A person is mixing perfume ingredients

How To Craft Perfumes You Will Love Using Essential Oils?

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You’ve landed in the right spot if you’re a brand owner or DIY enthusiast interested in ‘how to make perfume from essential oils’. 

This comprehensive guide will teach you how to use essential oils to create irresistible fragrance mixes. We’ll look at the types of essential oils, their properties, and the three types of perfumes—oil-based, alcohol-based, and wax-based. We’ll also look at the correct ratios and offer tips to create exquisite fragrances that you or your customers will love. 

Understanding Essential Oils

Essential oils are the essence of plants extracted into a concentrated form. Unlike fragrance oils, essential oils are 100% natural, each bottle contains that plant’s unique aromas and therapeutic properties. These oils are the building blocks of perfumes. However, they are highly concentrated, combining with carrier ingredients to create perfume. 

Types of Essential Oil Scents

Essential oils have unique scents and they can be categorized into the following:

Category of ScentDescriptionEssential Oils
FreshFresh scents are crisp and clean, often related to a sense of invigoration.Peppermint, eucalyptus, and tea tree.
Floral Floral scents are delicate, and evoke the aroma of blooming flowers.lavender, rose, and chamomile
WoodyWoody scents are earthy, and grounding, reminding you of forests and trees.cedarwood, sandalwood, and pine
Citrusy Citrusy scents are bright, refreshing, and uplifting, reminding you of fresh citrus fruits. lemon, orange, and grapefruit
Spicy Spicy scents are warm, aromatic, and associated with culinary spices.cinnamon, ginger, and clove

Aside from scent, essential oils differ in properties such as volatility and blending capabilities.

How To Choose Essential Oils According To Your Personal Preferences

To choose the perfect essential oils for your perfume, carefully consider your personal preferences or your brand’s identity. Understand the different fragrance families discussed above. If you want to create a clean, everyday scent, go for citrusy or fresh scents. For a feminine or romantic scent, go for floral notes such as lavender or rose. 

When selecting essential oils, go for those that align with the emotional response you wish to evoke Experiment with blending different oils within the same fragrance family to achieve a balanced and harmonious scent composition. To create a new scent, experiment with blending across categories. 

A person checks the scent of a bottle of perfume

Tips For Matching Different Scented Essential Oils

To create a unique, compelling scent, you’ll have to experiment with blending different scents to create one that seamlessly blends. Begin by selecting a dominant note, such as a floral or citrusy scent, that serves as the focal point of your perfume. Supplement this primary note with complementary scents from other fragrance families—like adding woody or spicy undertones. Matching different scents enhances complexity and depth.

Remember to check the volatility and longevity of each essential oil. Some oils evaporate quickly, while others linger on the skin. Leave the mixture on for a while to test how it interacts with the skins and if it changes with time.

Note: The quality of the oils you use dramatically impacts the scent and longevity of your final product.  

Selecting The Right Essential Oil For Your Perfume

Selecting the right ratios is the key to crafting irresistible perfume with essential oils. Consider the olfactory profile you wish to achieve. Are you seeking a luxurious, sophisticated scent or a fresh, youthful aroma?  

When making perfume with essential oils, understand that you can make 3 types of perfumes:

Alcohol-based Perfume

Alcohol-based perfume can have 1-40% essential oils dissolved in an alcoholic base. It is the most common type of perfume on the market. Spray bottles are sold because they evaporate immediately if left open. 

Oil-based Perfume

These perfumes use oils as a base instead of alcohol. They tend to have a longer-lasting scent and are often more moisturizing to the skin.

Solid Perfume

Solid perfumes are made with wax or a similar base, often mixed with essential or fragrance oils. They come in compact pots and are applied directly to the skin.

Alcohol-based perfume is the most popular and long-lasting. However, certain customers prefer oil-based and solid perfumes because they are better for sensitive skin and the environment. 

Blending Techniques For Making Fragrances With Essential Oils

To create harmonious perfumes, it is essential to master the art of blending. 

Blending Oil-Based Perfume

Essential oils are divided into a pyramid of top, middle, and base notes. 

● Top notes are the most potent scent- the first scent you smell in any perfume. They are solid and captivating. They should make up 10-30% of the formula. 

● Middle notes are the heart of the fragrance and have a balanced scent. They should constitute 30-60% of the formula.

● Base notes are deep and provide longevity to the concoction. They should make up 15-30% of the blend.

These ratios are a general guideline- the top and base notes are in smaller ratios, while the middle note has the highest percentage. When making your DIY essential oil perfume, you’ll want to experiment with different combinations and adjust them until you reach your perfect scent. Remember to allow your blends to mature over time, as the fragrance develops and matures with age.

Essential Oil Blending technique

Blending Alcohol-based Perfume

Alcohol-based perfumes generally consist of essential oils, alcohol, and water. The quantity of essential oil differs depending on the type of perfume. 

Type of PerfumePercentage of Essential Oil
Perfume15-40% perfume oils
Eau de Parfum10-20%
Eau de Toilette5-15%
Eau de Cologne 2-5%
Eau Fraîche1-3%

The remaining percentage comprises alcohol, distilled water, and optional preservatives. 

Homemade Perfume Manufacturing Process

What You Will Need

1.  Essential Oils: Top, middle, and base essential oils, according to your taste.

2.  Carrier Oil: Carrier oils are odorless or have a mild scent, such as almond or jojoba oil.

3.  Glass Roller Ball: Roller balls are used for easy fragrance oil application. Dark-colored roller balls protect the perfume from UV light, which degrades oil. 

4.  Glass Mixing Bottle: Non-reactive glass containers for blending essential oils and alcohol, ensuring no contamination and proper blending.

5.  Atomizer Bottle: Specialized spray bottles for dispensing alcohol-based perfumes evenly and efficiently.

6.  Water: Used to adjust the perfume’s strength and balance the alcohol and oil mixture.

7.  Alcohol: Acts as a solvent to dissolve essential oils, ensuring they disperse evenly when applied and evaporate quickly to leave a long-lasting scent.

mixing the essential oils in a bowl

How To Make Perfume Oils

1.  Create your perfect scent profile by mixing the essential oils’ top middle and bottom notes as described above, then wait a week to allow them to meld together. 

2.  Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil in an 80/20 ratio. 80 drops of carrier oil for 20 drops of essential oil. Carrier oils, like coconut or sweet almond oil, are lightweight without a strong scent. 

3.  After mixing the concoction, store it in a dark-colored glass roller ball or spray bottle. Dark glass protects the oil from degrading due to UV exposure. 

4.  Apply your perfume labeling and packaging and you’re done!

How To Make Alcohol-Based Perfume

1.  Mix the essential oils’ top, middle, and bottom notes as described above to create your perfect scent profile, then wait a week for them to meld together. 

2.  Now it’s time to mix the essential oil with alcohol. Refer to the table above to decide the strength of your perfume and the percentage of essential oil. 

3.  The remaining percentage will comprise alcohol and (optionally) water. Use 190 profs. Alcohol, as that has an alcohol content of 95%. The higher the alcohol content, the better. 

4.  Mix the alcohol, perfume, and water in a glass bottle. 

5.  Transfer to an atomizer bottle and let it rest for at least a month to meld together

6.  Apply your perfume labeling and packaging and you’re done!

Alcohol-based perfume with tangerine scent

FAQs

Can I make my own perfume with essential oils?

Yes, you can easily make your own perfume with essential oils. Essential oils provide natural scents that can be blended to create personalized fragrances. Simply select your favorite essential oil and mix it with a carrier oil, using an essential oil recipe. 

What can I mix with essential oils for perfume?

Essential oils can be mixed with neutral carrier oils like jojoba almond oil, or other essential oils to create new perfume profiles.

How to make perfume at home naturally?

To make natural perfume, use essential oils derived from plants, flowers, or spices. Choose oils that work well together and dilute them in a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba oil. Adjust the ratios based on personal preference and blend them gently before storing the mixture in a dark bottle to mature.

Perfume has always permeated human history, bringing both a sensory and aesthetic element to society.

As a modern-day perfume manufacturer, we can offer the best in perfumery. If you are looking for a fragrance that will be unique to you or your brand, contact us. We have the experts, the skills, and the experience to create a sublime scent just for you.

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