How to Make Your Own Perfume
Use these essential oils to customize your own non-toxic perfume
Image by Food Photographer Jennifer Pallian @foodess on Unsplash
In this post, I'll teach you how I started using non-toxic perfume options, why it's so important to, and then I'll share how you can build your own custom perfume by understanding mid, base, and top notes and which essential oils to use for each.
In 2017, I decided to detox my life in order to find peace from anxious feelings, stress, burn out and digestion issues I was experiencing. Of course that was all interrelated, and what I found was that the more I took out chemicals (in my personal care products, makeup, food, medicine) the more sensitive I became to any chemicals that did remain in my lifestyle.
This included perfume. I've loved perfume from a young age - I would spend months thinking about a kind I liked, testing it, and then choosing my new 'signature' scent. I loved this whole process! Certain aromas take me back to those memories in my life and connect me there. Except what I didn't love, is the rash I was starting to develop, and respiratory issues, not to mention adding toxins daily to my toxic load.
It might be hard to let go of toxic perfume, but nothing is worth your health
Emotionally, I actually stated feeling anxious wearing it. I learned about how toxic and harmful fragrances were. This was not what I wanted to hear, especially as a self-proclaimed perfume aficionado. But I knew it was time to find a natural alternative.
I was already using essential oils for managing my emotions and physical health, and interestingly enough I learned in my research that the perfume industry actually formulates their scents based off the fragrance profiles of plants: in the form of essential oils. Except a synthetic version. At a much steeper price: for our wallet and health.
Essential oils have been used as perfume since 2000 BC. Back then, it showed you were someone of great importance. Kings & queens as well as ancient Egyptians were using them as status symbols and in their daily wellness care. Then came along the industrial revolution and we as consumers, were marketed chemical personal care products instead.
Fragrance companies started to mimic the plant smell for cost purposes, so chemists made these smells in a lab to save money, then mark up the price dramatically for the "brand". Does this make any sense?! It became about the profit.
The chemicals confuse our bodies, because it isn't actually plant matter. The more you use natural products, the more you become sensitive to synthetic scents that your senses were previously deadened by, through the use of chemicals. Yikes.
Fragrances are not required to disclose their ingredients. Originally it was to protect industry secrets, now with the science and technology we're able to reverse search and find the ingredients, so this isn't relevant anymore.
So I started to educate myself on how to make my own perfume with essential oils. Your new perfume will actually help you feel relaxed, and heal your body. Much better!
By skipping the fragrance, cut out the middle-man and go straight to the plant
doTERRA essential oils have zero additives, we're one of the few companies that don't. We're the largest oil company in the world, the only one with transparency into their production, a veterinary advisory board, a scientific backing, partnership with hospitals, and more. That's just the beginning.
I'll teach you how to make your own custom perfume blends, using base, mid and top notes. It's so fun to choose your own unique perfume! High quality essential oils change with chemistry of your body so they smell different on everyone.
First, you'll want to get some empty perfume bottles from craft stores, upcycle your touch rollers, or get yourself some beautiful touch rollers like I'm using so you can take them on the go. I use Holistic Oils, they have the leak free steel roller tops like doTERRA and they have beautiful designs.
Some beautiful perfume oil options:
Magnolia
Patchouli: If you don't like the heaviness, add a citrus oil like Bergamot, Lime, Grapefruit
Passion Inspiring blend, on its' own or mixed with Whisper Women's perfume blend
Console Reassuring Blend
Jasmine & Frankincense blended
Sandalwood, Citrus Bliss and Whisper blended
You don't want to make a blend you hate, so these ratios below will help you build your own.
Base Notes
These are affixative, which means it takes chemical components of other oils and makes the scent. This will make up 15-20% of your aroma. These can last up to 24 hours!
Great options: Vetiver, Cedarwood, Copaiba, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood
Mid Notes
This is the heart of the scent experience of the oil. Choose wisely, it makes up
50-80% of your perfume.
Great options: Geranium, Marjoram, Rosemary, Black Pepper, Douglas Fir, Fennel, Cardamom, Siberian Fir
Top Notes
This is what you smell initially right when you put on, it makes up 10% of your perfume.
Great options: Citrus, Lemon, Lime, Peppermint, Spearmint, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit
How to Assemble:
Add a little fractionated coco oil in the bottom of roller so oils don’t flash off and dissipate
Then add the oils
Fill rest of bottle with fractionated coconut oil
Add top and shake to combine. When you finish your blend, you can refill: better for the environment!
Get creative and add labels if you'd like!
Recipes:
Fairy Blend (by Wellness Advocate Sara Jansen) - 10 ml roller
Add 10 drops of each of:
Ylang Ylang
Fennel
Spearmint
Tree Happy
This blend is amazing! (by Wellness Advocate Sara Jansen) - 10 ml roller
Base notes: 3 drops of Patchouli, 4 drops of Sandalwood, and 2 drops of Frankincense
Mid notes: 10 drops of Cypress, 5 drops of Siberian Fir
Top notes: 5 drops of Clary Sage
There you have it, here's why and how you want to make your own DIY non-toxic perfume. These make for great personalized gifts for friends and family too!
As you already know if you're here, your wellness lifestyle doesn't just stop at your food and exercise. You will feel out of balance once you start to live a non-toxic lifestyle and still use toxic ingredients, so while I know it can be difficult to let go of, you'll have so much fun getting to make your own healthy perfumes!
