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    Home » DIY Projects

    DIY Perfume Oil

    December 27, 2015 by Patti Estep 20 Comments

    Jump to How-to Card

    Learn how to make your own signature scent perfume oil by blending different essential oils with a carrier oil. This is a fun project to make alone or with a group trying combinations of scents to create your own unique perfume blend.

    Roller bottle and essential oils

    Have you ever made your own perfume? You can easily make a roll-on perfume oil by combining essential oils with a carrier base oil. It doesn’t cost very much, can be a great gift for the holidays or an inexpensive way to make your own signature scent.

    This post contains some affiliate links (that means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, there's no additional cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission. ) i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

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    Open roll-on perfume oil bottle.

    Several years ago, my sister and I owned an herbal gift shop, and making your own perfume was one of the classes we taught. Back then, jojoba oil was considered the premier carrier oil. It is actually a wax and is said to last for years.

    Recently though, I have heard and read that fractionated coconut oil is another great carrier with a long shelf life. For this perfume oil project, I will be working with fractionated coconut oil but you can use any carrier oil you like. 

    The essential oils vary in price, but you can easily find some to fit your budget. In addition to smelling great, essentials give you the added bonus of providing aromatherapy for your mind and body.

    Some essential oils, such as lavender, are great for relaxation, whereas grapefruit is very energizing. 

    Roll on bottle with essential oils to create perfume oil

    How to Make Essential Oil Perfume

    To make my own “Garden Matter Blend,” I used bergamot oil, lavender oil, and patchouli oil. You could make the perfume oil using only one essential oil, however, I think it is fun to make a blend.

    Blends are made with three or more scents, usually a top note, a middle note, and a base note. Top notes are the fragrance that you first smell and therefore are the first to evaporate. In my blend, I use bergamot for the top note. Have you ever smelled Earl Grey tea? I love the way it smells. The essential oil of bergamot comes from the rind of the bergamot orange, grown in Southern Italy.

    For my middle note, I used lavender. The middle note is also known as the heart note because it is considered the heart of the fragrance since it shows up once the top note has evaporated and lasts longer than the top note. The middle note is more mellow and well-rounded. Lavender and rose are typical middle note oils.

    I chose patchouli as my base note. Base notes are the scents that linger the longest. Okay, I’m sure some of you are thinking, “patchouli?” It is reminiscent of the 70s and incense. I think of it more like onions and garlic in the cooking world because alone they are very pungent and not so nice, but mixed with other foods, they are the stars that make the dish.

    Essential Oil Perfume Notes

    Here is a sample list of essential oils and whether they are top, middle or base notes. 

    Top Notes
    Basil
    Bergamot
    Grapefruit
    Eucalyptus
    Lemon
    Lime
    Orange
    Peppermint

    Middle Notes
    Chamomile
    Fennel
    Geranium
    Lavender
    Marjoram
    Rosemary
    Rose

    Base Notes
    Cedarwood
    Frankincense
    Jasmine
    Myrrh
    Patchouli
    Sandalwood
    Ylang Ylang

    Perfume oil bottle on it's side with a label that says Perfume Oil lavender... patchouli... bergamot

    Free Label Template

    I made a label to use with Microsoft Word. They print on standard mailing labels Avery 5160 2 ⅝” x 1”. You can change the color and the text to suit your needs. Test on paper first. Mine needed to be two inches. I skewed the text left so I could cut them down to fit the bottle, then added some washi tape on the sides for decoration. Click here to get the template

    Make it a DIY Perfume Oil Party

    Invite your friends over. Have each person bring a different essential oil that you can all share. You provide the roll-on bottles, the carrier oil, and the wine.

    There are no rules. Have fun and play with this roll on perfume oil. Dab it at your pulse points (behind the ear, knee, and inside of the wrist). See how they wear after a time.

    Patti signature

    More Essential Oils Projects

    • Solid Perfume Recipe
    • 10 Essential Oil Projects Post
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    Perfume oil roller bottle on a table next to a rosemary plant.
    Roller bottle and essential oils
    Print
    4.60 from 5 votes

    Perfume Recipe with Essential Oils

    Learn how to make your own signature scent perfume oil by blending different essential oils with a carrier oil.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Active Time5 mins
    Total Time10 mins
    Course: Crafts
    Yield: 1
    Author: Patti Estep

    Equipment

    • Everything4Oils Clear Glass 10ml Roll on Bottles for Essential Oils (6 Pack)
    • Majestic Pure Fractionated Coconut Oil, For Aromatherapy Relaxing Massage, Carrier Oil for Diluting Essential Oils, Hair & Skin Care Benefits, Moisturizer & Softener - 16 fl Oz.
    • NOW Solutions Organic Jojoba Oil,8-Ounce
    • Teenitor 2ML Plastic Transfer Pipettes Eye Dropper Pack of 200 - Essential Oils Pipettes Dropper Makeup Tool

    Materials

    • 1/3 oz. carrier oil jojoba oil or Fractionated Coconut Oil
    • approx. 20 drops of essential oils
    • 1- 10 ml Roll-on Bottles
    • [plastic or glass Eye Dropper]

    Instructions

    • Start with one or two drops of your base note. This is the strongest and will dominate the others.
    • Add a little more of the middle note – swirl and sniff.
    • Then add five or six drops of the top note – swirl, sniff and adjust.
    • Finish with the carrier oil.

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Mal

      January 12, 2021 at 8:33 am

      how long do I have to wait till the perfume oils are ready for use?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 12, 2021 at 9:01 am

        Mal, you can use them immediately.

        Reply
    2. Shelby

      February 25, 2020 at 10:59 am

      Hi, Patti!

      Just a quick question: Do you have a rough idea as to what the shelf life is on D.I.Y. perfume oil such as this? I am doing an aromatherapy-related class for some friends in a couple of weeks. Thank you kindly!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 25, 2020 at 11:55 am

        Shelby, I think the best way to determine shelf life would depend on the carrier oil you use more than the essential oils themselves. There are a lot of places online that will give you the shelf life of each carrier oil. The two that come to mind are jojoba oil and fractionated coconut oil but I would research them first.

        Reply
    3. Kimberly

      June 01, 2019 at 10:09 pm

      Hi there! Just read this post I found on Pinterest. When you roll your perfume on do you then rub it in so it’s not so oily on your skin or just leave it? Which carrier oil would absorb more quickly into your skin, jojoba or the fractionated coconut oil? I love the scent of EO’s but when using them in beauty products I just started to make I don’t care for all the oiliness.
      Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        June 02, 2019 at 6:53 am

        Kimberly, I think the fractionated coconut oil absorbs quickly. You can also try grapeseed oil. It's very light but has a shorter shelf life. You can usually find it at larger grocery stores.

        Reply
    4. Elvina

      January 11, 2019 at 12:12 am

      In perfume garden matter blend, how many drops lavender you put? Thanks a lot

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 11, 2019 at 2:37 pm

        Elvina, it's been a while since I made that one but I would guess around 7-10 drops per 1 10ml bottle.

        Reply
    5. Ria

      April 20, 2018 at 7:59 am

      How can yo make lavender oil from your laven der plant.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        April 20, 2018 at 10:57 am

        True essential oil from a lavender plant is a huge process called distillation. You can make a hydrosol or a floral water pretty easily with your lavender plant. This would be used as a body spray or linen spray. I wrote a while ago about floral hydrosols.

        Reply
    6. Robert

      January 05, 2016 at 5:38 am

      Hello, I'm planning to make my own perfume oil but may I know how long does the scent last and is it as strong as the typical perfume we purchase in stores? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 05, 2016 at 6:45 am

        Hi Robert,

        It really depends on the oils you use. If you look at the list of oils I have given you a sample of top, middle and base notes. The base notes will last the longest. I would say in my experience that the oil perfume is not quite as strong as commercial but may last just as long, but again it depends on the perfume and the perfume. Have fun experimenting!

        Reply
        • Robert

          January 08, 2016 at 7:24 am

          Oh... but can the scent be detected by others easily or is it just a slight whiff? I was thinking of making a blend that smells woody + spicy (since it might be stronger/ more condensed), may I know which scent would you recommend to use as the base note? Anw thanks so much for the reply!

        • Patti Estep

          January 08, 2016 at 8:00 am

          In my opinion the scent is usually subtle not strong. You probably wouldn't notice it when you walk past someone. Most of the time you notice it close up for example in an embrace.
          For a woody spicy scent you may want to try cedarwood for the base note. Black pepper could be a good choice but I believe its more of a middle note. It all depends on your preference and how they smell on you so you'll want to experiment but that half the fun.

    7. Krystle

      August 24, 2015 at 11:59 am

      What size bottle did you use? I can't wait to smell this blend.
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Patti

        August 24, 2015 at 1:15 pm

        Krystle,
        It's a standard 10 ml size. I should have included it in the post. Thanks for pointing it out.
        Patti

        Reply
    8. Gillian

      August 21, 2015 at 9:01 am

      Hello

      I am an aromatherapist and I have just bought some rollerball bottles. I would like to try making a blend of perfume using pure rose oil. Any suggestions which two other oils would blend nicely with rose? I would appreciate your comments x

      Reply
      • Patti

        August 21, 2015 at 9:13 am

        Hi Gillian,

        As an aromatherapist you may know a lot more than I but here are my two cents. I believe rose is a nice middle note which to me means that it is not the first one you will smell and not the last one. I believe it is known to blend with many oils so good choice. Going from there traditionally you may want to pick a lighter top note like a citrus and a heavier base note like ylang ylang. Of course, it all depends on your taste. Rose oil is expensive and if you want that fragrance to stand out use more or consider skipping the base note. Hope that helps and that you find the perfect mix.

        Reply
    9. Coral Winkworth

      July 13, 2015 at 11:51 pm

      Thanks for sharing the Perfume Oil recipe. It sounds great and I am going to try making it to see how it turns out. I will keep you updated once I do my test run. Thanks again and I love your website. Keep up the good work.

      Reply
      • Patti

        July 14, 2015 at 6:17 am

        Hi Coral,

        I'm so glad you like the perfume oil. Testing it is half the fun. I'd love to hear how it works for you. Thanks for stopping by.
        Patti

        Reply

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