Oil.  Make sure you pick the right label when you decorate your tin.

Citrus Ice Cooling Body Spray

Though we haven't even hit June, Summer temperatures have been occurring all over the map.  Take the edge off of summer heat with this cooling body spray.  Menthol Crystals are dissolved into this Body Spray, giving it the power to cool and refresh you during hot weather.  Moisturizing Aloe Gel also makes this recipe great for dry, over exposed skin. This recipe also works very well with Cucumber, Green Tea, Vanilla, or Lemon Honey Floral Water.

Citrus Ice Cooling Body Spray

Ingredients
1 ounce Aloe Vera Gel 1:1
2 ounces Citrus Blend Floral Water
2 teaspoons Menthol Crystals
1 tablespoon Alcohol
1 ounce Distilled Water

Directions
In a small container, combine the Alcohol and Menthol Crystals.  The Crystals will take some time to dissolve.  Allow the mixture to sit for 5 - 10 minutes.  Stirring may help to quicken the process slightly.  When the Menthol Crystals have fully dissolved, pour them into a larger container.  Add 1 ounce Aloe Vera Gel 1:1, 1 ounce Distilled Water, and 2 ounces of Citrus Blend Floral Water.  Stir the mixture well.  The emulsifying agents contained in the Floral Water should allow the mixture to fully combine and soon turn clear.  If the mixture doesn't clear, add a few drops of Polysorbate 20 to help it along.  Carefully pour the mixture into a 4 oz. PET Bottle with Sprayer.

Usage
This Cooling Body Spray is quite potent, but it takes a few moments to feel its full effects.  Spray a very light mist onto your body.  The cooling sensation should last for about an hour.  Please note that this Spray should not be used on babies or small children.

Note: Hydrosol can be used in place of Floral Water, but it must be combined with an Emulsifier, such as Polysorbate 20 to keep the mixture from separating.

Rose Body Milk

This moisturizing Body Spray is made with Bee's Milk, a unique ingredient made from emulsified Beeswax, Sesame Oil, and water.  Rose Damnascena Hydrosol and delicate Rose Attar give this simple recipe a luxurious twist.  Rose Body Milk gives the skin a touch of moisture and delicate Rose aroma, one spritz at a time.

Rose Body Milk
Makes about 2 ounces

Ingredients
1/4 ounce Bee's Milk
1 ounce Rose Damnascena Hydrosol
1/8 ounce Polysorbate 20
1/8 ounce Rose Damnascena Attar*
1/2 ounce Distilled Water
7 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract

Directions
In a small measuring cup combine 1/8 Polysorbate 20 and 1/8 ounce Rose Attar.  Stir well to make sure they are fully combined.  In a larger measuring cup, combine 1/4 ounce Bee's Milk, 1 ounce Rose Damnascena Hydrosol, and 1/2 ounce Distilled Water.  Mix well, then transfer the mixture to a 2 oz. Aluminum Bottle.  Next, add the Polysorbate and Attar mixture to the bottle, followed by the Grapefruit Seed Extract.  Top the Bottle with a Sprayer Cap, screwing it on tightly to secure the contents of the bottle.  Shake the bottle well to mix the ingredients.

Usage & Packaging
We suggest using a 2 oz. Aluminium Bottle with a Sprayer to package this recipe.  When you order the Bottle, please note that the Sprayer Tube may be too long for the Bottle.  Use a pair of scissors to carefully trim the tube to the appropriate size.  Rose Body Milk should be sprayed directly on the skin, carefully avoiding contact with clothes or other fabrics, as it could stain them. Try using Rose Body Milk after a shower or bath to quickly moisturize your skin. 

*For a more econmonic version of this recipe, try substituing Rose Geranium Essential Oil or Red Rose Fragrance Oil for the Attar.