I don’t know about you, but I’ve been craving my own, unique signature scent for some time. Sure, I’ve purchased my fair share of $100 high fashion maison scents and am a big fan of Prada. But at the end of the day, millions of women around the world are wearing the same fragrance. Even if it smells slightly different on each of us, it’s not really our own.
So I decided to look into homemade perfume and it turns out there’s a super simple way to blend your choice of essential oils and create something that’s just you. I also found out some information that sealed the deal and had me heading off to Whole Foods for a collection of essential oils. Did you know that one store-bought perfume can contain over one hundred different chemicals? Chemicals that can cause allergic reactions from skin rashes to respiratory problems. And that not only are you putting yourself at risk, you might be causing discomfort to someone you come in contact with? I’m not talking about over-spritzing, either. Even a light touch can be too much for a well-meaning coworker.
Save some money, help out your comrades and ensure you stay healthy by DIYing your perfume. Check out the info below to get yourself started on your own scent journey. Psst…these makes for great gifts too.
The Materials One of the best ways to make your own scent that lasts and lasts is to create solid perfume. So start saving your used compacts and lip balm jars, they make perfect perfume containers after they’re washed out. Beautylish gives us the basic tools:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of jojoba oil
- 15 to 25 drops of each essential oil you like. One oil is okay to use. If you’re really into lavender, give it a go solo.
- Generous 1/2 teaspoon grated beeswax
- Eye droppers
- Non-metal, heat-safe bowl
- Small cup
- Small funnel (optional)
The Directions: In the small cup, add your essential oils and the jojoba oil. The jojoba oil is termed a “carrier” oil in the perfume DIY world. There are others, but for the sake of keeping it simple, jojoba it is. Melt the wax shavings over the stove. As soon as all solids are liquid, pour in your scent mixture. Keep the heat on for about 10 more seconds and stir to make sure everything is well blended. Pour (this is where the funnel could come in handy) into your container of choice. Beauty stores sell empty plastic jars, as do some drugstores, if you don’t have any leftover containers around.
The Flower Girl: For a simple floral scent, Aromaweb suggests mixing together essential oils lavender, neroli, jasmine and/or ylang ylang. Rose is another very common scent note in many floral perfumes, if you’re looking for another one to add in, try it.
The Earth-tones: Earthy scents to mix up are pine, cedar and sandalwood. Heady and provocative, yet surprisingly refreshing.
The Holiday Spice: Need something special for meeting the family? Nutmeg, clove and cinnamon definitely calls to mind chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
The Sensualist: What occasion do we really want to smell special for? A little romance, right? Esoteric Oils suggests mixing together coriander, bergamot, neroli, jasmine and rose for a sensual blend. The number of drops you use is entirely up to you. It’s all about your nose and what notes (individual oils) you want to come out most prominently. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
