The short answer is a resounding yes! You most definitely use essential oils as perfume! They are a natural and wonderful way to keep yourself smelling amazing and are a great alternative to synthetic fragrances.
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WHY CHOOSE ESSENTIAL OILS INSTEAD OF DESIGNER PERFUME?
There are many reasons that you may want to try using essential oils as perfume, one of the main ones being the oh-so-very-natural quality of the ingredients.
Perfumes you buy from the drug store or department store can smell pretty darn amazing.
Unfortunately, most store-bought fragrances are also loaded with nasty ingredients like phthalates that you may not want to put on your skin.
Phthalates are basically a group of chemicals that are used to make plastic more durable. Yikes. That sort of speaks for itself, right?
It’s pretty hard to avoid them completely as they seem to be in so many household and personal care products.
But we can still try to reduce our exposure to them!
Essential oils diluted with carrier oils are generally safe to put on your skin. By choosing natural oils to wear as perfume as opposed to synthetic fragrances you can smell delicious without putting potential irritants, chemicals, or toxins on your bare skin.
Perhaps you are sensitive or allergic to strong traditional perfumes or colognes. I can speak from experience, a “perfume headache” you get being near someone who overdoes their fragrance can be annoying and pretty painful.
Essential oils have so many therapeutic benefits! They can boost your mood, help reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep and so much more!
Making DIY perfume is quite cost-effective too! Designer perfume can be ridiculously expensive!
Note: if you’re new to essential oils, have sensitive skin, and/0r are prone to allergic skin reactions and contact dermatitis, always test a small spot on your skin first.
FRAGRANCE OILS VS. ESSENTIAL OILS
Fragrance oils can have synthetic ingredients just like traditional perfume whereas essential oils are all natural.
Look for 100% pure, all-natural, and organic essential oils whether diffusing or using them topically.
Always source out high-quality oils and you will have peace of mind knowing you are using the best.
WHICH CARRIER OIL DO I USE TO MAKE PERFUME?
I recommend using grape seed and jojoba oil as carrier oil in your DIY perfume recipe. This is because they are practically scent-free themselves and absorb quickly into the skin.
There are many types of carrier oils out there and it is a personal preference, of course.
Some people like to use fractionated coconut oil (liquid) or sweet almond oil. Both are quite gentle on the skin and are good choices as well.
HOW TO MAKE ESSENTIAL OIL PERFUMES
You can make your perfume in either a glass spray bottle or a roller bottle.
simple Essential Oil Roll-On Perfume Recipe (No alcohol)
- A 10 mL dark-colored glass roller bottle
- Your carrier oil of choice
- 25-30 drops of your fave essential oil(s)
- Pipette (eye dropper)
- Rollerball snap-on tool (usually included if you get a roller bottle kit)
DIRECTIONS
1) Using a small funnel pour your carrier oil and fill the roller bottle about 3/4 of the way to the top. If you prefer you can use a pipette to add your oil.
2) Next, add 15-2o drops of your favorite essential oils and swirl it around. Give it a sniff, do you like it? Rub a little on your wrist. How does it smell on your skin (we all smell different!)
3) If need be, adjust the scent by adding more of what you think it needs. Around 30 drops total will be ideal.
4) Snap the rollerball top on, swirl to mix again and you’re all set.
If you’re making a bunch of different ones, don’t forget to label them! I like using these labels.
I love making roller bottles because they do not contain alcohol, nourish my skin, and are so handy to pop into any small purse or pocket!
DIY ESSENTIAL OIL Spray Bottle Recipe (WITH ALCOHOL)
- 1 oz. 91% isopropyl alcohol
- 24 drops of your favorite essential oils
- 1 oz. organic witch hazel extract or organic hydrosol
- 2 oz. glass spray bottle
1) In a 2 oz. glass bottle with mister, mix essential oils with 91% isopropyl alcohol. Shake well to dilute.
2) Fill the rest of the bottle with witch hazel or hydrosol. The hydrosol will give your DIY perfume added floral notes while plain witch hazel will keep it neutral.
Rose petal witch hazel might be amazing to try! I use it as a skin toner and I really like the subtle rose aroma it carries.
You can even use an empty perfume bottle that you already have! Just be sure to clean and dry it very thoroughly so there is no lingering scent of the previous perfume.
WHAT ESSENTIAL OILS MAKE THE BEST PERFUME?
Deciding which essential oils smell good as perfume all depends on what you like. Fruity? Floral? Earthy? The sky’s the limit as they say.
You can mix and match and experiment with your favorite essential oils to come up with your very own signature scent!
Maybe you already know that you love lavender and that is the only thing you want to smell like. Or may you are a rose girl. Combining your favorite fragrance with 2 other oils that complement and balance the scent is the way to go.
We all like what we like but if you’re not sure where to start, try out some of these amazing-smelling essential oils as you kick off your perfume-making project!
What Are Perfume Notes In A Fragrance?
“Notes in perfumery are descriptors of scents that can be sensed upon the application of a perfume. Notes are separated into three classes: top/head notes, middle/heart notes, and base notes; which denote groups of scents which can be sensed with respect to the time after the application of a perfume.
Source: Wikipedia accessed May 4, 2023
45 divine-smelling essential oils to make perfume
I suggest choosing one essential oil that you enjoy from each column below to make your first perfume.
It’s not a hard and fast rule though, only a guideline. Feel free to mix and match, double up or use oils from any column you like!
THE COLUMNS BELOW SEPARATE THE SCENTS INTO HEAD (TOP) NOTES, HEART (MIDDLE) NOTES & BASE NOTES
HEAD NOTES
- Cedarwood
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Frankincense
- Helichrysum
- Jasmine
- Myrrh
- Patchouli
- Rose
- Sandalwood
- Spruce
- Valerian
- Vanilla
- Vetiver
- Ylang Ylang
HEART NOTES
- Bergamot
- Black Pepper
- Chamomile
- Clary Sage
- Cypress
- Fennel
- Geranium
- Lavender
- Lemongrass
- Marjoram
- Musk
- Myrr
- Nutmeg
- Rosemary
- Spruce
BASE NOTES
- Basil
- Bergamot
- Black Pepper
- Cinnamon
- Coriander
- Eucalyptus
- Fennel
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Lemongrass
- Lime
- Tangerine
- Nutmeg
- Orange
- Peppermint
I do recommend using just 3 essential oils when you are first starting out creating perfume recipes.
One of my favorite combos is helichrysum, geranium, and black pepper!
As you gain more experience you might choose to make your fragrances more complex. Your nose knows what you like! (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
That’s A Wrap!
If you are into smelling fantastic, clean beauty and natural products, you should definitely give making your own perfumes with essential oils a try!
What are some of your favorite essential oil scent combinations? Chances are if you enjoy a blend in your diffuser, it would make an excellent perfume.
Let me know your faves in the comments, I’m always interested in your feedback!
Until next time, K.
Kelly is the founder and creative force behind Just Our View From Here. As a first-time mom over 40, she brings a fresh perspective to parenting and family life on her blog. Kelly also explores a wide range of lifestyle topics in her writing, including fashion, beauty, self-care, and well-being.
more articles you may enjoy!
resources
CDC; Phthalates Fact Sheet
Cleveland Clinic; Essential Oils Benefits & How To Use Them
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