How to Make Perfume From Infused Oil
From early Egyptians to French leather makers to today's grand houses of couture, the art of perfume making has blossomed into a $10 billion dollar big business. Infused oils (oils made from the mixture of fine oil and herbs, spices and/or fragrant leaves) are readily available in health food stores or through online merchants. Making perfume at home using these pure and natural oils is healthy, simple and economical and can result in the development of a true signature scent. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vodka
- Infused oils
- Water -- distilled or spring
- Glycerin (found in local pharmacies)
- Pretty glass bottles
- Glass jar
- Measuring cup
- Eye dropper
- Funnel
Instructions
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1
Prepare decorative bottles thoroughly by cleaning them in a dishwasher set to its highest temperature.
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2
Add 1/4 cup of vodka to the glass mixing jar. Select a combination of oils with different "notes." A note, in perfume making, is a description of how elements within an individual scent fall into three major categories. One fragrance is always a combination of top,middle and base notes. A top note is the first scent detected immediately upon application. A middle note is the scent detected immediately after the top note and base notes are the foundation of the perfume. Use a combination of top (citrus, mint, bergamont), middle (lavender, rose geranium, marjoram, rosemary, basil and coriander) and base note (sandalwood, patchouli, frankincense and cedarwood) oils. A total of 25 drops of oils will be used to balance the perfume scent. There is no restrictive recipe for achieving the perfect scent combination, it is solely a matter of personal taste (or rather smell).
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Add a few drops of each infused oil to the vodka, swirl and smell. Record the number of drops added at each point. Add more drops as needed, swirl, smell and record at each point until a signature scent appeals to you.
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Set the scent by capping the container and placing the jar in a cool dark area for a minimum of 48 hours. Test the smell, and if adjustment is necessary, add more drops of oil (recording the adjustments). If additional oil drops are needed, age again for a minimum of 48 hours.
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Dilute the scent by adding 2 tablespoons of water and 5 drops of glycerin.
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Bottle by pouring into decorative sterilized bottles using a funnel. Label and cap tightly.
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Tips & Warnings
Purchase vodka with the highest alcohol content possible.
In lieu of glycerin, unscented baby oil may be used.
Perfume makers generally mix by beginning with the base notes, adding middle notes and then adding the top.
Expand your mixing skills by learning about scent families and the relationship between them. By using favored neighboring combinations of these, a balanced scent can be achieved.
Record drop combinations carefully so you can replicate the scent with ease in the future.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
