The Perks of DIY Perfume
The Perks of DIY Perfume
I feel like adulthood requires a signiture scent. I came to this when I was kickin it with my friend Kera one time (shes a queen, check her out on instagram @kerathompson) and she said something about it that made me get serious about my feminine aromas. Also a side not about Kera, she inspired my #robegame . She upleveled my boudaire game when I would pop by for a quick visit and she’d be draped in esquisite silks and shit. Maybe I should interview her about that sometimes…?
Anyway, lets talk Perfume. Long story short, I now make my own perfumes. And I take it very seriously. I also make my husband his cologne. I think thats darn right adorable of us… dont you? lol. ANYWAY….
We all wear our favorite scents to showcase our personality and style. Some of us like florals, some musky, and some of us just let our moods decide! The bottom line is that we all want to avoid being stinky.
However, commercial perfumes, body sprays, and colognes can be full of harmful chemicals and toxins. Up to four hundred ingredients of ANY kind at a time can be undisclosed under “fragrance” in the ingredient list. There is no legal requirement for the big name brands to disclose their “proprietary” formulas! So you can be exposing yourself to hundreds of chemicals you don’t even know about every time you apply your perfume. This is why it’s important to know how to make your very own, 100% natural, DIY perfumes!
So what exactly do those chemicals and toxins do to your body? As more and more people are going non-toxic, there has been more awareness surrounding the side effects of using products that have them.
Perfume specifically, is very difficult to get specifics about because of just how many chemicals can be used in them—but unnamed. However, we do know that there are actually a few very common reactions many people tend to have while wearing or smelling commercial perfumes:
Headache
Nausea
Rash
Itching
Sinus problems
Asthma attacks/respiratory issues
Dizziness
…and more.
The above symptoms are just the lightweights! The chemicals we DO know the names of, like benzyl acetate, camphor, ethyl acetate, formaldehyde, methylene chloride (which is actually banned by the FDA and still shows up in perfumes), phthalates, and synthetic musks have their very own sets of problems including:
Cancer
Endocrine system damage
Fertility issues
Convulsions
Metabolism suppression
Hormone disruption
Kidney damage
Eye irritation
Neurotoxic
Birth defects
…and so much more.
As you can see, wearing these chemicals on your skin every single day poses a LOT of big risks. So I’d like to share with you a few of my favorite DIY perfume recipes that you can use yourself, or as a guideline for your own favorite essential oil combos.
Most natural perfume recipes will suggest a low to no odor base oil to add your chosen essential oils to. Personally, I prefer using vodka as the base for my own perfumes… It feels lighter on my skin, and the alcohol helps it sort of waft around me better.
Another important note about how to build the best perfumes for yourself is to keep top, middle, and base notes in mind as you choose your oils…
Top notes are going to make up about thirty percent of your overall blend. These are the smells that fade fast and last about half an hour. They’re the “head” of your perfume… The scent that hits first when you smell the perfume. Citruses and light scents are the best examples of this.
Middle notes make up about fifty percent of your perfume blend. These are the “heart” of our perfume, and last longer than the top notes. They can last up to a few hours, and are stronger than the light scents used in the head. For these, you’ll use heavier florals, cinnamon, or herbal oils like rosemary.
Base notes are the “legs” your perfume stands on. These are musky, last all day, and make up about twenty percent of your blend. Patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, and frankincense are good examples of base note oils.
Here are a few of my favorite recipes, but feel free to play around with your own favorite oils and scents! We all have a unique natural smell, as well as individual tastes; so don’t be afraid to break the mold and do you!
DIY PERFUME RECIPES:
Flowers of Tranquility Perfume Recipe
Ingredients:
2 drops Palmarosa Essential Oil
3 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
3 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil
3 drops Rose Essential Oil
½ fluid ounce vodka
Directions:
Blend the vodka and essential oils in a glass bottle.
Let the mixture sit for 2 to 6 weeks in a cool and dry place.
Shake occasionally.
Botanical GardensPerfume Recipe
Ingredients:
12 drops Lavender Essential Oil
6 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
3 drops Clove Essential Oil
3 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
½ fluid ounce vodka
Directions:
Blend the vodka and essential oils in a glass bottle.
Let the mixture sit for 2 to 6 weeks in a cool and dry place.
Shake occasionally.
Rose Colored Glasses Perfume Recipe
Ingredients:
30 drops Rose Essential Oil
1 fluid ounce of vodka
Directions:
Mix essential oil and vodka in a glass jar, shake well.
Allow the mixture to sit for 2 to 3 weeks in a dark, dry, and cool place. Shake occasionally.
Vibrant Citrus Floral Perfume Recipe
Ingredients:
16 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
15 drops Petitgrain Essential Oil
15 drops Citrus Fresh Essential Oil Blend
5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
5 drops Neroli Essential Oil
15 tablespoons of vodka
Directions:
Blend the vodka and essential oils in a glass bottle.
Let the mixture sit for 2 to 3 weeks in a cool and dry place.
Shake occasionally.
Manly Man Men’s Perfume Recipe
Ingredients:
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
20 drops Coriander Essential Oil
22 drops Sandalwood Essential Oil
23 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
5 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
3 fluid ounces of vodka
Directions:
Blend the vodka and essential oils in a glass bottle.
Let the mixture sit for 2 to 3 weeks in a cool and dry place.
Shake occasionally.
Love and Passion Perfume Recipe
Ingredients:
2 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
3 drops Neroli Essential Oil
3 drops Joy Essential Oil Blend
3 fluid ounces of vodka
Directions:
Blend the vodka and essential oils in a glass bottle.
Let the mixture sit for 2 to 3 weeks in a cool and dry place.
Shake occasionally.
I hope you enjoy making your very own safe and all natural perfume, and feel free to share your favorite blend! I’d love to give it a try, and get a peek at your unique style. :)
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