This weekend while strolling in the mall, I came across a section that was full of beautifully wrapped perfume bottles. Zapped at the stunning packaging, I decided to sniff a few bottles and buy the aroma of my life. I zeroed in on a mild 50ml aroma. As I turned the bottle and looked at the pricing, all my dreams shattered to the ground. Unbelievable! It was priced Rs.3500 flat. Suddenly I felt my smelling senses getting blocked. I couldn't breathe... literally!
While walking home, I came across a bunch of pink roses. I loved their smell and wished I could pour it into a bottle and store it forever. That's when I got an idea! I rushed home to conduct my research on how to make homemade perfume.
• Benefits of a Good Homemade Perfume:
- Enhances mood.
- Boosts confidence.
- Boosts health.
- Makes you attractive.
- Triggers memories.
- Combats insomnia.
- Cures a headache.
• Isn’t it Better to Adopt a DIY Approach to Perfume?
As I delved further, I understood that one fragrance is made up of three scent variants -
1. 30% top notes - The notes you smell first.
Plants that can from top notes of your fragrance are basil, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lime, mint, rosemary, sweet orange.
2. 50% middle notes - The core of the fragrance.
Plants that can from top notes of your fragrance are black pepper, cardamom, bay, fennel, geranium, chamomile, nutmeg.
3. 20% base notes - The notes that extend the longevity of the middle notes.
Plants that can from top notes of your fragrance are cypress, ginger, pine, sandalwood, vanilla.
Also Read: Top 10 most fragrant flowers in India
You could also combine essential oils with your perfumes and transform them to suit your taste and personality. Here are a few scents that you could make use of for these particular reasons:
1. Relaxation -
Lavender, Musk, Neroli, Cedarwood
2. Refreshment -
Citrus Fragrances Like Orange, Lemongrass, Lemon, Lime
3. Fresh Scent -
Grapefruit, Ginger
4. Romantic -
Rose, Lime, Lavender
5. Sensuous -
Sweet Orange, Sandalwood
6. Sweet -
Lavender, Chamomile, Cardamom, Geranium
7. Bright -
Peppermint, Rosemary, Lemon, Sage
8. Wild & Woody –
Juniper, Cedarwood, Bergamot
9. Rich –
Lavender, Clove, Nutmeg
• Recipe to Create The Perfect Perfume
Since it is the first time I was creating a perfume, I decided to take the easiest route and use flower petals and essential oils.a. Ingredients
- 2 tbsps carrier oil like sweet almond, coconut, or jojoba
- 6 tbsps 100-proof alcohol
- 2.5 tbsps bottled water
- 30 drops essential oils, i.e. 9 drops top notes, 15 drops middle notes, and six drops base notes
- A coffee filter
- Small funnel
- Two clean dark-glass bottles with airtight lids
b. Instructions
- Pour the carrier oil into the bottle of your choice and add base, middle, and top notes. Fill alcohol.
- Secure the lid, and let it sit for 48 hours. The longer you leave it, the stronger it gets.
- Once you’re satisfied, add the bottled water.
- Transfer the perfume to other bottle using a coffee filter.
c. Pro Tips
- Since base notes are dominating, so add them one at a time until you strike a perfect balance.
- Use bottles with spray tops to make application easy.
d. Benefits of making your own perfume
- Save money.
- Avoid harmful chemicals.
- Customise your fragrance.
- Ideal for sensitive skin.
By making your perfume and adding natural products to personal care, you could shine with a green glow always and forever. Also, do not forget to join us in Earth Day celebrations as we share 30 ideas to create a sustainable environment.
