Discover the benefits of making aromatherapy perfume from home while learning the magic and science of blending your own diy perfume with essential oils! As you begin to understand and utilize the perfume note theory, you’re able to create perfumes that radiate preferred characteristics with our beautiful tools.
One of my favorite past times is to make homemade perfume with my daughter. Although she is only eight years old, it’s a wonderful bonding experience to blend and create charming perfume creations with her. She loves choosing a lovely bottle, becoming a scientist, and when we’re done – rolling on her signature scent (of the moment) before we go anywhere. She has her own little rollers and her own perfume recipes, of course.
When we first started creating our own perfumes together, the process was really trial and error and we didn’t know much about blending. All we knew is that she created a favorite perfume that smelled like “skittles” and now, creating new candy inspired blends is always her goal.
the science behind the magic diy perfume with essential oils
One Sunday morning, just by chance, we saw a cartoon highlighting a perfumer, Septimus Piesse, a chemist and perfumer. Septimus was the inventor of modern perfume formulation, and developed the theory of “notes” in perfume formulation, which are still used today. We were particularly excited, as we consider ourselves to be humble perfumers as well.
Since then, every time we made perfume together, it became a science experiment. Septimus Piesse speculated that there were similarities in which our brains experience certain sights sound and smells. Our brains prefer different patterns more than others. For example, our brains prefer to see subjects in odds, hear certain pitches at specific intervals, and enjoy the scents based on their “notes”.
Today, the perfume and essential oil industry commonly place essential oils into three categories, called notes, each of which portray a specific purpose and rate of evaporation. The notes are based on the evaporation process and contemplated use of the perfume. The presence of one note may impact the perception of another. This makes perfume making a personal and often rewarding experience.
the top note (or head note)
The top note consists of an essential oil that has a low molecular weight, and therefore evaporates quickly. Top notes assist in evolving the blend as the constituents settle, and enhancing the other notes.
Popular examples: Basil, Bergamot, Black spruce, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Grapefruit, Kunzea, Lemon, Lemon myrtle, Lemongrass, Lime, Orange, Peppermint, Petitgrain, Pine, Sage, Spearmint, Tangerine, Wintergreen.
the middle note (or heart note)
Middle notes act as a bridge, carrying the lighter and heavier oils, creating a balance in the perfume.
Popular examples: Black pepper, Blue tansy, Cypress, Cardamom, Carrot seed, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Citronella, Clary Sage, Clove, Coriander, Cypress, Davana, Elemi, Geranium, Ginger, Helichrysum, Jasmine, Juniper, Lavender, Melissa, Myrrh, Neroli, Nutmeg, Oregano, Palo Santo, Rose, Rosemary, Star Anise, Tea Tree, Thyme, Ylang ylang.
the base note
The base note oils have the highest molecular weight, binding the blend together.
Popular examples: Cedarwood, Copiaba, Frankincense, Myrrh, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Valarian, Vetiver
reasons to create your own perfume:
- The olfactory experience of an essential oil is unique to every individual, and therefore, the tools and knowledge to create your own perfume is a wonderful way to get creative. You also have the power to create a powerful, positive emotional response and memories around these scents. The molecules in our perfume get registered in our brain by our limbic system. This system is responsible for regulating our emotions and memories. I love that these moments creating perfume with my daughter will likely create a positive emotional response as she encounters some of the scents that we’ve used in the blends we created together.
- Aside from their beautiful scents, essential oils are well known for their ability to provide some therapeutic benefits. Lavender is known to be calming, and promote relaxation. Whereas peppermint can help us focus, frankincense can be grounding, and grapefruit can be uplifting. We can create our perfumes around these properties as well.
- When we make our own perfume with essential oils, we not only experience full control over the scent, but we can also improve our health and wellbeing. You will literally roll aches, stress, and tension away, all while getting all of the benefits of aromatherapy – from your perfume!
- Last but not least, you can choose how to display and store your bottle. Pretty rollers for the win!
before you start:
In addition to your essential oils, you need a carrier oil to dilute the essential oils and make them safe to go directly onto the skin. Essential oils are potent, so we protect our skin by using a barrier. Some easily accessible and popular carrier oils are fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, calendula oil, or even just olive oil.
Gather necessary tools. You will need:
- A variety of essential oils from each note
- A small funnel
- Your whimsy and wellness perfume roller or bottle
- A carrier oil of choice to dilute the perfume blend and make it safe for rolling onto your skin. I use whimsy and wellness soap pump to store my carrier oil so it’s simple to pump it directly into my roller!
Get familiar.
Take a few minutes to experience each oil you’ve chosen, even if you already know you enjoy it. Ask yourself:
- Is this a top, middle, or base note?
- How can I describe this oil? Is it herbaceous, floral, sweet, spicy?
- What is my initial reaction to this oil?
- How does it make me feel? Calm, energized?
- Does this scent bring back any memories?
- What would this mix well with?
Through taking the time to answer these questions, you will have a better liklihood of creating a pleasant perfume that really benefits and resonates with you emotionally.
Get creative!
Initially, I like to start by dropping the oils I plan to use on a cardboard stick (just like the ones at the department store) or spoon to see how well they play together. I often use a 1:1:1 ratio. However, there is no one way to decide what ratio should be used.
The most popular ratio is 3:5:2 (3 top note, 5 middle notes, 2 base note)
Say you want your roller perfume to contain 20 drops of essential oil. You would add 6 drops of your top note, 10 drops of your middle note, and 4 drops of your base note.
Your perfume will evolve after a day or two as the constituents settle, so before feeling tempted to add more drops, let it settle and evolve for 2-5 days before making adjustments.
How to make diy perfume with essential oils
- Once I know which oils I’ll be using, I choose my bottle. I open it up, and place a small funnel on top.
- I carefully drop my oils into my funnel.
- I add a carrier oil to fill the bottle.
- I place my rollerball on top, screw the top back on my roller and gently shake.
It’s that easy to make your own diy essential oil perfume!
Storing and using.
Once your perfect perfume has been created, it is time to seal and label your glass whimsy and wellness bottle, place it in a cool, dark place, and let it evolve and mature for 2-5 days. Determine if you should modify or alter your blend now or adjust the recipe for the future.
Helpful notes:
- Make a note of the oils with top, middle, and base notes, and place them by your oils and perfume bottles. That way you don’t have to memorize or guess.
- If you don’t want to make a list, consider organizing your essential oils by notes instead of color.
- Jot down our favorite blends in a dedicated notebook, to be certain you will never forget your more prized blends.
Favorite Young Living diy perfume recipes (of the moment):
Safe essential oil habits:
If you’re brand new to essential oils and are gifting them to someone who has never used them, be sure to use safe practices and ask them to do a small patch test before rolling this all over them. Here is how we make sure we are using our oils safely and how we can educate others to do the same with their new roller.
- Always dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil(such as coconut or jojoba oil) before applying to your skin.
- Do a patch test before using (apply to a small area of your skin, and wait 24 hours to see if irritation occurs).
- Don’t ingest the contents of the roller.
- Use pure essential oils, and not knock off blends.
- Check-in with a doctor to make sure the essential oil you’re considering does not interact with any medications you’re taking.
Looking for more perfume roller inspiration? Visit this post here for wellness rollers from the Young Living premium starter kit.
I hope that you feel inspired and confident to create your own perfume blends. Now the only question is, which bottle do you need next to hold your latest creation?
With love, Sarah
