Ditching conventional perfumes is possibly one of the most impactful things you can do for your health, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still smell great!
Instead of using your chemical-laden cologne or perfume, try whipping up your own, customized essential oil perfume with this simple recipe and change your scents with the seasons!
Let me be clear. I’m talking about using authentic, unadulterated, premium-grade essential oils to make your own perfume, not just any brand of essential oil. Why? Because most essential oils in the market place are synthetic versions of the real thing and nothing more than sweet smelling scents at best. And like the fragrance industry, most essential oils are adulterated with toxic, man-made chemicals. You want to make sure that you’re using genuine, premium-grade essential oils and not the cheap, adulterated, chemical-laden imitations. So please don’t take the following information and attempt to use them in the same manner as one would use Young Living essential oils. It’s like comparing apples to oranges and would defeat the whole purpose of making your own essential oil perfume which is to help you get rid of toxic chemicals in your life.
You’ll need to use a good quality carrier oil too. Young Living’s V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex the perfect carrier oil for your DIY perfumes. V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex is used to dilute certain essential oils and can be mixed to create custom blends, formulas, and massage oils. This oil complex nourishes the skin, has a long shelf life, doesn’t clog pores, and will not stain clothes. If you don’t have V-6 you might want to try using jojoba or almond oil as a base.
Carrier oils are fatty oils and are different than essential oils. They help prevent the essential oil from evaporating too quickly and help extend the fragrance. You may find that you need to apply your DIY perfume more often than you would your store bought cologne or perfume but at least you’ll be secure in knowing that you’re not polluting your body with synthetic, toxic chemicals. In fact, you’ll actually be infusing your body with all the many and wonderful benefits that genuine, premium-grade essential oils have to offer.
Make Your Own Perfume
When it comes to making your own perfume, you will want to layer different scents to create base fragrances, mid-tones, and top notes. When you smell a perfume, the top notes are typically the first thing you smell, followed by middle and then base notes. When you are actually making the perfume, you’ll want to start with base notes first and work your way up.
Base Notes:
These are about 15-30% of the blend. Think heavier, warm scents like:
Vanilla
Cedarwood, Spruce and ‘tree oils’
Frankincense, Myrrh
Sandalwood, Vetiver
Patchouli
Clove, Cassia, Cinnamon
Middle Notes
These should be the bulk of your blend at 30-60% and are usually full-bodied, complex, and comprise the focal point of the blend while also balancing other components.
Rose, Jasmine, Geranium
Lavender, Chamomile, Rosemary
Ylang ylang, Clary Sage
Cardamom, Ginger, Lemongrass, Black Pepper
Top Notes
These should be 10-25% of your blend. These oils are sharp, uplifting, refreshing, and light to finish off the blend.
Peppermint, Spearmint
Grapefruit, Tangerine, Lemon (citrus oils)
Eucalyptus, Basil, Juniper
Pine, Sage
Choose one or two scents from each category, and combine them until you end up with a fragrance you love! Lighter recipes work well for the warmer months, while cooler months are great for deeper, spicier combinations.
If layering feels too complicated, simply follow your nose! Grab a few bottles of oil, open all of them and hold them under your nose together to get a feel for the aroma. Trust your instincts as to what you enjoy because you truly cannot go wrong!
DIY Perfume Spray Base Recipe
Pretty glass perfume bottles
1 Tbsp V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex (or any unscented carrier oil)
2 Tbsp pure grade alcohol or vodka
30-40 drops of essential oils of choice
1 Tbsp distilled water
Optional add-ins for beauty: dried flower stems, gemstones or fresh, organic flower petals.
Recipe Ideas
Summer Citrus: 10 drops grapefruit, 10 drops orange, 5 drops peppermint, 3 drops Lavender, 3 drops Roman Chamomile
Anthro Inspired: 10 drops Grapefruit, 10 drops Bergamot, 5 drops Northern Lights Black Spruce, 5 drops Citrus Fresh
Jasmine Aloe Mist: 25 drops Jasmine, 6 Tbsp aloe-infused witch hazel in place of alcohol and water. This is great for summer skin! The witch hazel will lock in moisture without drying skin, while aloe vera provides hydration without any greasy residue.
Island Time: 5 drops Frankincense, 2 drops Patchouli, 7 drops each Lime, Bergamot, Orange, 5 drops Lavender, 2 drops Spearmint
Flower Power: 5 drops each Rose, Jasmine, 7 drops each Tangerine, Lavender
Vanilla Chai: 10 drops Vanilla, 3 drops Clove, 5 drops Cassia, 7 drops Stress Away
Bougie Hippie: 10 drops each Jasmine, Neroli, Vanilla
Store Your Perfume In Glass Bottles
Use glass bottles to store your DIY perfume and not plastic bottles. Plastic is made from petrochemicals which is one of the things that we’re trying to avoid here. Cover and let the bottle sit for two weeks before using. Have fun, and let the “oiling” begin.
Have A Favorite Cologne or Perfume?
If you’re feeling adventurous you might want to try playing around with creating your own healthy version. You’ll need to do a little online research to see if you can find out what essential oils or “natural essence” are used in your favorite perfume. Then follow the above instructions. You might come away pleasantly surprised with your new concoction.
Not Into DIY
If you’re not into DIY, no worries! Young Living has some wonderful smelling singles and blends often worn as a perfume. Some of my favorites are Daily Divine, White Angelica, Joy, Abundance, Jasmine, and Stress Away.
