How to Make Perfume Butter

Perfume butters are the oldest known method of wearing fragrance known to man. Unlike liquid formulas, perfume butters will not spill and tend to last much longer on the skin. For any perfume butter, the method will be more or less the same. You will need 4 oz. of a solid “plant butter” base (or 2 oz. of plant butter and 2 oz. of solid wax, like beeswax). To this you will combine 4 oz. of a pure, richly moisturizing oil, plus two or more drops of the essential oils of your choosing for fragrance. This article will provide precise instructions and a sample recipe that you can use at home. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients to create your own signature scent. Unlike alcohol-based liquid perfumes, perfume butters can be used as soon as they have cooled and solidified at room temperature.

Things You'll Need

• 4 oz. of pure Shea butter, Mango butter or Cocoa butter (separately, or in combination)
• OR…
• 2 oz. of one of the above butters and
• 2 oz. of beeswax
• Plus:
• 4 oz. of Olive oil, Jojoba oil, Almond oil or Coconut oil (separately, or in combination)
• 3 drops of neroli essential oil
• 10 drops of rose essential oil
• 10 drops of lavender essential oil
• Double boiler
• Wooden spoon
• Containers and jars with lids

Instructions

1. Melt your butter(s) slowly on very low heat or on a double boiler. Add beeswax if you are using it. Stir gently but well to dissolve and blend completely. Avoid permitting the base to boil!

2. Remove the dissolved base from the heat. Add 4 oz. of the moisturizing oil to the base. Stir well.

3. Add the drops of essential oil one at a time. Stir slowly after each addition to combine.

4. Allow the perfume to cool slightly. While it is still in liquefied form, pour the perfume into containers or jars. Let the product remain uncovered until completely cool and solid.

5. Place lids on the finished perfume butter and store until use at room temperature.

Tips & Warnings

• Stir gently throughout this process to dissolve each ingredient into the next. Some expert believe that stirring too vigorously will actually bruise the molecules that carry the fragrance of the essential oils.

• Do not allow the base to boil while dissolving. You can easily damage the lipids in the ingredients that provide moisture benefits to your skin. Boiling will also cause a “scorched” odor to permeate your perfume, thus ruining it.

Resources

• Click here to read more about perfumes!
• Video showing a method of dissolving the perfume base without a double boiler or a microwave.