With Valentine’s Day less than a week away, we have a personalized gift suggestion. When it comes down to it, all perfumes are made up of the same handful of ingredients—including water. Why not create a chemical-free, do-it-yourself perfume for that dearest friend or loved one? You can create a unique fragrance or scent for each recipient, whatever you feel matches their taste and personality. Those materials are merely combined in a plethora of ways to create one’s own unique fragrance or scent.
The strength and potency of a fragrance depends entirely on the ratio of oil to rubbing alcohol to water in your uniquely handcrafted concoction, below is a general guide that can be modified to form the ideal scent for your loved one.
YOU’LL NEED:
- Essential oils (30-40 drops or 2.5 tbsp.)
- Distilled or filtered water (2.5 tbsp.)
- Rubbing alcohol (10 tbsp.)
- Vegetable oil or glycerin (Optional—0.5 tbsp.)
- Dried flowers or flower petals (Optional)
- A container for storage (the darker the container, the longer the scent remains potent)
WHAT TO DO
- Slowly combine essential oils with rubbing alcohol.
- In a separate container, combine water and glycerin or vegetable oil. Using a carrier oil is optional, but doing so helps the fragrance stick to skin and last longer.
- Pour both mixtures into a dark, sealed container and shake for several minutes to blend scents.
- Allow the mixture to sit in a cool, dark place for up to two weeks. Remember to shake the container daily to promote blending and to prevent any separation.
- Optional: Drop dried flowers or flower petals into the container and decorate as you wish for an extra personal touch before delivering your concoction to your special someone.
HACKS FOR THE PERFECT PERFUME
Perfumes generally consist of at least three different scents rationed through a 20-50-30 percent methodology to account for the presence of a top, middle and base fragrance note. The top note is typically the initial scent in a fragrance and has the shortest lasting power—it is the perfume’s “first impression.” The middle note, or the heart of the perfume, is the primary scent that lingers on the body for hours. The base note is the final scent to remain on your skin at the end of the day. Top, middle and base notes are rationed in the 20-50-30 percent process, respectively.
Some popular essential oils to consider when creating your handmade Valentine’s Day love potion are jasmine, rose, ylang ylang, sandalwood and lavender. However, feel free to step outside the box and create the most fitting fragrance mix for your gift recipient.
Reminder: Keep the natural strength of an oil in mind when choosing your preferred fragrance oils, don’t forget to add water and remember to have fun while dabbling in the art of perfume-making this Valentine’s Day!
