How to Create Your Own Perfume: Beginner's Guide

Introduction

Creating your own perfume can be a rewarding and personal experience. Follow this guide to learn the basics of artisanal perfumery.

The Basics: Understanding the Olfactory Pyramid

The olfactory pyramid is essential to structure a perfume. It is composed of three levels of notes that are revealed over time:

• Top notes: These are the first scents perceived after applying the perfume. Light and volatile, they evaporate quickly (15-30 minutes). Top notes often include citrus fruits such as lemon, bergamot, and aromatic herbs such as mint.
• Heart notes: Also called middle notes, they appear after the top notes have evaporated and are the heart of the perfume. They last for several hours and typically include florals like rose, jasmine, and sweet spices like cinnamon.
• Base notes: These notes are the most persistent and can last for several days. They bring depth and longevity to the perfume. Typical ingredients include sandalwood, vanilla, musk and amber.

Essential Ingredients: The Most Commonly Used Essential Oils and Their Properties

To create a harmonious fragrance, you will need a variety of essential oils. Here are some of the most common ones and their properties:

• Bergamot: Fresh and citrusy, ideal for top notes.
• Lavender: Floral and calming, often used in top and middle notes.
• Pink : Rich and floral, perfect for heart notes.
• Jasmine: Sweet and intoxicating, ideal for heart notes.
• Sandalwood: Woody and creamy, used for base notes.
• Vanilla: Sweet and warm, commonly used in base notes.
• Musk: Deep and animalic, used to give longevity to the scent.

Materials Needed: What you need to get started

Before you start creating your perfume, make sure you have the following materials:

• Bottles: Small glass bottles for mixing and storing your creations.
• Pipettes: For precise measurement of essential oils and alcohol.
• Perfume alcohol: Used as a base to dilute essential oils. You can use 95% alcohol or unscented vodka.
• Soak sticks: To test the different stages of your perfume.
• Notebook: To record the proportions and impressions of each test.

Creation steps

1. Choose your essential oils: Select oils for the top, middle and base notes depending on the desired effect.
2. Prepare your base: Fill a bottle with about 70-80% perfume alcohol.
3. Add the essential oils: Start with the base notes (5-10 drops), then the middle notes (10-20 drops) and finally the top notes (15-25 drops). Adjust the proportions according to your preferences.
4. Mix and test: Shake the bottle gently to mix the oils with the alcohol. Let it sit for a few hours, then test on a blotter.
5. Refine the composition: If necessary, adjust the proportions of essential oils to balance the scent. Let the final blend sit for at least 48 hours to allow the scents to blend.
6. Filter and bottle: Strain the mixture through a coffee filter to remove any particles, then transfer the perfume to a clean bottle with a spray bottle.

Conclusion

Creating your own perfume is a creative and satisfying process that allows you to develop a unique fragrance that reflects your personality. By following these simple steps, you can experiment with different essential oil combinations and create tailor-made scents for every occasion. Explore, have fun, and let your nose guide you on this olfactory adventure.