Help with our smells
November 27, 2009 6:40 PM Subscribe
What "base oil" should be used for diluting essential oils to make perfume?
I got my daughter a kit of essential perfume oil so she can make her own perfume. Unfortunately, the kit came without a base oil to do the dilutions. She's tried some of the on-line recommended oils (glycerin, vegetable oils) but they seem too ... well, oily. Are we just being too fussy, or are there better liquids to use?
I got my daughter a kit of essential perfume oil so she can make her own perfume. Unfortunately, the kit came without a base oil to do the dilutions. She's tried some of the on-line recommended oils (glycerin, vegetable oils) but they seem too ... well, oily. Are we just being too fussy, or are there better liquids to use?
Best answer: Have you tried diluting with alcohol? Does it mix?
posted by yoyo_nyc at 6:59 PM on November 27, 2009
posted by yoyo_nyc at 6:59 PM on November 27, 2009
Response by poster: Well, duh. I should have thought of that - anybody know why the sites I ran into (mostly health/healing/herbal) went with oils and didn't mention alcohol?
posted by skyscraper at 9:00 PM on November 27, 2009
posted by skyscraper at 9:00 PM on November 27, 2009
Best answer: If you dilute it with oil, you're not going to get a perfume. You're going to get a scented oil, which is usually used for massage-stuff.
If you want to make perfume, you need to dilute it with a high concentration alcohol; rubbing alcohol will not dissolve it properly. Vodka is okay, everclear is better. Or you can buy perfumer's alcohol; I got a bunch a long time ago from an online vendor called Snowdrift Farm.
fwiw, I very frequently make perfume from oils so I'm certain about all this.
posted by Nattie at 9:53 PM on November 27, 2009 [2 favorites]
If you want to make perfume, you need to dilute it with a high concentration alcohol; rubbing alcohol will not dissolve it properly. Vodka is okay, everclear is better. Or you can buy perfumer's alcohol; I got a bunch a long time ago from an online vendor called Snowdrift Farm.
fwiw, I very frequently make perfume from oils so I'm certain about all this.
posted by Nattie at 9:53 PM on November 27, 2009 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You can also make solid perfumes with a base of jojoba oil and beeswax.
posted by misteraitch at 1:23 AM on November 28, 2009
posted by misteraitch at 1:23 AM on November 28, 2009
Response by poster: Thanks, everybody - problem solved!
Nattie, I ended up getting Everclear so the perfume creation process can get going, but we'll keep our eyes out for the perfumer's alcohol for the future.
posted by skyscraper at 5:28 PM on November 28, 2009
Nattie, I ended up getting Everclear so the perfume creation process can get going, but we'll keep our eyes out for the perfumer's alcohol for the future.
posted by skyscraper at 5:28 PM on November 28, 2009
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posted by dayintoday at 6:59 PM on November 27, 2009