How to Make Solid Perfume

Alternative fragrances for your solid perfume

Whilst we’ve settled on frankincense and black pepper in this balm perfume, in theory, you can choose anything you like.

To customise your fragrance the professional way, it is helpful to know the three ‘notes’ that make up a good perfume.  You need the right mix of these for a pleasant smell.

Top notes

Account for 10-20% of the blend.

Tend to be very light and dissipate easily – you won’t usually smell them at the end of the day.  This is the first impression of your blend, but if you want it to remain, you’ll need to reapply.

Common Top Note Oils: Citrus oils like sweet orange, lemongrass, bergamot and spearmint

Middle Notes

Form 60-80% of your blend.

These form the bulk of your fragrance and make up the ‘feel’ of it (warm, fresh, sensuous). These notes are usually warm and start to show after about an hour.  

Common Middle Note Oils: Lavender, black pepper, juniper, rosemary, geranium

Base Notes

The final 10 – 20% of your blend and the strongest.

These use their depth and richness to ‘hold’ your fragrance and increase its longevity.

Common Base Note Oils: Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Ylang Ylang, Frankincense, Ginger, Jasmine, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood, Vetiver,

You could also try:

Patchouli/orange/bergamot (romantic and enticing)

Lavender/bergamot/ylang ylang (floral, earthy)

Lemongrass/rosemary/vetiver (fresh, green)

Have fun with your zero waste perfume balm creations!

There’s something so soothing about sitting on a rainy afternoon mixing and pouring the blend together. 

It also makes a lovely zero waste gift!  Many are the friends I’ve created personalised blends for. You can reuse glass pots to store it. Or I love scouring charity shops for old trinket pots which look so attractive when filled.

TOP TIP:  If you’re using glass jars to store your solid perfume, try and find dark ones (brown, green or black). - They provide more UV protection and retain the fragrance quality better.

Packed with richly nourishing ingredients, the other nice thing about using a solid perfume or balm perfume is how good it is for your skin.

Liquid spray perfumes are often full of drying ingredients like alcohol, so the balm is a great alternative if you have dry skin. Solid perfume is much less likely to cause irritation. 

As it warms into the skin, balm perfume also releases the fragrance molecule better, and lasts longer.