Essential Oil Cologne Recipes - Who makes their own cologne?

[Joedy]

On a whim, I stopped into a natural foods store and discovered a who rack devoted to essential oils and carrier oils.

A visit to the library and some short reading has me equipped for the rudiments of mixing up personal colognes. Some books even had pre-made recipes for various scents.

It sounds very easy to do - add a carrier oil, specific drops of essential oils, and some additional alcohol or water. Mix it up, let it sit and give it a go.


Does anyone make their own colognes?

For less than 100 dollars, I could have a HUGE essential oil collection and could make years worth of colognes.


Does anyone know of a place where I can go to find imitation recipes for some of the popular blends that we like? Some of the recipes that I have found have self-made names; having a way to compare a specific recipe with something like, "It smells very similar to Blenheim Bouquet," will tell me which ones to try first.

-joedy

[ada8356]

A visit to the library and some short reading has me equipped for the rudiments of mixing up personal colognes. Some books even had pre-made recipes for various scents.



Wow... I didn't know the library was any good for research anymore!:tongue_sm

I googled 'essential oil recipes' and got over 6million hits... surely there is something out there that can give you some knock-off recipes...?

[Joedy]

Wow... I didn't know the library was any good for research anymore!:tongue_sm

I googled 'essential oil recipes' and got over 6million hits... surely there is something out there that can give you some knock-off recipes...?

Yes. I've encountered a TON of them.

I read the listings and some say, Lavender, Vanilla, Bergamont and Rosewood called, "Envigorating Relaxation."

The trouble is that I don't have a frame of reference or have the benefit from experience.

This blend could smell like "Polo" which would tell me immediately to go look for another blend. It could instead smell like "Whores Handbag" which would immediately cause me to mix it up just because I'm a man and men do things like this.

I'm just looking for some guidance and reference items that I know and can compare the recipes with.

-joedy

[Dennis]

I recall reading a post from the eminent Gordon on SMF quite a while ago. He briefly saw the formula for a Penhaligon's scent from a company representative and he estimated that there were over 100 essential oils in the mix for just the one fragrance. The breakdowns they give you in the packaging or on basenotes are just the abstract summary of the cologne. The actual making of these colognes is likely highly complex.

Of course, I could be way off base too. :)

Dennis

[Mama Bear]

I recall reading a post from the eminent Gordon on SMF quite a while ago. He briefly saw the formula for a Penhaligon's scent from a company representative and he estimated that there were over 100 essential oils in the mix for just the one fragrance. The breakdowns they give you in the packaging or on basenotes are just the abstract summary of the cologne. The actual making of these colognes is likely highly complex.

Of course, I could be way off base too. :)

Dennis

You are totally ON base! The more I learn the less I know about colognes. Just when you think you understand something.. you find there is another nuance and colognes are full of nuances!

Be careful tho... if you start blending, you are likely to become completely hooked... and it can get really expensive. The worst of it is when you find you are able to make a cologne yourself, you have learned so much about others that are out there, you have to try them too.... really, really expensive....lol

Your best bet is to learn about the essential oil properties first. Then go and smell them... then start buying books and learn... This quickly turns into an aquisition disorder that is immense is size...

I started out just wearing vanilla behind my ears when I was a young girl.... sometimes I actually miss that simplicity.

[Joedy]

Sue,

What inspires your experiments?

Do you "aim" for a certain sensation/aroma or just mix in what sounds like it would be nice?

-joedy

[Mama Bear]

Sue,

What inspires your experiments?

Do you "aim" for a certain sensation/aroma or just mix in what sounds like it would be nice?

-joedy

Both. I might see a recipe online or in a book I want to try. I might want to imitate something I have already smelled. I may really love certain oils and think they would compliment each other and just go for.... those are the ones that are the most satisfying... I feel like they came from me and only me. Something about that makes me feel really good.

For instance I came up with one blend of two that I was dying to try and put it up on the website because I loved it! Then I found out someone else had the same one... I am still not sure how I felt about that, but I would hate to think I had been influenced if I had known about it previously.

Other things that can inspire me.. childhood memories, the weather ( a season ) a place or a mood.... it is almost a boundless thing. Scent is a Very strong emotive for a human.. getting it right is infinitably satisfying to me.

I am new at this too tho and once I am satisfied, I want more.....it is becoming a true addiction.

Best, Sue

[ada8356]

Both. I might see a recipe online or in a book I want to try. I might want to imitate something I have already smelled. I may really love certain oils and think they would compliment each other and just go for.... those are the ones that are the most satisfying... I feel like they came from me and only me. Something about that makes me feel really good.

For instance I came up with one blend of two that I was dying to try and put it up on the website because I loved it! Then I found out someone else had the same one... I am still not sure how I felt about that, but I would hate to think I had been influenced if I had known about it previously.

Other things that can inspire me.. childhood memories, the weather ( a season ) a place or a mood.... it is almost a boundless thing. Scent is a Very strong emotive for a human.. getting it right is infinitably satisfying to me.

I am new at this too tho and once I am satisfied, I want more.....it is becoming a true addiction.

Best, Sue

Well you have a pretty good knack for it!

My first order of your soaps, I stuck to pretty obvious choices, but on my order last week, I branched out to some of your more complex sounding ones like energy, beau brummel, spellbound woods, and romance silver... I bet coming up with names is sometimes as hard as the scent!!

[pitbulls20]

My mom is a massage therapist that is just now trying to learn about stone therapy and aroma therapy and such. I was thumbing through one of her books and it had basic receipies in it but the book is in her car ATM so I can't give you the name of it. Like Sue just said, from what I read also there is alot to it. More than I thought there would be. I was thinking you simply mixed up some flavors, it smelled good, and you were done. But it was more like 3 drops of one thing, 2 of another, and a teaspoon of something else and maybe couple more in a basic receipy.

I also expect if there are some really good and thourough recepies on the net, likely you would have to pay because of the time that goes into working it out.

If you do find some stuff though please share it with me because I am interested in mixing myself if its the right scent. Not doing it as a hobby.

[Mama Bear]

Thank you! Those are all fragrance oil blends tho.. not essential oil.. there is a big difference, one is natural and one is synthetic...

Hugs,

Sue

[Mama Bear]

My mom is a massage therapist that is just now trying to learn about stone therapy and aroma therapy and such. I was thumbing through one of her books and it had basic receipies in it but the book is in her car ATM so I can't give you the name of it. Like Sue just said, from what I read also there is alot to it. More than I thought there would be. I was thinking you simply mixed up some flavors, it smelled good, and you were done. But it was more like 3 drops of one thing, 2 of another, and a teaspoon of something else and maybe couple more in a basic receipy.

I also expect if there are some really good and thourough recepies on the net, likely you would have to pay because of the time that goes into working it out.

If you do find some stuff though please share it with me because I am interested in mixing myself if its the right scent. Not doing it as a hobby.

I believe it is like cooking! Mac and cheese is such a perfect combination... but once you have had it a few times, you want to add things to it to make it better.... :001_smile

[Mama Bear]

Try this one....

Peace Cologne Recipe
By Pioneer Thinking
(Combats fatigue due to stress, tension and anxiety)




Ingredients:

3 drops Bergamot essential/fragrance oil
2 drops Frankincense essential/fragrance oil
3 drops cedarwood essential/fragrance oil
1/2 pt (300ml) 70 percent alcohol or vodka

Directions:

Directions: Pour the alcohol into a bottle or jar. Add the oils and shake well. Leave for 1 week. Don't forget to try and make your own scents as well, after all you're unique.. shouldn't your cologne be too?



And don't forget to give it a name...maybe something that sounds like your personality...so if you're a strong type then " Un Soldier" or "Journey", you get the point.

[pitbulls20]

BTW I should have thought of this on the last post but the book said the best oils to get would be Grade A and one other name that was just under it quality but the A stuff would cost you a bit more.

[Mama Bear]

BTW I should have thought of this on the last post but the book said the best oils to get would be Grade A and one other name that was just under it quality but the A stuff would cost you a bit more.

Again, it is like cooking.... quality ingredients give you a quality product. Don't make the mistake of skimping..... you will never know how really good it could have been.... :tongue_sm

[Tinzien]

Just out of curiosity, having read the recipie you posted and such, what "grade" are the essential oils that you sell Sue?

[Mama Bear]

Just out of curiosity, having read the recipie you posted and such, what "grade" are the essential oils that you sell Sue?

I don't sell any essential oils.. I do sell some fragrance oils. You should be able to find many of the basic lessor expensive price wise essential oils(includes lavender) in any health food store tho!!

Bear Hugs!

Sue

[Joedy]

Try this one....
...

Ingredients:

3 drops Bergamot essential/fragrance oil
2 drops Frankincense essential/fragrance oil
3 drops cedarwood essential/fragrance oil
1/2 pt (300ml) 70 percent alcohol or vodka
...

Sue,

That is very interesting since two of the library books that I checked out have this exact same recipe.

Some additional questions, though.


What is the point of allowing the mixture to "sit" for a few weeks?

Is there any reason to use vodka verses alcohol? (costs?)


Also, the H&R Fragrance book has several thousand fragrances/colognes listed by primary scents. Is this something that you have used or have read?

-joedy

[Mama Bear]

Alright, but please remember that I am new to this. You may want to get advise from someone who is more experienced with this.

There are two reasons that I know of.

The first is it takes a while for the essential oils to blend into your carrier oil, alcohol or water mixture. I prefer 1 month. Keep them cool and out of direct sunlight as that can hurt your essential oils and shake them up every day.

The second is going to go back to my cooking analogy. When you make a pot of soup or tomato sauce (gravy my mother calls it) it always tastes better the next day. The first time I made a complex blend was not all that long ago and I kept a 1 oz bottle next to the bed and shook it up every day and smelled it. You could actually smell the difference in it each time.. it is like it was morphing, becoming more of a whole instead of a bunch of different parts and each day it smelled different.

That Joedy, is probably the total sum of my knowledge. Now, go back to the library...... :biggrin:

Bear Hugs.

[Mama Bear]

Vodka is easier to get... make sure you get the really strong rotgot stuff tho... don't pay money for expensive stuff, you don't want or need it. You want basic raw vodka or everclear...

Sue

[ladyintheroom]

Hi Joedy
I am sure you are finding duplicating your favorite scents difficult. Many popular fragrances can have over 200 notes not all of which are available to the home mixer. Some natural and some synthetic.
If you would like to create a basic recipe say 3 or 4 notes I would say go for the essential oils and experiment. Remember essential oils do expire and some have very short shelf lives.
If you are looking for something more complex have you considered purchasing a premade fragrance oil designer duplicate? There are companies that all they do is copy fragrances and sell the oils to home crafters and such. One company I have bought from is:
http://www.saveonscents.com/index.php/cPath/19_20
This link will take you to their designer duplicate page and you can browse to see if anything suits your fancy. This site has the most extensive selection of any I have seen so have fun.
Fragrance oils can be hit or miss. Ones I was sure I would love have been dogs and the samples I have been sent that I had never considered buying are sometimes the one I like the most. Order a sample or two and see what you think.
HTH
J

[pitbulls20]

OMG that is alot of stuff to smell ! lol, I am tempted to order some samples.

[Mama Bear]

Some other thoughts I had regarding essential oils...

Some are considered to be Hot... and can burn... examples of this would be clove, cinnamon and pepper...

Some have properties that you may not want to use also and some should be used with care.

Joedy, one of the best references you could possibly get is the Enclyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless. This is available at Amazon for about $15 and is worth every cent... or scent....lol I refer to this book almost every day!! It is well worth the money and has more information that you could possibly imagine! Typically you will not be using most essential oils in quantities that could be damaging, but it is very helpful to know the properties of what you are working with. This is a basic but complete reference that is worth it's weight in gold..

here is a good link to Amazon for books of this nature.. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/104-5445039-7999914?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=encyclopedia+of+essential+oils

Happy Blending!

Sue (Mama Bear)

[Joedy]

Sue and J,

Thank you for the great links and information.

I agree with you about the inherent dangers of certain oils. The books that I have read so far are liberal about issuing caution and advising to spot check before applying the concoctions liberally.

The advice is well heeded, indeed.

-joedy

[Scotto]

On the Basenotes forums, there is one dedicated to scent making, and there are some very detailed articles. Interesting stuff. If you can't find the links, I can dig them out.

[Joedy]

Sue,

Also, Julia Lawless has an Illustrated Encyclopedia.

Have you read or seen this one?

-joedy

[Mama Bear]

No! OH NO! Another Book I can't live without!!... this is BAD...lol

I am heading for Amazon right now... Thanks Joedy!!

Sue

[Joedy]

Oops. I did not mean to feed your disorder!

The illustrated guide looks very easy to read with ample illustrations, photos and diagrams. Amazon.com has a few sample pages that you can read online to get a feel for the book.

-joedy

[Mama Bear]

I can get that one used for $12... and the pictures based on the excerpt are even better! There are line drawings only in the version that I have.... the only thing I am worried about is it was written in '95 and the one I have was written in '02. The information changes alot in 10 years....! Did you order one??

$12... that's not too B.A.D....... lol

Sue, who's worst AD is BAD.....

[Joedy]

...
Did you order one??
...
Sue, who's worst AD is BAD.....

I'm not sure yet. I might issue an ILL (Inter Library Loan) request to see if I can check this out first. Of course, you could post a review of it. I'd love to get your opinion of it.


I don't think that I'd be all that concerned over the publication date. These oils have been around way longer than us all put together, so I don't think that there is much new information aside from some research that may have come up recently.

Truth be told, I don't think that is a bad price at all.

-joedy

[Mama Bear]

I don't think that I'd be all that concerned over the publication date. These oils have been around way longer than us all put together, so I don't think that there is much new information aside from some research that may have come up recently.
-joedy

The oils have been around for millenium but the knowledge of what they do is growing by leaps and bounds lately! I am a sucker for the pretty pictures tho..... ;-)

For anyone else that is interested.. this is what my book says about the author...

Julia Lawless has been interested in aromatic oils since she was a child, when her mother, who was a biochemist, became involved in research in essential oils. In 1983 she took over the responsibility for the formulation of natural products using the oils for Aqua Oleum, the family business. She has studied the Western and Tibetian herbal medicine, and is a qualified aramatherapist and member of the International federation of Aramatherapists.

Her website is http://www.aqua-oleum.co.uk/ and she is based in the Cotswalds.. and sells eo's, carrier oils and flower oils... I think she is a Goddess and when I grow up I want to be her..

Hugs,

Sue (Mama Bear)

[Joedy]

... I think she is a Goddess and when I grow up I want to be her..

Hugs,

Sue (Mama Bear)

(smile)

It certainly does sound like a good reading and reference book, Sue.

Look at it this way, you're already considered a Goddess to many of the fellas here. (wink)

-joedy

[anarchyburger]

I've been curious to try making a homemade bay rum aftershave. Seems like all it is is cloves, bay leaves, and rum. Left to sit in a jar for a month or so, and occasionally agitated. You might wanna try Googling "homemade bay rum". There are quite a few recipes out there. But I really don't know how well they might work.
-Jeremiah

[Joedy]

Sue and others,

Check out this thread at Basenotes.com:

http://community.basenotes.net/showthread.php?t=158377


TM has posted some wonderful discussion on the how's and why's of using essential oils to make colognes. In short - a crash course of sorts.

He's also mentioned that he is writing a book about the subject, which if his posts are any indication about the quality of the book material to come, it will be a fine read, indeed.


Lately, I've been toying with the idea of making a customized Nancy Boy aftershave mixture without the menthol and alcohol. With only two essential oils, witch hazel and aloe vera, it should be easy to make and cheap to run the experiments.

-joedy

[Joedy]

Found this on the web. I do not know who to credit it to. If you do, please let me know.

Aromatic blending for the sheer pleasure of the aroma is a combination of creativity and science. When using a blend created primarily for its fragrance, therapeutic benefit can also occur. The focus of the blend, however, is on the final aroma, not its therapeutic properties.

Safety precautions should be followed for any type of blending, including for aromatic blending. For instance, you would still want to be extremely careful when using Bergamot because of its phototoxic properties and still avoid using all hazardous oils and all oils that are contraindicated for conditions that you have.

Traditional perfumers that work for the famous fragrance houses study for years to master the art and science of perfumery blending. The perfumer’s standard repertoire consists of essential oils but also of synthesized chemicals that mimic the constituents (chemicals) of essential oils and other natural ingredients. Perfumers use synthesized chemicals and chemicals extracted from essential oils because they are often cheaper than using pure essential oils and because the chemicals are standardized and will be more consistent in aroma. If you can find a copy, The Science and Art of Perfumery by Edward Sagarin (copyright 1945) is a fascinating book that provides insight into the history and science of perfumery.

In aromatherapy blending, only natural ingredients such as essential oils, absolutes, CO2s, grain alcohol, carrier oils, herbs and water are used. Because aromatherapy blending requires and benefits from the use of unsynthesized chemicals, you shouldn’t have high expectations for perfectly duplicating your favorite commercial fragrances.

Blending Basics

Essential oils can be categorized into broad groups based on their aromas. An example categorical system is as follows:

Floral
(i.e. Lavender, Neroli, Jasmine)
Woodsy
(i.e. Pine, Cedar)
Earthy
(i.e. Oakmoss, Vetiver, Patchouli)
Herbaceous
(i.e. Marjoram, Rosemary, Basil)
Minty
(i.e. Peppermint, Spearmint)
Medicinal/Camphorous
(i.e. Eucalyptus, Cajuput, Tea Tree)
Spicy
(i.e. Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon)
Oriental
(i.e. Ginger, Patchouli)
Citrus
(i.e. Orange, Lemon, Lime)

Oils in the same category generally blend well together. I hesitate specifying that particular categories blend well with other specific categories because it can limit your creativity and experimentation. Additionally, there are always exceptions. But to get you started, below are some categories that generally blend well together:

Florals blend well with spicy, citrusy and woodsy oils.
Woodsy oils generally blend well with all categories.
Spicy and oriental oils blend well with florals, oriental and citrus oils. Be careful not to overpower the blend with the spicy or oriental oils.
Minty oils blend well with citrus, woodsy, herbaceous and earthy oils.
Harmonizing Your Blend

Have you ever noticed that a fragrance smells differently after several hours than when you first apply it? Some essential oils evaporate more quickly than others. As the oils in a blend evaporate, the aroma will change to reflect the aroma of the remaining oils.

Using the analogy of a musical scale, oils that evaporate the quickest, usually within 1-2 hours, are called “top notes.” Oils that evaporate with 2-4 hours are considered “middle notes.” Oils that take the longest time to evaporate are referred to as “base notes.” Some base notes can take several days to evaporate! Edward Sagarin credits Septimus Piesse with this analogy that has been used by many perfumers:

“Another contribution to the field of odor classification was made by the famous perfumer and perfume historian, Septimus Piesse. This unique figure in the history of the science created what he called an “odophone.” the odors were like sounds, he pointed out, and a scale could be created going from the first or lowest note, the heavy smell to the last or highest note, the sharp smell. In between there was an ascending ladder. Each odor note corresponded to a key on his odophone, and in the creation of a happy mixture of many different odors, which we call a “bouquet” and which every finished perfume must be, the creator seeks not only to hit the right notes, but to strike those notes which go with one another. His perfume must not be out of tune.” [Edward Sagarin, The Science and Art of Perfumery (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 1945), 145.]

Below is a chart of commonly available oils based on their common classification:

Top Notes

Anise
Basil
Bay Laurel
Bergamot
Bergamot Mint
Citronella
Eucalyptus
Galbanum
Grapefruit
Lavender
Lavendin
Lemon
Lemongrass
Lime
Orange
Peppermint
Petitgrain
Spearmint
Tagetes
Tangerine


Middle Notes

Bay
Bois-de-rose
Cajeput
Carrot Seed
Chamomile, German
Chamomile, Roman
Cinnamon
Clary Sage
Clove Bud
Cypress
Dill
Elemi
Fennel
Fir Needle
Geranium
Hyssop
Jasmine
Juniper Berry
Linden Blossom
Marjoram
Neroli
Nutmeg
Palmarosa
Parsley
Pepper, Black
Pine, Scotch
Rose
Rose Geranium
Rosemary
Rosewood
Spruce
Tea Tree, Common
Tea Tree, NZ (Manuka)
Thyme
Tobacco
Yarrow
Ylang Ylang


Base Notes

Angelica Root
Balsam, Peru
Beeswax
Benzoin
Cedarwood, Atlas
Cedarwood, Virginian
Frankincense
Ginger
Helichrysum (Immortelle)
Myrrh
Oakmoss
Olibanum
Patchouli
Sandalwood
Vanilla
Vetiver


Blending does not have hard and fast rules that must be followed to create that wonderful blend that you’ll love for a lifetime. The lack of limits and restrictions is what makes perfumery an art form. Having said that, a few tips will help get you off to a fine start:

Tips

When creating a new blend, start out small with a total number of drops of either 5, 10, 20 or 25 drops. 25 drops should be the most that you start with. By starting small, you waste less oil in your blending experiments.


Start creating your blend by only using essential oils, absolutes or CO2s. After you have designed the blend, then you can dilute it by adding carrier oils, alcohol, etc. If you hate the blend you created, you have then not wasted any carrier oils or alcohol.


Keep a notebook that lists each oil that you used with the number of drops used for each oil. When the creative juices flow, it is easy to get carried away and later forget the exact recipe for your blend; one drop too much or too little of even one oil can drastically change the aroma of your blend. When you find that perfect blend, you want to be able to reduplicate it, and it’s near impossible if you didn’t take notes! If you are especially ambitious, it’s also a wise idea to note the vendor name of the oil that you used as the aroma and quality of oils do vary between vendors (even with the same vendor, the aroma of oils can vary from batch to batch, due to crop fluctuations and resourcing).


To store your beautiful creations, perfume sample bottles and 2ml amber “shortie” bottles are very inexpensive and can often be purchased from aromatherapy vendors and glass bottle companies.


Be sure to label your blends clearly. If you don’t have enough room to specify exactly what your blend is, label it with a number that corresponds to a number in your notebook.


Start off your blending experiments by creating blends that are made up in the following ratio (you do not have to be exact – this is just a guideline to get you started): 30% of the oils are top notes, 50% are middle notes, and 20% are base notes. See the chart above to find out what oils belong to each category.


Some oils are much stronger than others, especially the absolutes and CO2s. Study oils you wish to use in a given blend and observe the oils that have the strongest aromas. Unless you want those oils to dominate the blend, you will want to use dramatically less of the stronger oils in your blend.


To learn more about the strength of oils, it is useful to try experiments where you add one drop of a selected essential oil to 5 drops carrier oil to get a 20% dilution, smell it, study the aroma, then add another 5 drops of carrier oil to get a 10% dilution, smell it and study the aroma again, then repeat as desired. This can help educate you on the characteristics and strengths of each essential oil at various dilution ratios.


After creating your blend, allow it to sit for a few days before deciding if you love or hate it. The constituents (natural chemicals) contained within the oils will get cozy with each other and the aroma can change, usually rounding out a bit.

Recipes

Carrier Oil Base Perfume

15-25 drops of your perfume blend
1 tablespoon of Jojoba carrier oil (sweet almond or apricot kernel carrier oil may be substituted)
Directions: Blend all oils together well and store in an airtight dark-colored glass container. Dab a drop onto your pulse points. Please note that this blend has a heavy concentration of essential oils and is meant to be used sparingly. As with any new oils and blends that you use, you must check all safety data for the oils in your blend and do a skin patch test prior to using.


Alcohol/Water Base Perfume

4 1/4 teaspoons Vodka
1 1/2 teaspoons Distilled Water
60 drops of your perfume blend
Directions: Blend all ingredients well and store in an airtight 1 ounce dark-colored glass container. Let sit for two weeks, shaking the bottle 1-3 times daily (more often is better) to mix the oils. After two weeks has passed, filter the perfume through a coffee filter and rebottle (using the same bottle is fine). As with any blends that you use, you must check all safety data for the oils in your blend and do a skin patch test prior to using.


Cologne

4 1/2 teaspoons Vodka
2 teaspoons Distilled Water
30 drops of your perfume blend
Directions: Blend all ingredients well and store in an airtight 1 ounce dark-colored glass container. Let sit for two weeks, shaking the bottle 1-3 times daily (more often is better) to mix the oils. After two weeks has passed, filter the cologne through a coffee filter and rebottle into a one-ounce, fine-mist sprayer bottle. As with any blends that you use, you must check all safety data for the oils in your blend and do a skin patch test prior to using. This makes only a one-ounce quantity so that you can try your cologne to see if you like it or want any changes to it before making a larger quantity.


Body Splash

4 1/2 teaspoons Vodka
2 teaspoons Distilled Water
18 drops of your perfume blend
Directions: Blend all ingredients well and store in an airtight 1 ounce dark-colored glass container. Let sit for two weeks, shaking the bottle 1-3 times daily (more often is better) to mix the oils. After two weeks has passed, filter the body splash through a coffee filter and rebottle into a one-ounce, fine-mist sprayer bottle.. As with any blends that you use, you must check all safety data for the oils in your blend and do a skin patch test prior to using. This makes only a one-ounce quantity so that you can “try” your body splash to see if you like it or want any changes to it before making a larger quantity.

[TENroaches]

What's the point of using the coffee filter if there are no solids in the mixture? :confused:

[TeKKy]

What an interesting thread. Kinda makes me think about getting into this but I don't have the money :tongue_sm

BTW, sue I ordered your soaps a few months ago and gotta say I love all the scents I got :001_smile

[soapbuddy]

What a timely thread!
Thank you Sue for all the wonderful information. I've been blending for quite a while and it can get very expensive.
I love to play mad scientist!:lol:

[drewfer]

I ran across this recently: http://www.aftelier.com/perfumeworkbook.html

It's a self guided course on making natural perfumes from Mandy Aftel who, I'm told, is one of the founders of the modern 'natural perfume' movement. Available for purchase from the page is the workbook, a 'perfume wheel', and an 'essence kit' which appears to be a good kick in the right direction on getting started as a hobbiest. (Note: I'm not affiliated with the site or anything nor have I read any reviews, so caveat emptor)

I've been bugging SWMBO about purchasing the set but it appears that I'm going to have to repair the roof first. *sigh* Women and their silly priorities. :biggrin:

[soapbuddy]

Yes, Mandy Aftel is the guru as far as I'm concerned.