Make Your Own Perfume

I love wearing perfume; well, when I actually find one I like. I tend to be really picky about scents. I don't like anything too flowery or too strong; I tend to like a dull musky scent that slowly gets better throughout the day. I was talking to a friend over the weekend and she told me she makes her own perfume. I was totally impressed but overwhelmed. I can barely make a pot of coffee! I was thinking lab coats, test tubes and goggles but after some sweet smelling inspiration and a pep talk, I am ready to take over the perfume industry.

Eco-friendly, homemade perfumes help cut down on the amount of fossil fuels used to produce, package and ship our favorite scents! Packaging and transportation can cause harm to our environment through the production of plastics and one-time-use non-recyclables as well as burn gas/oil and create carbon and chemical emissions. It is THIS simple:

1. Start out by buying some essential oils. Mixed properly they can help with sleep, mood enhancement, healing and more. Prices range from about $2.00-$25.00 at natural health/food stores.

2. Buy a few small glass containers. Do not use plastic as they can sometimes prevent proper mixing. Also, glass containers are reusable so you can use them again in the future.

3. Purchase a "carrier oil". Options include almond oil - the most commonly used and works well with all skin types, coconut oil (often used in cosmetics and moisturizer), grapeseed oil - the lightest "non-oily" oil (great for acne prone skin types) OR 100 % rose water which acts as a light astringent and smells amazing! Others include basic olive oil which tends to be too oily or fruit oils including avocado and carrot oil.

4. For every tablespoon of carrier oil, add about five drops of the essential oil.

5. Experiment with your mixture on the back of your neck or elbows since it works as both a scent and a moisturizer. This will give you an idea of how strong your scent is. Be sure to wash your hands after mixing/applying your new perfume - you DO NOT want to get the oil in your eyes! OUCH.

Another great concoction you can create is a skin mist! Combine half rosewater, half regular distilled water, a cap-full of witch hazel and a few drops of an essential oil in a spray bottle and you will have a lovely after bath spray.

Seems easy enough, no? And what a super, great gift idea for friends, bridal shower gifts, etc. Try it out and let us know how it turns out! 

- Elaine LaPersonerie - www.winkpr.com
Click here for more of Elaine's posts.

Comments

[S. R. Janssen]

I have been making my own fragrances for years to add to unscented body lotions and to wear as fragrances. The quality of the fragrance as well as the quality of benefit depends entirely upon the quality of the essential oils you purchase. I find the best quality comes from Europe, although the top of the line has a distribution office on the West Coast so they are easy to purchase.

There is a huge difference between creating fragrances from essential oils with a specific physiological or mental purpose and creating a fragrance to wear as part of your wardbrobe. In the first place, if you want the fragrance to last, you must use a good binder. I hate to admit it, but for pure fragrance, without any aromatherapy benefit, some of the syntetics used by the "noses" of the perfume industry are unbeatable. However, their formulas are more valuable than gold, and totally unavailable.