Essential oils are ideal for creating unique, fragrant perfumes.
Essential oils are easily accessible and a natural choice in the making of perfume. Using various essentials oils, a person can create their own unique fragrances. When using these oils in perfume preparation, they must be undiluted oils; diluted oils do not mix properly with other ingredients.
Types of Essential Oils
There are a variety of essential oils that work well in perfume preparation. These include patchouli, bay, myrrh and cedarwood, which are best for the base note, or lingering aspect of a fragrance. Oils, such as mandarin, rose, thyme, orchid or lavender are great for the middle note, or second aspect of the fragrance. Marigold, lemon, orange, sage and bergamot oils are used for the top note, or the lighter scent of the perfume.
Alcohol and Oil Mixture
For the best quality perfume, an alcohol to oil ratio of 15 percent to 30 percent essential oil with 70 percent to 85 percent of alcohol considered ideal. For best results, always use at least 90 proof alcohol.
Tips
Choose essential oils from the same botanical family, such as the wood, citrus or earthy family to make sure the scents do not clash. Use a 3-to-2-to-1 ratio to blend the oils, meaning three drops of a high note, two drops of a middle note and one drop of of a low note. Use this ratio even when making larger batches of perfume. Allow your perfume mixture to age for two weeks to allow the essential oils to mix well together. Changes in the scent may occur as perfume stands and essential oils age.
Tags: aspect fragrance, essential oils, middle note, percent percent, perfume preparation