1 Minute + 3 Ingredients = How to Make Perfume, Naturally
There’s nothing like meeting your future mother-in-law only to realize that you wear the same perfume.
Not only does this mean that your fantastically expensive bottle of sweet nothings must go straight to the recycling bin, but it also brings to mind a whole host of questions.
Does he not know and has some some sort of olfactory problem? Does he just not care and would love you even if you smelled like you hadn’t showered for a week? Or maybe he likes the fact that you and his mom would be indistinguishable in a blindfolded sniff test—and in that case, you’re in a whole lotta trouble, sister.
Fragrance allergies affect 11 percent of people in the United States—roughly 34 million people. One of them is me. To remedy such potential situations, I’m eternally on the hunt for drop-dead gorgeous scented oils, solid perfumes and strangely invisible scents that are not only distinctive, but eschew the synthetic fragrances that can leave me headache-y, sneeze-y and generally far more unattractive than a good smell could ever remedy.
With that in mind, nothing is more individual than a totally natural perfume that you blend yourself. Here’s how to make perfume, naturally!
One minute plus three ingredients and you can make perfume that’s uniquely delicious, and doesn’t mess up your hormones like a lot of synthetic perfumes I don’t care to mention.
Oh, and you can make a gigantic bottle for less than $30! You’ll need:
- One clean spray bottle—preferably a dark-colored glass to block UV rays so your perfume stays stable longer.
- One big bottle of pure cooking vanilla—organic is best, but either way just make sure there’s no sugar in the mix.
- One or more small bottles of essential oil—I love rose geranium, rose and lavender mixed with the vanilla; experiment to find out what you like best.
Just pour the essential oil into the spray bottle, then top off with the vanilla, shake and spritz.
Here are a few links to good organic essential oils to try:
100% Pure and Certified Organic Bulgarian Rose Essential Oil 2.3ml
Rose Geranium 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil- 5 ml
Editor’s note: We’ve had many inquiries about natural rose and vanilla perfumes that can be purchased, rather than DIY’ed. In response, I wanted to share two of my favorites: The pure warm vanilla scent of Ecco Bella Bourbon Vanilla Eau de Parfum
and the floral perfection that is USDA Certified Organic Amrita Rose Essential Oil Perfume
. Both products are vegan, and eschew parabens and phthalates, artificial colors and fragrance, and artificial preservatives. And yes, they can be combined! Take a look and if you find a natural perfume that you love, please share it with me in comments. Thanks!
97 Comments
Kaylyn Taylor
Would anyone have essential oil suggestions to make this a very sweet perfume? Like, I want to smell like candy lol. Vanilla essential oil? I have added lavendar with lemon essential oil in this receipe in the past (the lemon made this smell sweeter).
Rachel Sarnoff
I love this question! Yes, I love sweet orange as an addition. I guess it depends on the candy 🙂 Lmk what you try!
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Lisa D Drew
Love this. Going to try it later. Thanks for sharing.
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Caca
Hi,I need to know where to buy these oils?
Rafiat
Hi Rachel,thanks so much for sharing the information about perfumes… I’m still confused, is there any difference between essential vanilla oil and cooking vanilla? Please,I need to know.Thank you…
Rachel Sarnoff
Yes, Rafiat! Essential oil is a distillation into an oil and cooking vanilla is diluted with a base. Thanks for reading!
Jennifer
Hello! If I wanted to test smell this with lavender oil and vanilla extract, how much drops would you advise to mix both?
Mimi
Hello and thank you for your info and creativity…. Can you recommend or link to specific organic vanilla? Thanks!
Rachel Sarnoff
I got Simple Truth organic vanilla at Ralph’s, but have tried many others as well. Just make sure no sugar!
Jewel knowles
I am truly desire to make my own perfume oils line to sell how can start and can I purchase small roll on perfume oils empty bottle I appreciate your help I have been reading everything you say I like your advice the Lord bless you for sharing your gift of making perfume oils with me I am looking forward to hearing from you soon
Lady Elegant
Sarah
Hi There Rachel. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. I have made it with the Nielsen-Massey vanilla extract with lavender and the last remaining drops I had of rose. It does contain sugar, but does not seem to have caused a problem…feels really lovely on my skin. Wonderful stuff!
Mrs okwuchukwu confidence
You are all doing a great job
Hailey
Can I juSt use the essential oils or is there a substitute for the cooking vanille ?
Rachel Sarnoff
You’ll need something to put the essential oils in. If you don’t want to use cooking vanilla, I recommend cooking rosewater or even just plain distilled water will work, too!
Shruti india
Nice article ! I am thinking of trying to make a batch for myself. Just wanted to know the experiences of people who have tried it. How long does the perfume stay to be sensed by the one who is wearing it ? I mean how many hours ?
Rachel Sarnoff
It depends on your blend, but I’ve found it to last about 4-6 hours. Let me know what blend you choose!
Festus Christopher
This is great. God bless you realy good!
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confidence
Nice write up. Blees you
janet letley
Do you haves any “recipe” for a good foamy liquid hand soap using natural ingredients and pure essential oils?
Rachel Sarnoff
Great question, Janet! You can use pure castile soap and then add a few drops of the essential oils that smell best to you–or even change the scent depending on the room you’re putting the dispenser in. (Or maybe that’s just me 🙂 You just need to use a dispenser that foams up liquid soaps. You can reuse one that you already have, or these Foaming Dispensers for Castile Liquid Soap
are inexpensive at $12.75 for three, or there’s also this more traditional looking Cuisipro 83758000 13.2-Ounce Foam Pump, Chrome
which is about $14 or I love this sleek Better Living Products Foam Soap Dispenser, White
which is about the same price, if you have a modern home. Let me know what blends you use!
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Fiona Farrell
Thank you so very much.I just ordered vanilla,lavender and rose. I will put a few drops of lavender and rose in a bottle then fill up with vanilla extract is that right?God bless you.Sincerely Fiona
Rachel Sarnoff
I usually put the extract in first, and then I can add the essential oils until I get the scent that I like best. Let me know how it goes!
morgan
can you try more
Dev
Thank Rachel for help!, I am perfume freak, and my manager allergic, she warned me if I wear strong perfume then she will fire me..lol, so this will help… 🙂
Rachel Sarnoff
OH don’t get fired!!! 🙂 I think the vanilla is a nice base for a unisex perfume, then see what you can layer on top of it. Let me know if you find a blend you love and I’ll share! Thanks Dev 😉
no name
I think vanilla and peppermint it the best
Dev
Super cool, can u please guide me what oils are best to created men’s natural perfume, or is there any other gr8 idea in your creative mind for men’s natural perfume..thanks in advance.
Rachel Sarnoff
Thanks! I love sandalwood, spicy scents. I think the best idea is to go to a natural foods store and just take a few minutes with the essential oils smelling the ones that smell best to you–those will also smell best ON you! 🙂
janet letley
I am making a room spray using essential oils and alcohol. The alcohol is only 60% so therefore alcohol and water. Will the oils successfully emulsify in this. Also will it remain “cloudy”, What can we do to get it clear?
Rachel Sarnoff
Hm, I haven’t used something that has water as a base, so I’m really not sure. Sorry Janet!
gracious
Hi Jane, I also make room spray using essential oils, methanol and water., for them to emulsify together u have to dissolve the essential oils with menthol crystals, then add a cap of catalyst to it and mix them together. Add a drop of water to it, it will turn milky. You can then add ur water and methanol and the whole mixture will mix evenly without a trace of the essential oil and water
Steve Carey
methanol is extremely toxic and can cause blindness or death … it can be absorbed through the skin. If you are really using methanol, obtain a chemical data sheet and study it carefully.
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pipina
i really like the scent of vanilla, so im happy that it’s in the recipe. but i also want something a little floral. All i have at home is rosehip oil and tea tree oil. do u the the rose hip oil would work or should i go out and buy something else?
Rachel Sarnoff
Hm… I am not sure if that will be floral enough, you should try it and then add a few drops of something else if you need more. Let me know what you end up with!
ruth
Wonderful. I’d like to see more. I jus started reading up on and trying my hand at perfume making. And also on natural stuff for my dread locs.Thanks.
Rachel Sarnoff
Oooh cool please let me know what recipes you try, I love hearing about perfumes! Dreadlocs (sp?) I do not know, do you need something with emollient qualities? Have you tried coconut oil…
ruth
Yes. I have started using essential oils with carrier oils. I love making concoctions, so I’m yet to use the coconut oil
Rachel Sarnoff
Let me know how it goes. I always love to hear about other people’s blends… Thank you!
CP
The Madagascar vanilla I found that lasts a while is Nielsen-Massey, and it does contain sugar which I haven’t found to be a problem at all.
Rachel Sarnoff
I’ve never used one with sugar, because I was concerned that it would be sticky on the skin. How does it feel?
CP
Different brands of vanilla extract last different amounts of time. (the amount of time the scent lasts during the day, not the amount of time the bottle lasts) I found Kroger brand to not last very long, but high quality Madagascar vanilla lasts longer. How long does your vanilla brand last (during the day)? So far I’ve only been using the vanilla by itself, but I’m going to try adding bergamot and clary sage, a mix based on a book I’ve been reading.
Rachel Sarnoff
Ooh that sounds like an AMAZING mix. I use essential oils in mine but I feel like the underlying vanilla scent does last most of the day. I use organic vanilla with no sugar btw. Let me know how that blend smells, once you’ve made it!
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anne
How much does it make? It would be easier to try it if you included the quantity
Rachel Sarnoff
It’s all proportional measurements, so that you can tailor it to whatever size container you have. Let me know how it goes!
Meredith
What would those ratios be?
Rachel Sarnoff
I use about 20 drops to a small spray bottle of vanilla but it’s really up to you. Let me know how it goes!
Dev
Sorry, I am guy and searching for to create male perfumes, accidentally came to this site for curiosity and this site is amazing…. Great work. now please forgive me if this is off beat topic but do you know how to make natural male perfumes? I am obsessed with perfumes and now this made me worry that how this chemicals made difference in my life. Thank you for creating amazing site with amazing words.
Dev
Rachel Sarnoff
Great to hear from you Dev! The scents can be whatever you want them to be! I think the main thing would be to pick something that you feel comfortable wearing as your base, maybe coconut extract? Again, make sure that it has no sugar. Then experiment with essential oils that smell good to you. Perfume doesn’t have a gender 🙂 Let me know what you come up with and thanks so much for reading, and commenting!
Jane
Hi Rachel,
Thank you so much for this article. I am incredibly excited to start making my own fragrances. Just one question, the vanilla extract you refer to, is that the standard vanilla extract that you often buy in small (essential oil size) bottles in health shops. We don’t get a wide selection of speciality products where I live and the vanilla extract I buy here (for cooking) seems quite concentrated and strong. Is this the same vanilla you are refering too? Thanks so much, Jane
Rachel Sarnoff
Thanks for writing, Jane! The vanilla extract is, indeed, cooking vanilla! I use organic and have found that those brands typically don’t use sugar; whatever brand you choose, make sure there is no sugar in the mix, just vanilla and alcohol. You can also dilute with other cooking extracts like coconut to get the scent you like. Let me know how it goes!
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Julie
Hi there, I was wondering how long do these perfumes tend to last?
Thanks! 🙂
Rachel Sarnoff
Normally I use a bottle in about a month, but I’ve kept a bottle for about three months and did notice that at the end of that period the scent started to become more musky. Let me know how it works for you!
Tolu Dola
Hi Rachel,I just started trying out making my own perfume.but I have a problem;it stains my clothe seriously and also when I sprayed it at the back of my neck it refused to dry up nd was kinda oily,I had to blend it into my skin.I used vanilla flavor essential oil with ethanol,methanol and glycerin in making it.wen I tried in out on my clothe,it stained.please what do you think is the cause of these and can you tell me what to do to stop d stains?do I add water to it or something?what do I do?cos I intend on going public with it,as in,making it for public use and I wuldnt want an embarrasing situation of it staining their clothes
Rachel Sarnoff
It sounds like you are using the essential oil directly, I suggest mixing it like I do in this video. Let me know if that helps?
Paul Kiler
DO NOT USE METHANOL, NOR GLYCERIN WHEN MAKING PERFUME.
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Swaroop Acharya
Thanks For your Video.
I want to make Non – Alcoholic (Natural) perfume spray. Which Solvent can i use with Essential oil or fragrance?
Regards,
Swaroop Acharya
Rachel Sarnoff
Great! The base that I use is actually organic vanilla, which has an alcohol base. This is USDA Certified Organic and natural. Did you want to avoid alcohol entirely? Please let me know and I’ll try to find you a non-synthetic alternative. Thanks!
Swaroop Acharya
Yes Mam, I want to avoid alcohol entirely. Is there any other solvent available for natural making spray.
Thanks & Regards,
Swaroop Acharya
Rachel Sarnoff
Okay! I found this, it’s alcohol-free and fair trade but not organic. http://www.amazon.com/Frontier-Vanilla-Alcohol-Certified-4-Ounce/dp/B001ELL76U If you try it, please let me know how it works out as perfume!
Swaroop Acharya
But Mam,
The costing wise it will be very high. I had read somewhere that you can use Sweet Almond Oil or Jojoba oil. as solvent. ..Do you have any idea for this? Will it spray with this solvent?
Regards,
Swaroop Acharya
Rachel Sarnoff
You can make a perfumed oil but it won’t spray. Good luck!
rajesh
By just using essential oils to make my own perfume , will it make stains on my clothes
Rachel Sarnoff
Essential oils are all different, some are clear and some are dark. Also, depending on the base you use, the perfume will be clear or tinted. I use a vanilla extract base which is darker but I have never found that it stained my clothes. I also have made perfume using a rose extract which is clear so you could try that if you are concerned. Thanks for reading!
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Jennifer
I really appreciate your site hope that I can get some ingredients in making the perfume and fragrance combination thanks and more power
Ma. Cecilia yamamoto
I wanted to make my own perfume, can you please tell me if where can I buy those ingredients. And also please teach me more procedures in making a perfume in a simpliest way.
Rachel Sarnoff
Sure! You can buy organic vanilla extract and essentials oils at natural foods stores or online. I found mine at Whole Foods Markets. This is the simplest recipe I know of, just add essential oils to the extract until you get the scent you like. Let me know how it goes!
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ethnie clarke
I tried making a fragrance. I used Ylang Ylang and Lavendar with Organic Vanilla. Its nice and warm…I am going to try the Rose Geranium. Thanks again!!!
Rachel Sarnoff
Ooh yum!! That sounds really lovely. I will have to try that combo!
ethnie clarke
Hi, I love your video…its very straightforward. I just started searching how to make my own perfume. I purchased grapefruit, cedarwood, lavendar, orange, frankinsense, myrrh, rosemary, cinnamon, clove, lemon, mandarin , ylang ylang, patchouli, cypress, tea tree, peppermint, I am not sure how to combine them. thanks for your help.
Rachel Sarnoff
Wow. That is a LOT of essential oils. I would start by just opening the bottles and sniffing the caps. See what you like best together, and then group the bottles like that. Then take your base–vanilla or rose extract, when I’m mixing–and add a few drops, sniff, then add some more. Do it gradually, but write down what you do so you remember. I’m jealous–I never have that many oils on hand at once! Let me know what your best recipe turns out to be!
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nicole
i really appreciate you writing about making your own perfume.as someone with severe scent allergies, i look forward to my pillow smelling pretty! i had no idea vanilla could work for a scent…but it makes sense. just a comment; i wish you hadn’t had described someone who smells bad as a ‘back-alley bum’. this kind of negative language feels out of place in the positive society you’re creating, and unnecessary to make your point. the culture of homeless-shaming disappoints me.
Rachel Sarnoff
That totally makes sense! I was using that and not even thinking about the implications. I’m going to go in and edit that now. Thanks for pointing that out, Nicole!
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Schweißflecken
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Thank
you, However I am encountering difficulties with
your RSS. I don’t know why I am unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting the same RSS problems? Anyone that knows the answer can you kindly respond? Thanx!!
Rachel Sarnoff
Thanks for the props, and for the head’s up. I’m going to fix the RSS today. Meanwhile, if you subscribe you’ll get updated, if you want to go that route. Thanks for reading Mommy Greenest!
Rhancy
Its a great idea
Rachel Sarnoff
Thanks, and thanks for reading!
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