A lot of people can get headaches from perfumes that are filled with toxic chemicals.. At the same time many of us just love the the feeling we get when we wear a fantastic scent. It seems to boost our confidence and makes us feel whole. And some people actually feel naked if they forget to put a fragrance on. So for all of you that love the scent love language here are some alternatives to chemical perfumes that are healthy, organic, and made from pure essential oils.
The steps you will learn are going to be easy to repeat when it’s time to refill or try something new!
Whether you’re a daily wearer or an occasional spritzer, it’s time for you to sniff with confidence. Using your essential oils to create a personalized scent not only allows you to smell amazing - it ensures you are enjoying a fragrance that is safe for your body and those around you.
Fragrance Basics
Let’s start at the very beginning. Every quality perfume or cologne needs a good base. This allows for the fragrance to remain intact throughout the life of the perfume/cologne. You want it to have a nice shelf life so you can enjoy it for as long as possible.
You’ll want to choose a carrier with little to no scent. For spray-on fragrances: use a clear, scentless solvent like vodka or witch hazel. This helps the essential oil distribute evenly throughout the bottle. For roll-on fragrances: use an unscented carrier oil like jojoba or almond oil.
If you choose to use water as your base, which you can, be sure to choose distilled water. The minerals and impurities have been removed so it’s a “safe” option to use in sprays. I don't recommend this because the oils can separate too much in the mixture and the fragrance won't be the same. However, just know that vodka or witch hazel would allow the essential oils to be more evenly distributed.
Depending on the size of the bottle you’re using - either a spray or roller bottle - you will want to loosely follow an 80:20 ratio. Use a carrier oil or solvent for 80% of the spray and an essential oil blend for the remaining 20%.
Blending by Notes
Let’s start with some simple guidelines to help you build a personalized blend of fragrances using your oils.
Essential oil fragrances are classified as “notes”. Just like music, you want all the notes - top, middle, and base notes - to harmonize, making a beautiful “sound.”
- The Top Note is the scent your nose detects first. It is the “first impression” scent, usually a citrus or herb.
- The Middle Note is the scent detected 10-45 minutes after applying and can last several hours on the skin. It is often referred to as the “heart note”, the one noticed after the top note is gone. It’s typically warm and well-rounded.
- The Base Note lasts far beyond the other notes. It’s the scent that appears once the others have evaporated. It creates a lasting impression.
To summarize, the Top Note is the introductory scent that catches your attention. The Middle Note is the core of the aroma - the smell that gives body to your fragrance. And the Base Note is what blends all three together, creating a quality smell that lasts for hours without fading.
Use this quick table to guide you as you start blending notes. Start by choosing 2-4 oils in each row to work with; add as much as your nose likes! There are no hard and fast rules to blending; just do what smells good to you.
Top | Middle to Top | Middle | Middle to Base | Base |
Bergamot | Juniper | Valor | Cedarwood | Frankincense |
Lemon | Cinnamon Bark | Neroli | Cypress | Patchouli |
Peppermint | Lemongrass | Clary Sage | Black Pepper | Sacred Sandalwood |
Lime | Pine | Stress Away | Rose | Vetiver |
Orange | Tangerine | Ylang Ylang | Clove | Myrrh |
Grapefruit | Lavender | Geranium | Jasmine | Davana |
Give yourself permission to be creative. And I will also give you a couple of recipes that you can try also. It may take time for you to find what works for you but have fun with this.
‘Kiss in the Dark’
This first magic mix is perfect for date night or ANY night you just want to smell alluring and enchanting.
Kiss in the Dark Roller
- 10 drops Cedarwood
- 9 drops Vetiver
- 6 drops Patchouli
- 3 drops Black Pepper
- Add essential oils to a 10 ml roller bottle and top with a carrier of your choice. Roll on wrists and neck as desired.
Kiss in the Dark Spritz
- 20 drops Cedarwood
- 18 drops Vetiver
- 12 drops Patchouli
- 6 drops Black Pepper
- Add essential oils to a 2 oz. glass spray bottle and top with witch hazel or vodka. Distilled water can be used if you desire. Shake before each use.
Kiss in the Dark Body Spray
- 40 drops Cedarwood
- 36 drops Vetiver
- 24 drops Patchouli
- 12 drops Black Pepper
- 1 TBSP vegetable glycerin
- 1 TBSP witch hazel
- Add essential oils plus additional ingredients to an 8 oz. glass spray bottle and top with distilled water. Shake before each use.
‘Citrus Sunrise’
Who doesn’t love a light, refreshing scent for everyday use?! This little blend will have you smiling all day!
Citrus Sunrise Roller
- 10 drops Lemon
- 7 drops Citrus Fresh
- 6 drops Peace & Calming
- Add essential oils to a 10 ml roller bottle and top with a carrier of your choice. Roll on wrists and neck as desired.
Citrus Sunrise Spritz
- 20 drops Lemon
- 14 drops Citrus Fresh
- 12 Peace & Calming
- Add essential oils to a 2 oz. glass spray bottle and top with witch hazel or vodka. Distilled water can be used if you desire. Shake before each use.
Citrus Sunrise Body Spray
- 40 drops Lemon
- 28 drops Citrus Fresh
- 24 Peace & Calming
- 1 TBSP vegetable glycerin
- 1 TBSP witch hazel
- Add essential oils plus additional ingredients to an 8 oz. glass spray bottle and top with distilled water. Shake before each use.
‘Bohemian Wildflower’
There’s a wildflower in everyone and with this perfume you’ll enhance that inner boho flower waiting to blossom.
Bohemian Wildflower Roller
- 8 drops Patchouli
- 8 drops Bergamot
- 8 drops Myrrh
- 6 drops Joy
- Add essential oils to a 10 ml roller bottle and top with a carrier of your choice. Roll on wrists and neck as desired.
Bohemian Wildflower Spritz
- 16 drops Patchouli
- 16 drops Bergamot
- 16 drops Myrrh
- 12 drops Joy
- Add essential oils to 2 oz. glass spray bottle and top with witch hazel or vodka. Distilled water can be used if you desire. Shake before each use.
Bohemian Wildflower Body Spray
- 32 drops Patchouli
- 32 drops Bergamot
- 32 drops Myrrh
- 24 drops Joy
- 1 TBSP vegetable glycerin
- 1 TBSP witch hazel
- Add essential oils plus additional ingredients to an 8 oz. glass spray bottle and top with distilled water. Shake before each use.
Cologne Blends: ‘WildWood’
Got a man who loves the outdoors? This is the perfect blend for any man who’s a little bit wild and woodsy.
WildWood Roller
- 8 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
- 4 drops Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood
- 5 drops Cypress
- Add essential oils to a 10 ml roller bottle and top with a carrier of your choice. Roll on wrists and neck as desired.
WildWood Spritz
- 16 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
- 8 drops Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood
- 10 drops Cypress
- Add essential oils to 2 oz. glass spray bottle and top with witch hazel or vodka. Distilled water can be used if you desire. Shake before each use.
WildWood Body Spray
- 32 drops Idaho Blue Spruce
- 16 drops Royal Hawaiian Sandalwood
- 20 drops Cypress
- 1 TBSP vegetable glycerin
- 1 TBSP witch hazel
- Add essential oils plus additional ingredients to an 8 oz. glass spray bottle and top with distilled water. Shake before each use.
Cologne Blends: ‘Freshman’
Clean-shaven, clean-cut men deserve a cologne that reflects their fresh and clean vibe. This mix of oils will be just what he needs.
Freshman Roller
- 6 drops Vetiver
- 8 drops Lemon
- 3 drops Fennel
- Add essential oils to a 10 ml roller bottle and top with a carrier of your choice. Roll on wrists and neck as desired.
Freshman Spritz
- 12 drops Vetiver
- 16 drops Lemon
- 6 drops Fennel
- Add essential oils to 2 oz. glass spray bottle and top with witch hazel or vodka. Distilled water can be used if you desire. Shake before each use.
Freshman Body Spray
- 24 drops Vetiver
- 32 drops Lemon
- 12 drops Fennel
- 1 TBSP vegetable glycerin
- 1 TBSP witch hazel
- Add essential oils plus additional ingredients to an 8 oz. glass spray bottle and top with distilled water. Shake before each use.
