How to Make a Perfume From a Plant

Making perfume from plants is a natural way to harness the beauty of nature. Man has been making fragrances since the beginning of time using the heavenly scents found in the world around him. Making your own natural perfume is easy and basically consists of two steps: creating an essential oil and transforming the oil into perfume. Once the perfume is finished, it is ready to use and, if properly stored, can last for months.

Things You'll Need

• 4 cups of flower petals
• 1 cup almond oil
• 1 cup distilled water
• 5 tsp. vodka
• Large measuring cup
• Wooden spoon
• Large bowl
• Small bowl
• Cheesecloth or coffee filters
• Plastic wrap
• Funnel
• Dark brown bottles, vials or atomizing spray bottles

Instructions

Making Natural Essential Oil

1. Pack 1 cup of the flower petals into the measuring cup.

2. Bruise the petals by mashing them with the wooden spoon.

3. Pour the petals in the bowl and add the almond oil.

4. Mix thoroughly, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand overnight in a cool, dark place.

5. Strain the mixture using the cheesecloth or a coffee filter, discard the petals and return the oil to the bowl.

6. Repeat the steps above three times using the same oil; the entire process should take 4 days.

Making Perfume From Essential Oil

1. Measure 5 tsp. of vodka into a small bowl.

2. Drop 1 drop of the essential oil into the vodka, mix thoroughly and repeat, using not more than 5 to 10 drops of essential oil total.

3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a cool, dark place for 48 hours.

4. Mix 1 cup of distilled water into the oil blend.

5. Strain perfume using cheesecloth or a coffee filter to remove any sediment.

6. Pour the perfume (using a funnel) into a dark brown bottle, vial or atomizing spray bottle.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use a variety of different flowers or herbs to create essential oil. Try rose, lavender, cinnamon, lemon balm or mint.

• Homemade perfume shouldn’t be limited to flowers. Try using other plants or natural items such as tree bark, roots, bulbs, fruits, fragrant grasses, spices or even honeycombs.

• Sterilize all your equipment and storage bottles before making perfume; this will help keep your natural homemade perfume fresh longer.

• Don’t use kitchen utensils when creating essential oils or perfumes. Oils from food can contaminate your essential oils and ruin their scent.