How to Make Cologne for Men

Cologne is a form of perfume that is both simple and fun to make. When making perfume it's best to use essential oils, which are the purest form of fragrance. However, some essential oils are very rare and expensive, so you can use synthetic fragrances instead. You can buy essential oils and fragrances almost anywhere, including your local drug store and health food store. But if you want to buy larger quantities, it's more economical to buy them directly from wholesalers such as Wellington Fragrance Co. or Essential Wholesale. These wholesalers also sell other perfume-making supplies, so they are a great one-stop resource. There are also several books that provide valuable information on perfume making, essential oils and fragrances, and it's definitely worth while to have at least one of these books on hand. Because there are so many scent possibilities, there are literally hundreds of perfume recipes and endless possibilities for creating original scents. This article has a recipe for Bay Rum, which is a classic men's scent and a wonderful introduction to perfume making.

Things You'll Need

• 1 wide mouth glass bottle or jar with cork or top (tinted glass is best)
• Glass measuring cups
• Plastic or glass measuring spoons
• 1 glass or plastic bowl
• 4 oz. vodka
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbs Jamaican rum
• 1 cinnamon stick, whole
• 1/2 tsp. allspice, whole
• Zest from 1 orange
• 10 drops essential oil of clove bud
• 50 drops essential oil of bay

Instructions

1. Make sure you have a clean, flat workspace, and cover the space with plastic to avoid staining. A simple plastic tablecloth over a card table works really well.

2. Your bottle should be as clean, dry and as sterile as possible. For best results boil the bottle in hot water for 10 minutes and be sure to dry it thoroughly before using.

3. Combine the vodka, rum, oil of clove and oil of bay in clean glass bottle.

4. Combine the bay leaves, cinnamon stick, allspice and orange zest in a glass bowl, then add them to the liquid in the bottle.

5. Cap the bottle tightly and roll it gently between your hands for 10 seconds. Then, place the bottle in a cool, dry and dark place for two weeks.

6. At the end of two weeks strain the mixture through a paper coffee filter or muslin cloth and discard the solids. Place the remaining liquid in a new, clean bottle and cap it tightly. If you want, you can add crushed or whole bay leaf as a decorative touch. Store it in a cool, dry place.

Tips & Warnings

• Some essential oils are very aromatic, so make sure that any utensils you use for making fragrances are used only for that purpose. Glass is best, but if you use plastic utensils, be sure to clean them with alcohol after each use to avoid cross- contamination of scents. Avoid using metal tools or containers when making fragrances. Metal can cause a chemical reaction and alter the fragrance. Avoid using wood; it's porous and absorbs smells easily. Excess light, heat and moisture adversely affect the quality of your ingredients. Store your supplies in a cool, dry place and avoid direct sunlight.

Resources

• Wellington Fragrance Co.
• Essential Wholesale
• The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy - Valerie Ann Worwood
• Perfumes, Splashes & Colognes - Nancy M. Booth