I received several questions about the perfume making tutorial that I posted yesterday, so I figured it would be a good plan to add details about the purpose of the ingredients used in making perfume, as well as some cautions about potential hazards.
Using Ethanol
Alcohol-based perfumes use ethanol. High-proof food-grade ethanol is the easiest alcohol to obtain. Vodka or Everclear are used because they are clear and don't have a particularly 'boozy' odor. Don't use denatured alcohol. I don't recommend using rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). Never use methanol. Methanol is readily absorbed across the skin and is toxic.
The Base Oil
I named jojoba oil or sweet almond oil as good carrier or base oils because they are kind to the skin, but you could substitute other oils. Keep in mind, some oils have a relatively short shelf life. In other words, they can go rancid quickly, which probably won't improve the fragrance of your perfume. Also, some oils are less likely to stay mixed than others. Animal oils, such as civet and ambergris, have a long history of use in perfumes. Don't use toxic oils as your carrier oil. Many of the essential oils you use for fragrance would be toxic in high doses.
Essential Oils
Commercial perfumes tend to use synthetic organics, which cause sensitivity reactions. Natural perfumes aren't necessarily any better. Essential oils are very potent; some are toxic. The fragrances from many white flowers (e.g., jasmine) are toxic in relatively low doses. Thyme and cinnamon oils are therapeutic in low doses, yet toxic in high doses. I'm not saying you should avoid these oils. Just keep in mind, with perfume sometimes less is more. You should feel free to experiment distilling the essences of herbs and flowers, but know your botany. Distilling poison ivy would not be a good plan. Distilling oil from hallucinogenic herbs might not be appreciated either.
Hygiene
Be sure to filter your perfume and to use clean containers. You don't want to introduce bacteria, fungi, or mold into your perfume, nor encourage their growth. Many essential oils inhibit microbial growth, so this is less of a concern with perfume, but it becomes more of a concern if you dilute the perfume to make cologne.
Using Ethanol
Alcohol-based perfumes use ethanol. High-proof food-grade ethanol is the easiest alcohol to obtain. Vodka or Everclear are used because they are clear and don't have a particularly 'boozy' odor. Don't use denatured alcohol. I don't recommend using rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol). Never use methanol. Methanol is readily absorbed across the skin and is toxic.
The Base Oil
I named jojoba oil or sweet almond oil as good carrier or base oils because they are kind to the skin, but you could substitute other oils. Keep in mind, some oils have a relatively short shelf life. In other words, they can go rancid quickly, which probably won't improve the fragrance of your perfume. Also, some oils are less likely to stay mixed than others. Animal oils, such as civet and ambergris, have a long history of use in perfumes. Don't use toxic oils as your carrier oil. Many of the essential oils you use for fragrance would be toxic in high doses.
Essential Oils
Commercial perfumes tend to use synthetic organics, which cause sensitivity reactions. Natural perfumes aren't necessarily any better. Essential oils are very potent; some are toxic. The fragrances from many white flowers (e.g., jasmine) are toxic in relatively low doses. Thyme and cinnamon oils are therapeutic in low doses, yet toxic in high doses. I'm not saying you should avoid these oils. Just keep in mind, with perfume sometimes less is more. You should feel free to experiment distilling the essences of herbs and flowers, but know your botany. Distilling poison ivy would not be a good plan. Distilling oil from hallucinogenic herbs might not be appreciated either.
Hygiene
Be sure to filter your perfume and to use clean containers. You don't want to introduce bacteria, fungi, or mold into your perfume, nor encourage their growth. Many essential oils inhibit microbial growth, so this is less of a concern with perfume, but it becomes more of a concern if you dilute the perfume to make cologne.
Comments
Anne, i’d like to try making a perfume for myself, i saw some branded perfume recipe (although not complete)and saw baby powder being added. Does this mean the baby powder we can buy from any store? how do i add it;, before or after the essential oils? Please enlighten.
You could add normal baby powder to a solid perfume, but I would shy away from adding it to a liquid perfume because I think it would just clump up or cloud the perfume. If it is the scent you are after, you could add baby oil instead.
In any case, there is no harm in adding baby powder. I’d add it last, with the essential oils.
Hi Anne, i did try to make a solid perfume even though i didn’t have all the ingredients, instead of beeswax i tried using petroleum jelly, instead of jojoba or almond oil i tried vitamin E, i couldn’t find essential oils from local store here in the island so i used the essential used for massage (i havent added the baby powder). The outcome was not a solid one, i mean not hard than i thought it would be, a little too soft, that is. But i least i know the recipe works. Thanks! I hope to start making my own scents (solid and oil perfumes) when i get the essential oils i’ve ordered, beeswax and all.
Why can’t denatured alcohol be used? I’m still new to perfumery, but I’ve used denatured alcohol before and didn’t have any problems. Are there ricks associated with using it?
You possibly could use denatured alcohol, but since alcohol readily crosses skin into your bloodstream, it’s much safer to use a non-poisonous alcohol. If possible, I’d stick with food-grade ethanol.
Heya.
Am a Science student. I have got this chemistry project on Perfumes. What do you think i should do?
I want to make some natural ones!
I would lke to capture the scent of locust flower from our trees. Is this safe and would I need to boil the flower buds to ensure the cleaness of the end product?
I have a question about using denatured alcohol. I understand that methanol used in denaturing the ethanol is dangerous but isnt it used in miniscule ammounts that will not hurt you? Also, if denatured alcohol is diluted enough with water, wouldnt the resluting mixture contain so little methanol as to be completely benign?
what is the best solvent perfume for alcohol perfume and non alcohol perfume?
how to make perfume more lasting?
i need a recipe using lavender essential oil…….cn u help..?
Thanks for your good advice! I’m also wondering about denatured alcohol and risks when dilluted. That is, is dilluting with water acceptable/negligably toxic? If so, what would the safe ratio to distlled water:denatured alcohol be? Thank you.
I am also wondering about denatured alcohol and risks when dilluted. That is, is dilluting with water acceptable/negligably toxic? If so, what would the safe ratio to distlled water:denatured alcohol be?
what to use ethenol or methenol ?
what are other content use for developind and long lasting fragnance?
Thank you.
What is the difference between deo alcohol and ethyl alcohol in perfume making.. Which one is better?