DIY Perfumes
Are you tired of using the same perfumes that are popular with other people? It’s not easy to smell beautiful in an individual way when you are purchasing perfumes that are available to the rest of the public.
There is also the toxin factor! Some perfumes cause some individuals to have bad reactions, either to the perfume being directly applied itself, or the aroma of a perfume on another individual.
Some of those nasty toxins include: acetone, benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, linalool and methylene chloride.
There is a solution, however! Essential oils are the way to create and customise your own toxin-free essential oil fragrance.
Essential oils are separated into 3 categories, or what are known as notes; base, middle & top. When you are blending, top notes are the first thing you smell and don’t last long. Top notes make up about 5-20% of the blend. Middle notes are the next oils that you smell, once the top notes wear off, middle notes become more prominent, this can happen anywhere between 20-60 minutes after application. These notes are known as the body, bouquet or heart of the fragrance and make up about 50-80% of the perfume blend.
After an hour or two, you will begin to notice the base notes. Base notes are the oils that last the longest and are usually floral or woody scents. Like top notes, they make up about 5-20% of the perfume. When creating your perfume fragrance, adding alcohol or carrier oils, such as Fractionated Coconut Oil can help tone down overpowering oils and prolong the life of your perfume.
TOP NOTES:
Basil, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Coriander, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Wild Orange, Peppermint, Petitgrain, Spearmint, Tangerine, Tea Tree, Wintergreen.
MIDDLE NOTES
Black Pepper, Cardamom, Cilantro, Cypress, Douglas Fir, Fennel – Sweet, Geranium, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Marjoram, Melissa, Oregano, Roman Chamomile, Rosemary, Spikenard, Thyme, Siberian fir, Yarrow/Pom.
BASE NOTES
Arborvitae, Blue Tansy , Cassia, Cedarwood, Cinnamon Bark, Clove Bud, Copaiba, Frankincense, Ginger, Helichrysum, Jasmine, Myrrh, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang.
Common Aromatic Scent combinations:
Floral: Geranium, Lavender and Ylang Ylang
Oriental: Ginger, Patchouli and Frankincense
Woody: Cedarwood, Sandalwood and Vetiver
Fresh: Bergamot, Grapefruit and Wild Orange
How To Blend:
Remember that the middle notes are the heart, but the base ties it all together, so choose your favourite oils from the base and middle oils first, then finish by choosing the top oil that you like the most. For example, if you want a blend that is both woody and masculine, but is versatile enough to be light and feminine, you may wish to choose oils from the base and middle note sections that have a deep, rich aroma, but are still fresh and clean, like Cedarwood, Sandalwood and Juniper Berry.
Next you need to choose one or more oils from the top note section that are consistent with the theme, but give it some extra oomph, like Siberian Fir and Grapefruit.
Once you have made your choices, it is time to blend them. Add 4-5 drops of your base oils, 4-5 drops of your middle oils, and 2-3 drops of your top note oils. A perfume bottle that carries 10 to 15 ml if you have about 6 oils added, is recommended. Once you have the oils in the bottle, put the cap on and shake to combine. If you are happy with the scent created (you may decide to add a few more drops of a particular oil that you love), top off the mix (fill the rest of the bottle) with some Fractionated Coconut Oil.
Happy perfume making!
REFERENCES:
Fall 2017 Living Magazine doTERRA
https://www.mamavation.com/featured/toxic-perfume-chemicals.html
