Perfumes THE MAKING OF
history Perfume was first created in the era of the Ancient Egyptians, who used scents/ aromas during ceremonies and burials, and eventually everyday wear. The Egyptians would use fragrances such as lillies, as a sign of importance and to denote their status. It was then in 1190, when perfume was produced commercially in Paris, leading to the popularity and mass production of perfume today.
what you need • • • •
• • •
2 tbsp carrier oil (jojoba, almond, or grape seed will do) 6 tbsp 100 - to 190-proof alcohol 2.5 tbsp bottled (not tap) water 30 drops of essential oils (at least 1 of each: base, middle, and top) Beaker Funnel Bottle to mix notes
THE MAKING OF
perfume
notes When creating perfume, you must think about what fragrances you’re attracted to, and how they will combine together to create beautiful aromas. The first step is finding different ‘notes’ as there are top notes, mid-notes, and bottom notes, which all work together to let off different smells once you spray perfume on yourself.
first scent will lasts only 10-15 minutes. strongest scent which determines perfume family and core smell. accentuates the midle notes, making the perfume last 4-5 hours
top notes
BASIL
LEMON
ROSEMARY
LIME
mid notes
CHAMOMILE
PEPPERCORNS
JASMINE
FIR NEEDLE
base notes
CEDARWOOD
SANDALWOOD
CYPRESS
VANILLA
mixing notes When mixing a fragrance, first you add your base notes, then your middle notes, then finally, your top notes. The ideal ratio for adding notes is 30% top notes, 50% middle notes, and 20% base notes. Some perfumer makers recommend combining a maximum of 3 to 4 dominant notes. TOP NOTES MID NOTES BASE NOTES
30% 50% 20%
BAS NOT
TOP NOTES
MID NOTES
strength When combinging notes, pay attention to the scents that you are adding: if one scent is much stronger than others, you’ll want to add less of it so that it doesn’t overpower everything else.
essential oils To make a perfume, you need more than just the top, middle, and base notes: you also need something to add them to. •
Firstly, begin with a carrier oil. Popular choices include jojoba, sweet almond, and grape seed oil.
•
Next, you’ll slowly add drops of your base, middle, and top notes to the carrier oil.
•
Finally, you’ll add something to help merge the ingredients together. Alcohol is a popular choice because it evaporates quickly and helps diffuse the perfume’s notes. A common choice is a high-quality, 40% to 50% alc vodka.
OILS
fact You hair is said to be the best place to spray perfume, as your scalp’s oiliness, will actually keep scent longer than your skin will.
let it sit Allow the perfume to sit for at least 48 hours. Shut the lid and allow the perfume to cure for at least 48 hours. You can leave it for up to 6 weeks, which is when its scent will be at its strongest. Check the bottle regularly to see where the scent is at.
48
HOURS
add water Add 2 tbsp bottled water. Once you’re happy with the scent, add 2 tbsp bottled water to your perfume.
WATER
MIXER
MIXER
shake Shake the bottle very well for approximately 1 minute to ensure that the contents are well blended.
packaging Transfer the perfume to another bottle. Using a funnel, pour your perfume into a clean glass bottle, preferably transfer it to a fancy bottle to keep it professional. You can also label the bottle with the ingredients and a date on it to ensure it doesn’t go off or have ingredients others may be allergic to. This also helps for you to know whether you should make more or less the next time around.
pouring finished perfume into bottle
label
End THE
H AY L E Y B R O W N