Let’s get the ‘good-smelling’ party started! I’ll walk you through some simple steps to create your very own perfumes and colognes. And to make it even better, the steps you learn are going to be easy to repeat when it’s time to refill or try something new!
Did you know that wearing perfume or cologne is a confidence booster?! People say they feel more confident when they have a killer scent on. Some people even feel ‘naked’ when they forget to put it on during their daily routine.
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. So let’s talk about the best oils on the planet first, shall we?
Quality Matters
Not all essential oils are created equally. When you shop with Young Living you are getting quality products backed by a ‘Seed to Seal’ guarantee that you won’t find anywhere else. You can expect that Young Living will provide you with only the BEST!
- plant material that is grown on corporately-owned farms or carefully vetted partner farms (that you CAN visit!)
- sustainable farming and sourcing practices, providing the purest oil
- great care is taken to preserve and protect natural resources
- hand-weeded fields and ZERO use of pesticides
- oils that retain all their natural constituents and therapeutic properties
- use of food-grade distillers with state-of-the-art design and distillation methods
- low pressure and low-temperature distillation, without the use of solvents or synthetic chemicals
- rigorous testing on each batch by internal labs and third-party facilities
- oils that are carefully reviewed through every step of production in order to meet or exceed industry safety and purity standards (beyond organic!)
And the best part… if the oils do not meet these high standards they are rejected and will not be bottled as a Young Living product. Now that’s amazing!! It's rare to find a company with such transparency and high standards. For more info, go HERE
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. 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.
And if you’re not ready to create blends, don’t worry! We’ll go over some pre-made blends soon.
Be Smart
It’s important to mention that oils are potent and careless use of them can cause harm. Here are a few general safety ‘rules’ to keep in your back pocket.
Diluting oils is the number one way to protect yourself from accidental irritation; following the 80:20 dilution is a very conservative way to start, especially if you are more sensitive in nature to begin with. If you feel like you need your oils diluted less or more, go ahead. It’s totally up to you!
Some essential oils cause photosensitivity thanks to the compounds found within. Thankfully, all of Young Living’s essential oils that cause photosensitivity are labeled. Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit, Orange, Bergamot, Tangerine, Peace & Calming, Stress Away, Citrus Fresh, Gentle Baby, and Joy are some of Young Living’s popular oils that cause photosensitivity, but other oils can come with these risks as well. Always check the label to see what cautions are associated with the oil you’re using.
Don’t let that keep you from enjoying citrus oils in your DIY perfumes and colognes! Your essential oils are diluted in the recipes you’re creating, but just to be safe - spray or roll on those perfumes in a place where the sun doesn’t shine or simply cover it with clothing if you plan to spend a lot of time in direct UV rays.
Perfume Blends: ‘Kiss in the Dark’
Perfume Blends: ‘Citrus Sunrise’
Perfume Blends: ‘Bohemian Wildflower’
Cologne Blends: ‘WildWood’
Cologne Blends: ‘Freshman’
Get the Best Deal
Who wants to pay full price when you can get the same thing at a discount?
Young Living has several options to help you get started and snag the best deal possible. Even if you already have your own Young Living account, there are still some money-saving tricks you need to know!
Shoot me a message and I can walk you through the options.
