Making Botanical Perfumes & Colognes
Did you know that most perfumes and colognes are manufactured using synthetic chemicals, even petroleum? Many of these ingredients do not need to be listed on the labels, but are known allergens, hormone disruptors, and irritants. The majority have never even been studied for cosmetic use! This is pretty scary, but the good news is that we can easily create our own perfumes and colognes from natural ingredients. Not only are they safer, but many botanicals also have therapeutic properties that are grounding, energizing, relaxing, stimulating, uplifting, and balancing. True, these fragrances will need to be reapplied more often than their chemical counterparts, but they are much better for our minds and bodies. If in need of a little sprucing up during the day, carry a small bottle of your favorite aroma in your purse. You can even make special formulas like a relaxing blend for stressful situations or something energizing for afternoons that drag. The options are endless! Below are several blends that I have played around with, but feel free to concoct your own special recipes.
Orange Spice Cologne
A warming, spicy, and exotic blend that will lift spirits, invigorate senses, alleviate stress, mental fatigue, and tension. The aroma is delightfully reminiscent of Chai tea.
- 1 organic Cinnamon Stick
- 25 organic whole Cardamom Pods
- 15 organic Cloves
- 1 organic Vanilla Bean – cut into small pieces
- 1 fresh organic Orange peel – zest only
- 8 oz Vodka
Crush spices in a mortar and pestle. Combine with Vanilla Bean pieces, Orange peel zest, and vodka in a glass mason jar. Cap tightly and shake once or more per day. After 2-6 weeks, strain the spices and pour the infused liquid into a glass bottle with a mister top. Simply add more spices if you desire a stronger cologne.
Citrus Cologne
A fresh citrus scent with herbal notes, this uplifting aroma is stimulating and revitalizing.
- 1 fresh organic Lemon peel – zest only
- 1 fresh organic Grapefruit peel – zest only
- Organic essential oil of choice, examples: Basil, Chamomile, Lavender, or Peppermint
- 8 oz Vodka
Combine Lemon and Grapefruit peel zest in a glass mason jar and add vodka until the liquid rises above the peel zest by at least 1”. Cap tightly and shake once or more per day. After 2-6 weeks, strain out the citrus peels and pour the resulting cologne into a glass bottle with a mister top. Add 2 drops of essential oil for each tablespoon of finished cologne. Add more essential oil if you desire a stronger cologne.
Fresh Floral Cologne
This relaxing cologne can be made with fresh blossoms straight from the garden! The flowers help ease depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, hyperactivity, irritability, tension, and exhaustion.
- Fresh or dried organic Rose Petals
- Fresh or dried organic Chamomile flowers
- Fresh or dried organic Lavender flowers
- Vodka
Combine all ingredients in a glass mason jar and add vodka until the liquid rises above the flowers by at least 1”. Cap tightly and shake once or more per day. After 2-6 weeks, strain the flowers and pour the resulting cologne into a glass bottle with a mister top.
Woodland Perfume
I love this blend! It truly smells like the forest. Uplifting, grounding, meditative, and comforting.
- 4 drops Spruce essential oil
- 2 drops organic Fir Needle essential oil
- 2 drops organic Cedarwood essential oil
- 1 drop organic Vetiver essential oil
- 1 drop organic Bergamot essential oil
- 1 tsp organic Jojoba Oil
Drip all essential oils into a glass bottle and roll between palms to evenly mix the oils. Add Jojoba oil, and roll again. Add additional essential oils if you desire a stronger perfume.
Sweet Summer Perfume
A relaxing and warming blend reminiscent of summer, with a lightly floral aroma complemented by hints of spice and cedar. Especially useful during times of stress, anxiety, irritability, or depression. A great lift-me-up during the cold and dark winter months!
- 10 drops organic Lavender essential oil
- 5 drops organic Chamomile essential oil
- 4 drops organic Cardamom essential oil
- 1 drop organic Cedarwood essential oil
- 1 drop organic Geranium (Rose) essential oil
- 1 tsp organic Jojoba Oil
Drip all essential oils into a glass bottle, and roll between palms to evenly mix the oils. Add Jojoba oil and roll again. Add additional essential oils if you desire a stronger perfume.
Refreshing Perfume
Rejuvenating, uplifting, energizing, and stimulating. This blend is good for mental clarity, lack of focus, and fatigue.
- 13 drops organic Peppermint essential oil
- 13 drops organic Rosemary essential oil
- 5 drops organic Lemon essential oil
- 5 drops organic Sage essential oil
- 5 drops organic Juniper Berry essential oil
- 1 tsp organic Jojoba Oil
Drip all essential oils into a glass bottle and roll between palms to evenly mix the oils. Add Jojoba oil and roll again. Add additional essential oils if you desire a stronger perfume.
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Please leave a comment to share your own perfume and cologne recipes, we’d love to hear about them!
~ irene
We Are A Zero
A night of refreshments and scented delights : )
Going to do the Floral one soon!
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I love patchouli and bergamot with a touch of vanilla. These recipes sound so yummy! I especially like the Woodland Blend! Thanks!
Hi. I love these ideas and cannot wait to try a few. I am wondering the difference between the bases of vodka and jojoba oil. Can you explain why one is better than another? Thanks.
Hi jmcarree,
Thank you for the great question! Jojoba oil is typically used when creating concentrated perfumes that are applied directly to the skin, and vodka is used when making colognes or perfumes that are less concentrated and misted onto the skin or clothing.
I hope that this helps!
~ irene
Irene, just double checking, but does that quality of the alcohol matter when making colognes? I know it does when you are actually going to drink it, but just checking.
Hi Firefly (love your name!),
Thank you for the wonderful question! I think that a lower quality of alcohol would be appropriate when making colognes, I honestly don’t believe that the quality will make much of a difference in the finished product.
If you try making your own colognes and perfumes, we’d love to hear how they turn out!
~ irene
Hi I’m interested to make my own fragrances without the use of alcohol, is there a particular method to do so, or it’s simply the same as using spring water to make air fresheners?
Hi Y.K,
Thank you for the great question! If you used water instead of alcohol in the cologne recipes, then the mixture would begin to ferment within a few days. However, you can use Witch Hazel Extract instead of the alcohol in these cologne recipes. The Witch Hazel Extract will not draw as much fragrance out of the botanicals as the alcohol would, but it would be perfectly suited for creating air fresheners or lightly scented cologne. You could also turn any of the perfume recipes into room sprays by omitting the Jojoba oil, and adding the essential oil blend to 3 oz. water and 1 oz. Witch Hazel Extract.
We have several recipes for making aromatherapy sprays on our blog, here are links to the recipes:
Winter Spice Aroma Spray: http://mountainroseblog.com/homemade-gifts/
Late Summer Aromatherapy Spray: http://mountainroseblog.com/savoring-summer/
Vanilla Aroma Spray: http://mountainroseblog.com/decadent-vanilla-recipes-2/
Thank you again for the thoughtful question, and best of luck with all of your aromatherapy adventures!
~ irene
Thanks so much for the informative reply Irene, you’re a great help!