DIY Perfume That Last For Hours!

I’m sharing with you an easy version of my favorite DIY perfume creations – Firefly. Also, you will learn how to make an all-natural DIY perfume with essential oils that last for hours…Hint: it’s all about the blending! It includes magnolia, cardamom, patchouli, ho wood, and labdanum essential oils. I use only middle and base notes in this perfume as I bend the rules of conventional perfumery! The result is a deep bewitching scent…

Firefly is an aphrodisiac homemade natural perfume that keeps you grounded yet brings out the goddess within you. In terms of scent, think of sweet figs and bergamot complemented by hints of spicy balsam wood, all brought together by an uplifting tea scent – sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? I can assure you, it smells equally amazing!

Being an aromatherapist, I have been crafting fun and unique natural perfumes for years and I love being able to customize different fragrances to create very own unique signature scents with essential oils.

But first, let’s start with the basics.

How do you make natural perfume at home?

Making DIY perfume is a simple procedure that involves blending a carrier oil, such as jojoba oil, with essential oils to formulate a natural perfume.

The best part? You can make your own perfume and customize it to your own unique taste and liking. There will be no other scent or perfume like it and it will allow you to stand out!

DIY perfume recipe key ingredients – Firefly

• Magnolia essential oil improves mental clarity, promotes a heightened sense of self-esteem and self-love, and calms the anxious mind.
• Patchouli relieves anxiety, over sensitivity and depression.
• Ho wood is an anti-depressant, both uplifting and calming, also an aphrodisiac.
• Labdanum helps with mood swings, emotional imbalances and brings self-love to oneself.
• Cardamom increases energy, is an aphrodisiac, decreases anxiety & stress, lifts depression.

How to make homemade perfume 101

Before you jump into the procedure, it’s important to understand what constitutes a perfume, which is, the notes. Consider this your introduction to DIY perfumes 101.

Perfume notes are separated into three classes: top notes, middle notes and base notes. Each note is introduced to the mixture in varying proportions and works harmoniously to develop a unique scent.
Usually, you blend top, middle, and base notes together for a complex scent but you can also bend the rules and play only with middle and base notes for a “deep” and bewitching scent!

• Top Notes
  At first scent, this is what you smell. Top notes make the first impression of a fragrance and are the lightest of all notes. Resultantly, they also fade the quickest.

Examples of the top notes in perfume: grapefruit, lavender, mint, rose, peppermint

• Middle Notes
  Once the top notes diminish, middle notes take centre stage and are considered the heart of the fragrance. They last longer and make way for the base notes to come. They help to blend the top and the base note together, making it a more complex scent.

Examples of the middle notes: black pepper, cinnamon, ylang ylang, chamomile, jasmine, geranium, fennel

• Base Note
  Mingling with the middle notes, base notes are what create the full body of the perfume. These are the richest in nature and linger for hours, long after the top notes have faded. Without base notes the DIY perfume mix, your perfume scent will evaporate quickly and will not last long.

Examples of the base note in perfume: cedarwood, ginger, patchouli, vanilla, sandalwood

How do you make a DIY perfume last?

The key to making a lasting fragrance with a diy perfume recipe is to use a base note (cedarwood, patchouli, vanilla, and sandalwood essential oils are great base scent), as they help increase its longevity and scent. Otherwise, the scent will evaporate even before you’ve left your house.

What are the ingredients for making perfume?

As mentioned before, a DIY perfume consists of one carrier oil like jojoba oil, almond oil or sunflower oil, and a blend of essential oils.

To start blending, use equal amounts of top, middle and base notes. For instance, you could 10 drops of each to your mix. A total of 30 drops in a 15% dilution in a carrier oil is great for a 10 ml roller. If this is still a little confusing for you, you can always use my essential oil dilution calculator.

Once you’ve added your initial amounts to your DIY perfume recipe, you can further experiment with middle or top notes to end up with the perfect scent. However, it’s important you keep a minimum 30% of base notes for a long-lasting perfume.

Which carrier oil is best for a DIY perfume with essential oils?

My personal favorite is jojoba oil, but sunflower, safflower, and almond oil are all great choices for carrier oils. In fact, they’re even more cost-efficient than jojoba oil.

What is a natural perfume?

As the name suggests, it does not use chemicals and consists of 100% organic, natural ingredients. A natural perfume does not have ‘fragrance’ on its label and does not include synthetic fragrances made in a lab.

Is wearing perfume bad for you?

Commercial perfumes are loaded with synthetic fragrances and chemicals, which make them a hazard to your health. In fact, these chemicals are what drove me away from commercial perfumes.

Have you ever experienced a headache after spritzing on commercial perfume? This is exactly why walking through a duty-free section at the airport was hell for me (back when we could travel in the good ol’ days!). I’m a victim of terrible headaches which can even make me nauseous!

According to Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, “many fragrance chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruptions, and other chronic health problems.”

When shopping for perfumes, it’s always best to avoid terms like ‘fragrance’, because it’s used to mention undisclosed chemicals that are not regulated. Basically, it’s a big red flag that should be avoided at all costs!

DIY perfume bottles

Once you’ve made your signature scent and when you have done my diy perfume recipe, you’ll need something to store it in. Check out some of these convenient DIY perfume bottles that you can use for your homemade experiment!

1. Glass Roll on Bottles, Cobalt Blue

These 10 ml glass bottles not only look super cool but are safe and secure. The cobalt blue glass protects the perfume against harmful UV rays, which makes it even more long-lasting.

2. Bamboo Roll on Bottles

Environmentally friendly, non-toxic, easy application – the perfect carrier for your signature perfume! Made of stainless steel, these 5 ml bottles guarantee a leak-proof design and are corrosion resistant, which is especially great for travel.

3. Mini Roller Bottles

If you’re planning on gifting your DIY perfumes, these adorable roller bottles will make the perfect packaging for it! Not only will they fall in love with the scent, but these decorative bottles will be a sight for sore eyes.

These 3 ml bottles also offer protection from harmful UV rays as they are made of glass and covered with clay shell.

4. Vintage Art Deco Bottles

These ones are perfect for those of us that are classy. Made of high-quality glass, these bottles make for elegant décor and are the perfect gift for your significant others, friends, and family.

How to apply your DIY perfume

The only thing to remember with DIY perfumes is that less is more. Apply lightly over your pulse points to make the perfume last throughout the day.

Which essential oils to avoid when making a perfume?

Essential oils that are photosensitive (having a chemical or electrical response to light) should be avoided sa they can irritate or even burn your skin under the sun. This includes essential oils such as lemon, lime, tangerine, bergamot and others.