How To Make Perfume Spray: Everything You Need – Video & Charts
Learn how to make perfume spray with a guided video, perfume notes list, and perfume types chart.
Perfume – it’s more than just a scent; it’s a reflection of individuality, an intimate expression of who we are. Fragrance is interwoven into the fabric of our daily lives, influencing our moods, memories, and experiences.
Whether it’s the spritz of perfume that energizes us in the morning or the comforting aroma of a candle, fragrance holds a profound power over our senses.
With more and more of us incorporating scent into our daily rituals, it’s evident that perfume holds a special place in our hearts.
But what exactly is perfume? It’s not merely a mix of aromas but a meticulously balanced blend of fragrance notes that embodies our personal essence. As Makesy aptly puts it, perfume is more than just a pleasant odor – it’s a reflection of our personality, an unseen accessory that leaves a lasting impression.
Now comes the question: How do I make my own perfume or signature scent? Is it difficult to make your own perfume?
I’ll be the first to admit it can feel quite daunting to create your first perfume. But, once I walk through each step with printable charts and instructional videos, you’ll soon discover that designing perfume is an empowering experience!
In this article, we’ll blossom into the art of perfume making, exploring everything from the fundamentals of perfume notes to the intricacies of blending various fragrance categories.
So, whether you aspire to create a floral bouquet reminiscent of a spring garden or a woody scent evoking the tranquility of a forest, this DIY perfume guide will equip you with the knowledge and skills to bring your olfactory visions to life.
Ready to get started? For your convenience, this post contains some affiliate links; read the full disclosure policy.
Let’s Begin With Perfume Notes To Understand The Balance
What are the notes of a perfume, and how do you blend them seamlessly to create a captivating scent? The composition of perfume lies in balancing perfume notes, each contributing its unique essence.
Read each perfume note chart to learn what makes each unique and how to use them in a DIY perfume.
TOP NOTES
The Gateway
Blend at 30%
The top note of a perfume serves as a compelling introduction. It is the initial impression that greets the senses upon first application, setting the stage for the unfolding layers of scent.
Often characterized by their lightness and freshness, top notes play a pivotal role in captivating attention and imparting a sense of immediate allure. Top notes make up thirty percent of a perfume blend; these fleeting yet impactful notes are crucial for leaving a memorable first impression.
Examples Of Top Notes Include:
Fruity
- Bergamot
- Grapefruit
- Lemon
- Lime
- Mandarin
- Sweet Orange
Green
- Fresh cut grass
- Green Tea
- Ivy Cucumber
- Fig Leaf
herbal
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Sage
- Lavender
- Eucalyptus
- Spearmint
Floral
- Lavender
- Lilac
- Violet
- Neroli
Aquatic
- Marine Moss
- Seaweed
- Driftwood
- Salt
From the herbal freshness of basil and rosemary to the lush greenness of ivy and cut grass, these top notes provide a fun palette of scents to explore and experiment with!
HEART NOTES
The Soul
Blend at 50%
The heart notes of a perfume are the HEART of its essence, infusing it with depth and character that lingers long after the initial impression fades.
These notes, which occupy the core of the fragrance, reveal themselves gracefully, unfolding to captivate the senses with their enduring allure. You see, as the top notes dissipate, the heart notes emerge.
Examples Of Heart Notes Include:
FLORAL
- Jasmine
- Lavender
- Ylang-Ylang
- Neroli
- Gardenia
Spicy
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Clove
- Cardamom
- Black Pepper
Fruity
- Apricot
- Peach
- Blackcurrant
- Plum
Herbal
- Lemon balm
- Rosemary
- Sage
Woody
- Oakmoss
- Pine
- Vetiver
- Cypress
Select your heart notes carefully; each note contributes to the fragrance’s overall character, leaving an indelible imprint on the senses.
BASE NOTES
The Anchor
Blend at 20%
The perfume’s base notes serve as its foundation or anchor, providing stability to the composition. Unlike the fleeting impressions of top notes, base notes diffuse slowly and linger long after the initial application.
Base notes are designed to offer a sense of permanence, grounding the scent in a rich tapestry of aromas. While they may be the last to reveal themselves, their presence endures, leaving a lasting impression that captivates the senses.
These base perfume notes give way to diverse aromas, from warm and resinous tones to earthy, rich scents. Allow their depth and complexity to inspire your perfume blend.
Examples Of Base Notes Include:
FLORAL
- Jasmine
- Ylang Ylang
- Rose
Spicy
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Cardamom
- Coriander
Amber
- Vanilla
- Musk
- Tonka Bean
- Frankincense
- Myrrh
Woody
- Sandalwood
- Cedarwood
- Vetiver
Get Your Hands On Tons Of Perfume Notes With a Kit!
MAKESY created this fabulous perfume makers kit with a library of perfume accords, including my favorite floral notes, night-blooming jasmine, and gardenia. And my juicy faves – peach and fig! This kit contains a wheel of rich and complex perfume accords that blend with each other easily.
Just select accords close by on the fragrance wheel for an appealing scent or opposite on the fragrance wheel for a bold scent. It’s that simple with the included Blend book and fragrance wheel.
What’s the difference between perfume notes and perfume accords?
If you’ve already done some reading about how to make perfume, you might be confused by terms such as notes, accords, and fragrance. Here are quick answers to understanding these terms.
Perfume Q and A
What is a fragrance?
Fragrance is a term used to describe a sweet or pleasant odor, such as the smell of a single rose or a freshly squeezed lemon.
But we must understand a rose isn’t just a rose. Its scent is made of aromatic ingredients, natural isolates, and oils – that create its fragrance.
What is an accord?
Accords contain a combination of aromatic ingredients and natural oils from various sources, balanced and combined into an accord perfumers use.
Think of it as combining the scent of rose with a splash of lemon, crushed sea salt, and ivy leaves.
How many accords can you use?
You can use 1 or 2 or as many as you like to create your desired scent!
So, if you fall in love with one accord and want to use it on its own, you can because it is already a complex fragrance.
Creating Perfume Blends
These are my favorite perfume blends I created with the kit! You’ll see me wrapping little glass vials with butterfly and floral washi tape to correspond with my notes for each formula in the video.
Summer Obsession
Italian Ice
Life-n-Reflection Signature Scent
How much fragrance do you use to make perfume?
Once you’ve chosen your perfume accords or notes, the next step to making perfume is choosing your perfume type. This choice will help you calculate how much fragrance you need in the recipe.
And if you’re wondering, is parfum the same as perfume? Or which is stronger eau de parfum or parfum? Or which is better, parfum or toilette?
Let me answer them all with a printable chart of perfume types!
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Perfume Types Chart
Perfume (Parfum)
Utilizing 15-30% concentration, perfume is the strongest and richest fragrance concentration. This is why it has long been deemed a luxury.
EDP (Eau de Parfum)
Eau de Parfum is lighter than Perfume, at 18-20% concentration, but still has an excellent lasting strength.
EDT (Eau de Toilette)
Eau de Toilette is lighter than the above, with a typical concentration of 10-15%. Interestingly, it is the most popular concentration among most department-store perfume brands.
Cologne (Eau De Cologne)
The lightest form, Eau De Cologne, also referred to as a splash or body mist, has the least concentration of 3-5%.
Now you know – which type of perfume lasts the longest!
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How To Calculate Perfume Fragrance
Now comes the math. With our perfume notes and accords chosen along with our perfume type, we can calculate exactly what we’ll need. Let me share two examples with you!
For Reference:
- 1g = 1ml
- 15ml = .50 oz
- 30ml = 1 oz
To Make a Perfume (Parfum)
I used this square glass perfume spray bottle with 20% fragrance and 80% perfumer’s alcohol.
20% of 1.70z bottle is .34oz = 10ml. So, you’ll need this much for each perfume note:
- Top Notes 30% = 3ml
- Heart Notes 50% = 5ml
- Base Note 20% = 2ml
To an EDT (Eau de Toilette)
I used this large glass roller bottle with 10% fragrance and 90% coconut oil.
For a 10% fragrance load, fill with 1ml, adding up to this much of each perfume note:
- Top Notes 30% = .30ml
- Heart Notes 50% = .50 ml
- Base Note 20% = .20ml
Related To
How To Make Perfume
Follow along with these steps in the video to quickly learn how to make perfume.
All the incredible aromas in the perfume kit inspired me to dress up the big perfume bottle with one of my pressed flowers. Watch me make it on YouTube!
Perfume Ingredients & Supplies
Perfume All-In-One Kit
You can find practically all of these supplies inside this beautifully designed DIY perfume starter kit! Easily blend & create your own fragrances for your bespoke perfume. And you can make a unique fragrance for other projects, like linen sprays and candles with accords in the kit.
It’s a fragrance lover’s dream with a fragrance wheel, five specially designed fragrance recipes, and all the tools you need!
Use code CREATEWITHKRISTY10 to save $18 + Plus – get a free blend book with the kit!!
DIY Perfume Instructions
Place the glass beaker on top of a digital scale and tare out the beaker on the scale’s settings so it doesn’t get weighed. Add 1.36oz perfumer’s alcohol to the beaker. Then, place a funnel on the perfume bottle and pour it in.
Now, it’s time to add the perfume blend. You’ll need a total of 10 ml. Here’s what I used to create a Life-n-Reflection Signature Scent!
Pour the perfume note blend into the perfume bottle with the funnel from your container or beaker. (I prepared my perfume blend ahead of time and let it infuse for 3 weeks.)
Now, spray yourself with your new creation and enjoy your signature perfume!
Did you make this?
To share your creation on Instagram, mention @lifenreflection or tag #lifenreflection! What did you love most? Leave a comment below!