DIY | How to Make Your Own Perfume

In the perfumery we are often spoilt for choice. But how about a very individual scent. Make your own perfume – we have the best tips and instructions on how to make it yourself!

Mmm, how good you smell! The most beguiling accessory of a woman is probably her scent! And of the small, seductive flacons, every woman has at least one in her bathroom. But instead of buying fragrances for a lot of money in a perfumery, we have a much better idea: making perfume yourself. This is not only much more individual, but also saves money! Here are the best tips and tricks!

Make perfume yourself: Fragrance families

The special feature of a perfume lies in its individual fragrance components. On the basis of the individual scents, a perfume is divided into specific scent families. There are five major fragrance families in total.

1. Citric perfumes: These include orange, mandarin or bergamot
2. Flowery scents such as jasmine, rose, lilac or geranium
3. Woody scents such as cedar or sandalwood and patchouli
4. Oriental fragrances: These include vanilla or musk
5. Aromatic, spicy perfumes contain rosemary, basil or sage

The pyramid of fragrance

A perfume is made up of several components, which in turn are divided into different notes. A total of three fragrances are distinguished, which build on each other in the fragrance pyramid. The pyramid consists of the top, the heart and the base note.

• Top note: The first thing our nose perceives immediately after spraying the perfume is the top note. The top note usually contains citric nuances (bergamot, orange, mint, among others). It forms the top of the fragrance pyramid, but is only short-lived.
• Heart note: The top note is followed by the heart note. It is characterized by floral components (rose, jasmine, berries, among others) and is scented for several hours.
• Base note: The base note is the basic structure of a fragrance. Spicy nuances are assigned to it (sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla, among others). The top note and heart note build on it. It takes a few minutes for the base note to unfold.

The mixing ratio

So if you want to make perfume yourself, then it depends on the mixing ratio.

• The heart note corresponds to 50 percent of the blend.
• The top note makes up 30 percent.
• The base note makes up 20 percent.

The mixture is mixed in alcohol or an oil as a carrier substance, otherwise it would irritate the skin.

Depending on the proportion of fragrances, a distinction is made as follows:

• Perfume: 5 to 25 percent fragrances
• Eau de Parfum: 10 to 14 percent fragrances
• Eau de Toilette: 6 to 9 percent fragrances

Make your own perfume – that’s what you need

Only a few ingredients are needed to make perfume:

• Oil: All-natural, essential oils
• Alcohol: Makes the ingredients mix better. Ethano is ideal, but vodka or alcohol is also an alternative.
• Fragrance notes
• Container: Empty flacons for filling the fragrance mixture, ideally with screw cap. Dark glass ensures that the perfume lasts longer.

Instructions for a flowery fragrance with rose

Ingredients

• 10 ml spirit of wine
• 20 drops of jasmine oil
• 15 drops of patchouli oil
• 5 drops of lavender oil

That’s how it’s done:

1. First put jasmine oil in a container.
2. Now add the patchouli oil and mix with lavender oil.
3. Mix the essential oils well together and top up with the spirit of wine – done!
4. Let the homemade perfume steep for at least two weeks.