I make solid perfumes at home - I tell you how and why

The idea of making solid homemade perfume has haunted me since childhood. I remember how I found an unusual medallion on a chain in my great-grandmother’s huge chest. An amazing aroma emanated from it - subtle, delicate and at the same time deep. I remember him as now. It turned out that the medallion opened, and inside it there was a small cavity with perfume.

Solid perfume - what is it?

Everything new is well forgotten old. It was in solid form that the world's first perfumes saw the light of day. They were made for the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt and consisted of tiny particles of aromatic herbs and flower petals. Odorous resins were used as binding components. It was never possible to completely unravel the recipe for the perfume of that time. However, the specimens found in tombs in 2003 were perfectly preserved.

Solid perfume is a concentrated perfume. It is applied like a cream to certain points on the body. Features: slowly developing deep aroma, compactness, durability.

Today, solid perfumes are increasingly found on shelves. Prominent representatives:

Sarah Jessica Parker – Covet,
Tom Ford – Orchid Soleil,
Burberry – My Burberry Gold Solid Perfume.

I also liked Lush Orange Blossom, Le Soft Perfume Lucky Bay and Infinum Sentimental.

DIY solid perfume

I will continue my story. As a child, I quickly used up my great-grandmother's perfume.These were not sold anywhere else, so I began my experiments: I infused flower heads in water, added herbs and pine needles. As you can imagine, they were very different from the original. And besides, they were liquid, not solid.

Only many years later did a classmate tell me how to make a real solid perfume. It is prepared from the following ingredients:

beeswax;
base oil – almond, apricot, jojoba, olive, coconut, shea or cocoa;
essential oils.

The manufacturing process is very simple, but requires some skill. The aromatic mass hardens quickly. Therefore, it is important not to get distracted.

How to make solid perfume at home:

The first step is to create an aromatic composition of essential oils. To do this, we combine them in a separate glass bottle, apply it to the wrist and smell it. If everything suits you, we continue making perfume. For example, let's take a delicate composition: 10 drops of ylang-ylang, 6 drops of amber oil, 3 drops each of rose and lemon verbena.
Leave the oil mixture tightly sealed. At this time, put 1 teaspoon of beeswax and 2 teaspoons of base oil in a water bath.
While the mixture is heating up, prepare the molds - wash them and disinfect them with alcohol.
We are waiting for the moment when the wax melts and the mixture becomes homogeneous. However, you must not allow it to boil.
Remove it from the bath and let it cool slightly (30 seconds).
Pour the aroma oil into the mixture and mix with a toothpick.
Pour into molds.
Close with lids.
Transfer to a cool place and let the perfume mature for at least 12 hours.

Solid perfumes reach peak maturity in the 3rd to 4th week. The aromas merge together and the harshness goes away. The perfume becomes very deep and seasoned.

If you don’t have wax and base oil, you can make a perfume based on hygienic lipstick using the same principle. True, it will turn out to be less durable and not very durable.

My selection of fragrances

I have tested more than one recipe for solid perfumes. I will say that choosing a scent for yourself is not so easy. So be prepared to experiment.

Recipes that I personally liked:

Oriental aroma, richly floral, deep, bold: 12 drops gardenia, 8 drops each jasmine and rose, 5 drops patchouli, 4 drops lilac.
A warming, intoxicating floral scent for romantic dates: 10 drops rose, 8 drops lily of the valley, 6 drops each musk and clove, 2 drops peach.
Fresh, spring scent: 12 drops hyacinth, 8 drops lily of the valley, 6 drops cyclamen, 4 drops oakmoss.
Energetic, invigorating aroma, ideal for sports: 10 drops sandalwood, 6 drops each myrtle, bergamot, sage, 4 drops cypress, 2 drops each lemon and mint.

Fragrance composition (tip for beginners)

Simple manufacturing techniques and inexpensive components of solid home perfumes allow you to obtain completely unique aromas. Anyone can feel like a perfumer. But it's important to know the basics here.

For 15 g of oil-wax mixture you need to use from 15 to 50 drops of essential oils.

Essential oils are divided into three groups (according to volatility): top, middle and base notes.

Top notes are responsible for the first impression of the fragrance, but quickly evaporate. These include oils of verbena, bergamot, mandarin, lemon, orange, mint, and schizandra.
Middle notes are called “heart notes.” They last much longer and form the main impression of the perfume.Essential oils: jasmine, chamomile, geranium, rose, neroli, ylang-ylang, sage, lemon balm, hyssop, myrtle, lavender.
The base notes give the same trail. This is the base of the composition that remains on the body the longest. Oils: patchouli, clove, rose and sandalwood, cedar, cypress, cinnamon, vetiver, incense, juniper.

Essential oils are combined in this order: base notes, middle notes, top notes.

Beginners should strictly maintain the proportions: 50–65% “heart notes”, 20–30% base notes, 15–20% top notes.

Application

You can apply solid perfume in the same way as regular perfume - apply it to points on the bends of your elbows, knees, and neck. To apply, I use a Q-tip or just smear them on with my finger. It's hard to overdo it. The aroma is muted, but lasts for a long time.

In addition, I discovered non-standard ways to use solid perfumes:

Aromatization of linen. We fill the bottle cap and put it in the closet.
Perfume in a pendant. We buy an opening pendant and place a pea of scented wax inside. It is important that the pendant is in contact with the body and has holes.

Shelf life and storage

Over the past 5 years I have already made several dozen solid perfumes. I can say one thing: The guaranteed shelf life of homemade solid perfume is six months.

Gradually the aroma loses its strength. In two cases, the smell became unpleasant and a film appeared on the surface. I think it's all due to the oil in the composition, which has deteriorated over time. To enjoy my favorite perfume longer, I store it in a tightly sealed Vaseline cosmetic box. I have a special wooden box for such boxes.

Solid perfumes should be stored in a dry and dark place at a temperature no higher than 27 degrees.

I put a small amount of perfume in my purse. I transfer them into the shell of hygienic lipstick. Enough volume for about a month. During this time, the perfume does not have time to fade or disappear.

And for special occasions, my husband begged a silver opening pendant as a gift. The top flap has holes, so the smell spreads over a considerable distance. If I want to enhance it even more, I warm the pendant in my hand for a few minutes.

It must be said that solid perfumes are ideal for people who value moderation in everything, depth and tranquility. They don't make you dizzy or knock you off your feet. A kilometer-long plume is not about this case. Solid perfume is a story of intimacy, a subtle aroma that encourages the interlocutor to move closer to feel you.