Sharing Is Caring!

Looking for a Quick Method to DIY Essential Oil Perfume?

Whether you’re looking for a plant-based perfume to support your natural lifestyle or find the store-bought options are simply too overpowering for your senses, creating your own perfume is a rewarding experience.

You see, unlike conventional perfumes that rely on complex, synthetic aroma compounds, pure essential oils offer a beautiful alternative.

Essential oils are, in fact, more concentrated than fragrance oils, derived from plants with no additives. They pack a powerful punch straight from the source!

That’s why making DIY essential oil perfume is like bottling up ripe fruits and flowers in full bloom!

There are many ways to make perfume with essential oils. Today, we’ll start with the basics of perfume making, and then I’ll show you the fastest way to make essential oil perfume for immediate use!

This article contains some affiliate links, Thank you for your support, read the full disclosure policy.

a beautiful geometric glass perfume bottle containing homemade perfume on a bathroom counter next to a diffuser

Where to Start

Creating your very own unique essential oil blends for perfume is easy with a little knowledge in hand. You see, some essential oils don’t blend well with others, and the scents they create are not pleasing to anyone’s nose.

The key is understanding that essential oils fall into aroma categories. So first, take a brief look at the aroma categories below. Then, open a bottle of essential oil in each category to get a feel for what the category smells like.

Essential Oil Aroma Category Examples

Citrus Aromas:
  • bergamot
  • orange
  • grapefruit
  • lemongrass
Herbal Aromas:
  • fennel
  • angelica
  • clary sage
Spice Aromas:
  • clove
  • cinnamon
  • ginger
  • jasmine
  • geranium
  • neroli
Exotic Aromas:
  • ylang-ylang
  • sandalwood
  • palmarosa
Woodland Aromas:
  • juniper
  • eucalyptus
  • cypress
  • pine
Resin Aromas
  • frankincense
  • balsam fir needle
  • myrrh

Related: Common Essential Oil Mistake

DIY essential oil perfume spray on a notebook in a white bathroom.

What Essential Oils Can Be Used as Perfume?

Just about any essential oil can be used to make perfume, but a well-structured perfume has a base note, middle, and top note.

Keep in mind some essential oils can overlap between note levels. For example, rose catches you at the first sniff, yet it doesn’t dissipate quickly. Instead, it stays with you. This is why it is used as a top and base note.

So, be on the lookout for these dual-note oils, giving you more flexibility.

Base Notes

Also known as a deep note or bottom note, base notes are the aromas that will linger the longest. Ideally, a base note should be 20% of your perfume blend.

  • Angelica
  • Cedarwood
  • Cinnamon
  • Clove
  • Frankincense
  • Ginger
  • Hyssop
  • Jasmine
  • Myrrh
  • Patchouli
  • Rose
  • Sandalwood
  • Spruce
  • Valerian
  • Vanilla
  • Vetiver
  • Ylang Ylang

Middle Notes

Lovingly known as heart notes, the middle note lasts longer than a top note and bonds together the top and base notes. A middle note should make up the biggest proportion of your DIY essential oil perfume. Aim for a 50% ratio.

  • Basil
  • Bergamot
  • Black Pepper
  • Cardamom
  • Chamomile
  • Cinnamon
  • Clary Sage
  • Cypress
  • Fennel
  • Geranium
  • Hyssop
  • Jasmine
  • Juniper
  • Lavender
  • Lemongrass
  • Marjoram
  • Melissa
  • Myrrh
  • Myrtle
  • Neroli
  • Nutmeg
  • Oregano
  • Palmarosa
  • Pine
  • Rosemary
  • Spruce
  • Tea Tree
  • Thyme
  • Yarrow
  • Ylang Ylang

Top Notes

These are the notes our senses pick up first. If you open a bottle of a top note, you might think I’m crazy—wondering how this could be a top note!! The scent of a top note will immediately hit you and give you the illusion of being strong, like base notes.

It is strong, but top notes are the first to fade in any perfume yet are the key to a great blend. When creating your DIY essential oil perfume, plan for the top note to make up 30% of the blend.

  • Anise
  • Basil
  • Bergamot
  • Black Pepper
  • Cinnamon
  • Clary Sage
  • Coriander
  • Eucalyptus
  • Fennel
  • Grapefruit
  • Hyssop
  • Jasmine
  • Lavender
  • Lemon
  • Lemongrass
  • Lime
  • Melissa
  • Tangerine
  • Nutmeg
  • Neroli
  • Verbena
  • Orange
  • Peppermint
  • Pine
  • Spearmint
  • Tea Tree
  • Thyme

essential oil perfume chart printable
download

Take a look at this detailed list of essential oils in each aroma category to create smooth, complimentary essential oil blends.

Then print out this essential oil perfume notes chart and a blending wheel from Oily Chic Library or pin for later use as a quick reference for what pairs well together.  

Related: How to Dilute Essential Oils

How to Make Essential Oil Perfume Last Longer

Here’s a tip I’ve learned to make perfume last longer. Before you apply perfume, use an unscented oil-based moisturizer to hydrate your skin. Grapeseed oil and jojoba oil work great for this as both are practically scent-free and absorb faster than other carrier oils like coconut.

Once the oil absorbs into your skin, apply your perfume as usual. Why” You see, dry skin doesn’t hold fragrance well; moisturized skin, on the other hand, can hold the scent up to 30% longer!

Definitely, worth the extra step – right!?

Looking over a diamond glass perfume of essential oil perfume

How to Make DIY Essential Oil Perfume Spray:

Keeping it simple is always a good way to start. So, for beginners, I recommend starting with just three essential oils. One for the base note, one for the middle note, and one for the top note.

Speaking of keeping things simple, we’re going to make perfume spray because it’s the fastest way to make perfume. Plus, did I mention – it’s easy? And you can use it immediately, unlike solid perfume and other options.

I made this DIY essential oil perfume for a 30 ml diamond perfume spray bottle. But, I’ve also made it in a 6 ml perfume atomizer bottle so I could carry it in my handbag. You can choose any size perfume bottle to make yours. Take a look at the Oily Chic Look Book for lots of pretty options!

Perfume Ingredients & Supplies:

DIY Essential Oil Perfume Spray Recipe:

Select your base, middle, and top notes. For small bottles, aim for 25 to 30 drops of essential oil and 35 to 50 drops for large bottles.

Using a mini funnel fill your perfume bottle (this is the diamond perfume spray bottle I used) with 1 part witch hazel.

Then add your base note at 20%, followed by a 50% middle note and a 30% top note. Last, add 2 parts of distilled water.

Remove the funnel from the bottle and secure the spray nozzle. Shake well before each use.

Here’s a quick example of what my DIY essential oil perfume spray is made of:

  • 5 ml coconut witch hazel
  • 5 drops Angelica Essential Oil
  • 15 drops Valor Essential Oil
  • 10 drops Stress Away Essential Oil
  • 15 ml distilled water
DIY essential oil perfume in a vintage diamond cut glass spray bottle on a white vanity.

There you have it—a simple, quick, and foolproof method for making DIY essential oil perfume spray with only five ingredients. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Yield: 30 ml Bottle

DIY Essential Oil Perfume Spray

DIY essential oil perfume in a vintage diamond cut glass spray bottle on a white vanity.

A simple, quick, and foolproof method for making DIY essential oil perfume spray with only five ingredients. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Materials

  • 30 ml perfume spray bottle
  • 2 parts Distilled or Purified Water
  • 1 part Witch Hazel
  • 25 to 30 drops of Essential Oils

Instructions

    1. Select your base, middle, and top notes. Aim for 25 to 30 drops of essential oil for small bottles and 35 to 50 drops for large bottles.
    2. Using a mini funnel fill your perfume bottle (this is the diamond perfume spray bottle I used) with 1 part witch hazel.
    3. Then add your base note at 20%, followed by a 50% middle note and a 30% top note.
    4. Last, add 2 parts of distilled water. Remove the funnel and place the spray nozzle on the bottle. Shake before use.

Notes

Keeping it simple is always a good way to start. So, for beginners, I recommend starting with just three essential oils. One for the base note, one for the middle note, and one for the top note.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Wanna make this DIY?

Pin it to your idea board!

I don’t know about you, but simplicity is huge for me! I got started with essential oils years ago with this carefully curated essential oil kit.  It comes with 12 versatile essential oils perfect for any beginner! Are you ready to get oily?

Pin these easy-to-make DIY essential oil perfume sprays, and don’t forget your printable essential oil perfume notes above. 

Have you made essential oil perfume? Tag #oilychic on Instagram to share yours with us.

Sharing Is Caring!

5 Comments

  1. How will the oils and water blend?

    1. The witch hazel helps to emulsify the oils. You can skip the distilled water and replace it with all witch hazel too.

  2. Hi, can I replace witch hazel with perfumers alcohol?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *