Anybody remember this fragrance?  This was my go to scent in the 80’s!    I loved smelling good even in my elementary years.  I would splash this stuff all over me and then I was ready for the day!  I’m sure my family and kids at school appreciated the fact that I smelled like I had swam in this stuff.  🙂

I sure loved my Jean Nate’!

I still love smelling good, but I have become pretty sensitive to chemicals.  I used to walk in a department store and try all the free samples of perfume… now I instantly get a headache.  There is a way to smell good and not get bombarded with chemicals— that is making your own perfume with essential oils!  And you get the added bonus of all the health benefits of the essential oils at the same time.

First you want to narrow down what essential oils you like the most and figure out your signature scent.

You want to normally have a top note, a middle note and base note in your blend.

Top Note– They are the fastest acting… the first scent you notice.  They are the quickest to evaporate.  They are the most stimulating and have an uplifting effect on the mind and body.  Some examples would be:  Bergamot, Orange, Grapefruit and Lime.

Middle Note–  They do not evaporate as quickly and are the more balancing of the essential oils.  Here are a few middle note oils:  Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary (avoid with high blood pressure) and Rosewood

Base Note–  Slowest to evaporate.  They are the most sedating and relaxing.   Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Sandalwood and Rose are all base note oils.

Note:  This is the information that I have learned in my aromatherapy class.. some other sites may choose to include certain essential oils in the top notes instead of middle.  And that is okay…  it is more important how it smells to you as the blending occurs.

You don’t want it to be top heavy or base heavy.  A good rule to follow is to blend all the drops evenly.  Or distribute the drops for the top to have 30% the middle to have 50% and the base to have 20%.   The best way is to simply start adding the drops (base notes first) and test by smelling to see if you like the way it is turning out.

It really is a lot of fun and a great idea for gifts for people, if you know the scents they like.  Once you make it– let it sit in a cool dark place for about two weeks.  Then you are ready to splash yourself with your own unique perfume.  Well… not splash, but dab.  🙂

There are a couple different ways to make your own.  My favorite is using the essential oils in Jojoba oil.   You can also make your own perfume in an alcohol base.  You want to use distilled water with it– the ratio would be 5-30% alcohol.

First you need a dark glass bottle.  I filled my bottle with 10ml of Jojoba oil and then added my essential oils. You want to do about 15-20 drops.

Here is my recipe for my favorite scent:   1 brown glass bottle or cobalt blue (just make sure it is dark),  1 glass dropper,  10 ml of Jojoba Oil,   6 drops of Bergamot,  7 drops of Lavender,  4 drops of Vanilla and 3 drops of  Sandalwood. (15-20 drops total of the oils)  I actually didn’t follow the exact blending “rules” on this, but it was close enough.  I will probably double my recipe next time.  This is smelling so yummy!

Bergamot has a fresh sweet citrus scent… I find it has a little kick to it.  It is a great tool for battling depression and anxiety.  Not only are you smelling good… this is helping you emotionally as well.

Lavender has a light floral aroma.  It is a calming essential oil that can help combat stress.

Vanilla has a sweet rich aroma.  (Love Vanilla)  It has comforting properties.  (Vanilla is a base not, but I tend to use more because I love it so much.  And it doesn’t seem as heavy as the other base note oils.)

Sandalwood is sweet, spicy and woody.  It can be expensive, but you don’t need to use much to get your desired effect.  Sandalwood is thought to be an aphrodisiac!  It also is great for the respiratory system and soothing emotions.

Here are some other ideas:

Orange, Lavender, Vanilla and Jasmine

Bergamot, Rosewood, Vanilla and Ylang Ylang

Grapefruit,  Lavender and Neroli

I could go on and on….  The possibilities are endless in creating your own perfume…  experiment and have fun!

Here are some other bottles I have ordered… these are so cute.  Great to put your perfume in or to give as a gift!

Remember to take frequent breaks while blending… smelling too much Ylang Ylang or Jasmine can cause headaches.  Step outside and get some fresh air or breathe some coffee grounds to clear the scent.  Also, when making perfume for yourself– always check the contraindications of each oil.    Skin/patch test first as well.

Happy blending, friends!