Easy Homemade Perfume Recipes for Women
An Introduction to Perfumes
Perfume is without a doubt the one cosmetic that has the ability to create the feel-good factor instantly. Scents in our body products such as body wash, lotions, deodorant or hand creams instantly give us a lift. Room fragrances, such as potpourri or air fresheners, have a calming, relaxing effect and are often used when we entertain guests to create an inviting ambiance. Perfume or fragrance is something I adore in all its various forms, be it from natural elements such as the beach or sea to freshly baked bread or uplifting lavender flowers.
The Benefits of Homemade Perfume
With perfume being a costly luxury product, it makes sense to try making your own. It is easy to make your own solid perfume, a dab-on perfume or even a spray Eau de Toilette. Men's Eau-de-Cologne is equally doable at home and makes for a perfect creative gift idea.
On top of the cost factor, you know exactly what is going into your perfume—no hidden ingredients that may be toxic, synthetic or chemical in origin. As with any homemade beauty recipe, the very best ingredients will produce as near perfect a product as possible.
Percentages of Essential Oil in Fragrance
- Perfume: 15%
- Eau de Toilette: 4–8%
- Eau de Cologne: 1–5%
Fresh and Fruity Women’s Fragrance
Ingredients
Essential Oils:
- 5 drops Sweet Orange
- 9 drops Lemon
- 4 drops Tangerine
- 11 drops Frankincense
- 3 drops Neroli
- 2 drops Myrrh
Base:
- 11 ml Vodka or 11 ml Jojoba Oil
Equipment:
- Blue or dark glass bottle
- Funnel (optional)
- Glass Rod (optional)
Directions
- Add the vodka or the jojoba oil into your bottle.
- One by one, add your essential oils. Give a stir with the glass rod.
- Apply cap and give a good shake
- Your perfume is now ready.
Tips:
- If using the oil base, I recommend leaving it for a week to give it time to infuse more and settle.
- Store in a cool, dark place and give a gentle shake daily.
- Follow the correct percentage of essential oils; this recipe is 15%, giving the most concentrated fragrance. It is important not to overuse essential oils, so if reducing your base amount, remember to reduce your drops of fragrance.
Alternative Recipes
Using the above recipe as a guide, I have put together a few smaller recipes using less amounts of different oils that will show you how easy it is to make your favorite perfume scent using your favorite oils.
Rose and Jasmine
- 10 drops Rose
- 9 drops Jasmine
- 10 ml Jojoba Oil
Ylang-Ylang and Lavender
- 10 drops Ylang-Ylang
- 9 drops Lavender
- 10 ml Jojoba Oil
Vanilla and Sandalwood
- 29 drops Vanilla
- 10 drops Sandalwood
- 11 ml Jojoba Oil
Sweet Orange Oil
Also known as Portugal Orange or China Orange, this tree is native to China but is now extensively grown in USA. Unpretentious, sweet, tangy and vibrant are all used to describe this fresh citrus fragrance which is used to uplift spirits, create calmness and induce a general happy mood.
Sunny, warm and a general feel good fragrance, it has many therapeutic and health benefits including preventing colds and flu, helps the digestive system, stimulates collagen in the skin and reduces stress levels.
The oil is made from the peel of oranges, and the cold pressed method of extraction is the best one to use as it most concentrate and pure. Sweet Orange oil is safe, non-toxic and non-sensitizing oil but it may be phototoxic. It is recommended that this is not applied when going out in sunlight for extended periods of time.
Lemon Oil
One of the most popular citrus scents, lemon oil is also known as cedro oil. A native of India the lemon tree is synonymous with southern Mediterranean countries and is grown throughout the world in warm temperate climates. The oil is extracted from the lemon peel as in sweet orange. A clean, fresh sharp fragrance known to help concentration and improve decision making, it has many beneficial uses:
- It contains vitamins A, B and C and is an excellent ingredient to use in skincare recipes such as rosewater and lemon face wash.
- Lemon is a natural choice for including in air fresheners and potpourri and makes a refreshing addition to a cucumber spa water ideal for the warm summer days or when entertaining or hosting a girls spa party.
- Lemon is one of the most versatile of the oils and may be use in creams, lotions, vapors, and burners, massage oils, in the bath, mouthwash recipes and hair products.
It is non-toxic but may cause skin irritations and skin sensitivity in some individuals. It is photo-toxic and should be avoided, even in small quantities, in prolonged sun exposure.
Tangerine Oil
Tangerine oil is also referred to as European mandarin, naartji and true mandarin. Native to China it arrived in Europe in the early 19th century and then America who is a large producer of tangerine today. A sweet zesty citrus oil, it is terrific for the circulatory system, relieving stress, aiding the digestive system and reducing stretch marks.
The main differences between tangerine and mandarin are tangerines are harvested in November and mandarins in February. Tangerines are also deeper in color and seedless, whereas mandarins are more yellow than orange and have small pips.
Tangerine oil is commonly used in burners, vapors, lotions, creams, massage oils and in the bath. Another citrus oil to be careful of in the sun and should be avoided when in the sun for long periods of time.
Frankincense Oil
This wonderful essential oil is extracted from the Boswellia tree and is often known as Oilbanum and gum thus.
Frankincense is woody and spicy oil that is calming, soothing and rejuvenating to body and mind and homemade frankincense recipes are popular.
The oil originates in the Middle East and is extracted from a hardened resin from the bark of the tree and is one of the more expensive essential oils. Prices can vary from under $10 to near $100 a bottle.
It is non-toxic, non irritating oil that may be used by even the highly sensitive of skins. Its tonic effect on the skin makes it perfect for using in a face wash and compresses. In face creams and lotions it has the ability to benefit dry dehydrated skin and oily skin.
Use it in burners, vaporizers, in the bath or with base oil as beneficial massage oil.
Neroli Oil
One of the most popular fragrances, neroli is also known as orange flower, orange blossom and neroli bigarade.
It has an extensive range of both therapeutic and skin benefits not forgetting it has the most incredible scent. Floral, sweet and haunting it is said to have been named after an Italian princess, Countess of Nerola who used this fragrance as perfume, in her bathwater and even for scenting gloves.
The oil is extracted from the delicate flowers of the Bitter orange tree and is commonly used in perfume making.
One of the most relaxing oils it is useful for anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, shock, depression and neuralgia to name a few benefits.
In fact it is so relaxing it should be used with caution if a sharp and focused head is required. In skin care, it aids cell regeneration, rejuvenates skin tissue, deep scarring and broken capillaries.
As with many essential oils it may be used in vapors, burners, in massage oils, the bath and in a variety of skin care products. Neroli essential oil is non-toxic, non- irritating, non-sensitizing and non-phototoxic.
Myrrh Oil
Myrrh oil is commonly known as myrrha, bola, gum, common myrrh and hirabol myrrh.
A warm and musky oil that has been called magical, it has a spiritual quality that is said to have this magical effect on treating women’s complaints and a body detoxifier.
Native to Yemen, Somalia and Arabia, the oil is extracted in a similar way to frankincense, from the bark of a tree and then from the hardened resin.
Myrrh is a great healing oil and may be use for colds, diarrhea, mouth and gum disorders to name a few.
It is a beneficial in providing relief for period pains and for easing difficult labor in childbirth. Myrrh may be utilized in the full spectrum of uses, namely skin care creams, mouthwash, compresses, vaporizers, oil burners, massage oil and in the bath.
Myrrh is non-irritating and non-sensitizing however it may be toxic when used in high doses so should always be avoided during pregnancy as it can act as a uterine stimulant.
What interests you most about homemade perfume?
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2013 Suzanne Ridgeway
Easy Homemade Perfume Recipes for Women Comments
Where can I buy the oils coco or Chanel no 5 to mix with carrier oil
What an interesting article! Before reading this Hub, I had always thought perfume making was a mysterious and difficult process. Thank you for such a useful and interesting Hub. I'm going to try out a recipe. Congratulations on having this hub selected as a Hub of the Day.
Wow, I'll bet these are so awesome to have around. I have never though about making homemade perfume. I suppose it is rather an are form in itself. Thanks for piquing my interest. Voted way up and interesting and shared.
Wow! What a comprehensive hub packed with plenty of information! No wonder that this well-written and knowledgeable hub of yours got the well-deserved hub of the award! Congrats! Way to go!
Thanks for SHARING. Useful & Awesome. Voted up
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Interesting and voted up. Have a great day .
Eddy.
Congrats Suzie !!! You did a marvelous Job.... Way to go :) Great hub and rightly featured....
I love information like this. Yes and very well written too so easy the directions. Thank you much for doing this article. We can find how to do most anything, but didn't think to look for perfume recipes. Great job, and also congrats too.
Congratulations on Hub of the Day!! Of course, I'm not surprised!! This makes me want to break out my essential oils collection...hopefully this weekend. I don't have many citrus oils except for the neroli, but after reading about all these great citrus oils I think I'm going to have to add more to my collection. I happen to LOVE ylang-ylang, so I may start with the lavender combo. The sandalwood and vanilla also sounds irresistible. I checked "all of the above" in the poll. This is an irresistible DYI beauty recipe. Thanks so much for another great one!!
Very informative and well written of course.
As an herbalist and naturopath I love making my own products and making them available for others. Then people started asking for plain scented body oils. I was hesitant at first with getting proportions right, but now I feel comfortable. Your suggestions are certainly helpful. And you provide good overall information on the benefits of each essential oil.
Oh wow--this is great--I love oils and use them in my bath sometimes--I am not at all sure that this is what should be done here--but it feels luxurious! And congrats on the HOTD!!
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Really cool i'm gonna try this out , "Congratiulation for being on the Hub of the Day !" Enjoyed it .
fasatynHD xoxo .
Just dropping in again to say, "Congratulations on Hub of the Day!" So happy for you. It's well deserved. Your hubs are always beautifully written & so well laid out.
I totally loved everything about your hub. And I can't wait to try out the orange ideas. Awesome work!
So, when I first read this over a month ago, I knew it was a WINNER! Congratulations on HOTD, you most certainly deserve it........bravo. Take care. -Rose
Damn, girl, you really did win the HOTD! I think I missed this because I have never won one and I'm green with envy. LOL
No, really, I simply did not notice this until you mentioned it. I'm proud of you, and I am so overjoyed that someone who can actually write won one of these. :)
Sending hugs my friend
bill
Congrats on HOTD! Thanks for this awesome hub. I love perfumes and fragrances from anything like you mentioned including baked goods and candles. I'm excited to try out your recipes; voted up, useful and awesome =)
Congrats Suzie on HOTD!! When I saw this I was stocked for you, if anyone deserves it you do with your stellar, detailed, beautifully photographed hubs..I've been pinning them as they are just so good..well done..keep it up Suz..cheers
I can't believe I missed this delightful hub! What a great, money saving hub this is. Its always nice to have a fresh scent and what better than one you make yourself?
And, dear friend, congratulations on your hub of the day, very well deserved.
Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting.
Congrats on Hub of the Day! This is your usual fantastic work. I typically don't wear perfume because most of it is too strong for me and it irritates my sinuses, but these recipes seem great for people with sensitivities!
Congratulations on your Hub of the Day award for this informative post! I got side tracked with your links…. :) … but wanted to say thanks for really helpful information that will let anyone easily make their own fragrances. It is important to know what the ingredients are in our perfumes, but most often impossible to be sure they are safe if we buy it.
Wow Suzie :) Such a great hub and I love it! I love fragrances, oils, and sprays but haven't even tried of trying to make them. And I had two oils mentioned above. Up and shared! And I'd be experimenting with fragrances one of these days :) Thank you for your awesome hub!
Congrats on HOTH! This is such a great idea. I am all about eliminating toxic chemicals from my life where possible and making my own scents sounds like a fabulous idea. Thank you so much for sharing this well written and informative article!
Nice! I just launched my "Pure Essentials Aromatherapy" Line of matching pillow and body sprays. I've been trying perfumes for a couple years, but it's an expensive trial-and-error process, especially when the blends really just don't work together. I'm still honing my perfumes, after researching all the bases I've decided to use grain alcohol for the perfume sprays (in the finished product - though I experiment new scent trials with vodka) and jojoba for the scented oils. They won't be a finished product ready for me to sell for a while yet - but it sure is fun to try! Think I'll give your first recipe a go (guess it's time to splurge on a couple of the more expensive oils :) ) Beautifully laid out hub - I'm inspired. Be well - Lee @ Lee's Teas
Fantastic Hub! Thank you for posting this most useful information! I make my own mosquito spray, body butter, shampoo, etc. so these wonderful recipes will be a welcome addition to my ever-growing homemade products list!
Voted up, useful, awesome, and interesting!
Very well detailed and useful hub indeed. Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the HOTD award.
Because chemical fragrances give me a headache, I've been using blended essential oils instead. Glad to have the recipes to make my own! And a BIG congrats on Hub of the Day!
What a beautiful hub!
Terrific formulas -- and the best part is I have most of those essential oils on hand, so I can go wild! Thanks for the inspiration -- and a huge congrats on having your hub recognized as the beautifully done piece that it is! -- MJ
Congrats on your HOTD Suzie! Your hubs are so deserving!
Good hub and very interesting. Voted up.
Hi Susie, Congrats on Hub of the Day. This great article really deserved the distinction. It has information about various essential oils, a super easy (I love super easy) recipe for making your own fragrance and the the video for extracting the scent from fresh flowers. It's gardenia time here in the south of US and to bottle that heady, intoxicating scent of the gardenia would be fabulous.
I'm going to be so busy trying out your concoctions that I won't have much time for anything else. I may have to impose a moratorium on myself and not read your articles until I catch up on my work. lol
Really good piece!
Suzie, I saw MJ's comment from the first page I come on when I get to this site (I stay signed on), and wondered what he was talking about. Then I looked to the right side, and saw you won HOTD! Congrats! It is about time.
Now you are going to spend all day looking at comments, so I will make this short. Thanks again for writing such interesting and quality pieces, and enjoy your day :)
Hi Suzie
Now how on earth did you pull this one off for this little ditty, LOL.
I thought only the good and the great were worthy of a HOTD.
Oh wait you are much better than that so then it makes perfect sense.
So tell me something Suzie. How wrong is it for a short little man to make a short little drop of Suzie's "easy homemade perfume for women" for himself?
I just thought it might make a change from smelling of diesel and kerosene and who knows it might even bring a different class of customer to the garage, LOL.
Seriously, hearty congratulations on getting HOTD.
So very well deserved for a superb Hubber.
I wonder if this scored an 8+ in the new QAP? LOL.
Voted up, ticked, shared and G+d. I still haven't sorted that Pin It thingy so that'll have to come later.
Have a very special day and don't forget to do you HOTD victory dance, LOL.
MJ.
Oh, I´m the first! Congrats on the HOTD, Suzie. I knew it that one day you´ll get this award. Voted this up and pinned. Since I´m now in my adopted country, it´s easier for me to get these ingredients. Thanks for sharing;-)
I enjoy finding neat DIY projects. This one is a little different than most, but I like a good scent. I will definitely have to give this one a try.
Voted UP! Thank you for sharing this! I love using essential oils to get good scents for perfumes and body oils. I never made any homemade perfumes yet, but have made body oils, such as lavender and geranium rose. I mix mine with almond oil. I used to wear store bought perfumes all of the time, but when I smell them now, I want to gag! It is too much for me to handle! Very useful information!
Don't you just love it when we can be very inventive in the most natural way to create something as wonderful as this?
Well researched, well presented. Excellent hub!
Interesting, beautiful, up, pinning and sharing.
I love these - I tend to buy essential oils and then forget completely what I was going to do with them, so I really must follow your advice and make some of my own perfumes - thank you!
Hi Suzie! I always like such types of idea and yours is one of the finest one.
I love this hub! I need to remember this for ideas for Christmas gifts, or for something special. I especially like citrus fragrances, so I was very much attracted to those scents here. Voted up!!
Very informative hub, Suzie. I love your tips here and I should sharing this hub to my sister and my mom. Thanks for writing. Good job and voted up :-)
Prasetio
looks great!!!
Thanks you for sharing the information!
Wow, awesome information here Suzie. Lemon oil, sweet orange oil, gosh, I would love to have perfumes in that fragrance. Thank you so much for this great hub. I am definitely going to try one of these sometime soon.
Voted up, useful and interesting. Sharing!
Citrus based perfume is rather popular. What is the cost of collecting the different oils? For Mother's Day, my children bought me Fresh's Hesperides which is grapefruit based and a small unit of it is only $20.
Very informative hub with great ideas. The idea of making your own perfume is wonderful.
Perfume for women! Yessss! I'm already planning on buying a few things at the store soon, and once I do I will have the ingredients for this. I just need to establish what scent I want. Thanks, Suzie!
Hi Suzie HQ--Another beautiful hub! Boswellia, what a humble looking little plant. Had no idea such a weedy little thing was the source of frankincense.
I am a perfume fanatic and I love all things scented. I will definitely have to give these a try! Thanks for sharing!
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