As a little girl and well into my teenage years, I’d pop out of the shower and lather on cocoa-scented lotion thick enough it’d take 10 minutes just to work it into my skin. Even after all that, I still ended up having to wipe excess away and felt a tad bothered that I had wasted any of that smell-good stuff. Then, I’d douse myself all over with Wal-Mart and Limited Too body sprays and perfumes. Hawaiian ginger, fruity-berry, warm vanilla…these aromas transport me to the days when 90s pop music and whimsical girlish dreams composed my reality.

I was a child of nature

…relishing in play-time out in the damp heat of sunshine or cleansing waters of summer storms. I’d get out of bed just because the neighbor had cut his grass and I longed to breathe in the fresh leafy fragrance of blades in distress. I’d burst from underneath the comforting fluff of covers after a cloud of my mother’s perfume had wafted into my nostrils from another room. I felt close to her because I could smell her, and she’d draw me from the distance with her expensive, feminine scents. Just the smell of her in waking hours made me feel to be near her as she moved in her own relaxed way, preparing herself for work. My memories of childhood exist in terms of fragrant blooming purple hydrangeas, the fresh earthiness of ripe tomatoes picked from the vine and the simple happy feelings of smelling the world around me.

Over time, nature has lovingly softened and sensitized me, no longer permitting the assaulting blow of the aromatic synthetics I used as a young girl. My senses are detectives with their own agenda, picking up on clues and trying to help me stay alive. Pretty amazing how they eagerly notify me when chemical fragrances are bombed into the atmosphere! ALERT! Warning that my sinuses and nervous system find the attack quite overwhelming! I find myself choking and running to the nearest window if someone sprays air freshener or perfume/ cologne made up of harsh ingredients like pthalates, benzene, formaldehyde and other hazardous properties that human beings just shouldn’t be exposed to. Though, as a child, I hadn’t yet known the difference between natural scents and artificial ones, and was completely unaware of what chemicals I was putting on my skin.

I know some odors are so intolerable that we’d prefer to mask them, but wouldn’t you honestly rather create natural, customized scents than risk damaging your organs and altering your body’s hormones? Inhaling, accidentally ingesting or absorbing toxins through the skin has long-term effects on the body’s delicate physiology. If you love fragrances and you love your friends and family, do not gift them with poison! Seriously! You wouldn’t knowingly give someone you love a substance known to be a human carcinogen to rub into their skin or spray on the most sensitive points in the body, yet those very substances are in the majority of products on the shelves in all your favorite stores. Instead, read on to learn how to make your own fresh, sophisticated scents that you and your loved ones can use on the body, hair or throughout the home space!

Herbal Scents for Daily Life

Before companies used petrochemicals and refined alcohol to create perfumes and colognes, the ancients used elements from nature like oils, botanicals and resins. Fats, wax and oils acted as the carrier of scents, escorting heavenly essences from their vessel to become one with the wearer. To make a balanced oil-based perfume, you’ll need layers–  top, middle and base essential oils. The top layer is the first blush; pointed, but faint, it soon melts away and opens the space for the middle layer to shine. The middle notes are the heart of the fragrance, its stamp, and they capture the character built during the blending process. Base notes are the slowest to fade and are the soul of the perfume. The base is the foundation, giving your blend its weight, richness and longevity.

Earthy Men’s Mist

In a 2 oz. amber mist bottle (darker bottles help stabilize and increase the shelf life of your blend), measure:

• 4 drops of Peppermint essential oil
• 8 drops of Balsam Fir Needle essential oil
• 8 drops of Bergamot essential oil
• 8 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil
• 8 drops of Lavender essential oil
• Add 1 tbsp. of Witch Hazel
• Fill  to the top with filtered water, stick on the cap and shake vigorously.

Spritz the skin a few times with this masculine, natural blend, Fellas. It’ll fill you with mellow vibes, open the sinuses and reset your mind at any time of the day.

Sensual Women’s Mist

Also in a 2 oz. amber mist bottle, measure:

• 6 drops of Ylang Ylang essential oil
• 6 drops Vanilla essential oil
• 6 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil
• 6 drops of Lemon essential oil
• 6 drops of Orange essential oil
• Add 1 tbsp. of Witch Hazel
• Fill  to the top with filtered water, stick on the cap and shake vigorously

I love how romantic and lovely this blend is, Ladies. It’s great for date nights with friends and lovers, giving you a subtle feminine scent that is undeniably beautiful.

Fragrance Oils

Homemade oil-based perfumes and colognes are concentrated and contain far fewer fillers than most store-bought ones! Plus, they absorb into the skin, which moisturize and nourish it, and enliven the senses. Give your creative side the freedom to craft with oils that relax, uplift or just make you feel good!

Hot Wood (Men’s Cologne)

• 1 oz. glass bottle dropper or roll-on
• 1- 1/2 tbsp. Almond or Jojoba oil
• 8 drops of Black Pepper essential oil
• 8 drops of Atlas Cedarwood essential oil
• 5 drops of Sandalwood essential oil
• 4 drops of Frankincense essential oil
• 2 drops of Clove essential oil
• 15 drops Vitamin E oil (acts as a preservative)

Men wearing essential oils are quite attractive. It shows that you take the time to consider what you put in your body. It indicates that you value quality and have a relationship with nature. Not only that, but the benefits of aromatherapy are endless. Look below for some other ideas for blends for men.

Thai Gold (Women’s Perfume)

• 1 oz. glass bottle dropper or roll-on
• 1- 1/2 tbsp. Almond or Jojoba oil
• 15 drops Jasmine essential oil
• 5 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
• 5 drops Lemongrass essential oil
• 5 drops Frankincense essential oil
• 15 drops Vitamin E oil (acts as a preservative)

Dab a bit of this on your pressure points and move with exotic grace throughout your day. This blend is so sunny and floral it’ll put you in an uplifted, vibrant state all day long. I made a perfume of this blend (with grain alcohol, see below) and love the way it lingers. It’s currently winter where I am, so having the therapeutic benefits of a warm, summery fragrance really brightens my day.

Eau de Parfum for Special Occasions

Get yourself a couple of fancy vintage perfume bottles, you know, the ones with those cool antiquey bulb sprayers or something simple– a glass bottle with a stopper will do. To make an Eau de Parfum, you’ll need to know how much liquid your container holds. The easiest way to do that is to fill it almost completely full and then pour that amount into a measuring glass and presto! Let’s say that you’ve discovered your bottle will hold 2 ounces of liquid (try to go with smaller bottles, under 3.4 ounces, that way you can take your home-made fragrances on planes, too!).

Now it’s time to do some figuring.

Eau de Parfum is about 70% grain alcohol-based– I use Everclear or Vodka. There’s also a bit of water and your choice of essential oils, 25% and 5%, respectively. You can play with the measurements of water and oil. Using alcohol in your fragrances has tons of benefits! It can destroy microorganisms, prevent microbial growth and helps to preserve and mix your water and oil blend.

Rainman

• 2 ounce bottle
• 1.4 ounces with ethanol (Vodka/ Everclear)
• 1 tablespoon of filtered
• 10 drops of Patchouli essential oil
• 10 drops of Lavender essential oil
• 10 drops of Frankincense essential oil

I made this blend for my brother for Christmas and I’m sooooo in love with it! It’s got a masculine vibe– rich, earthy, full of soul.

Clove A-peel

• 2 ounce bottle
• 1.4 ounces with ethanol (Vodka/ Everclear)
• 1 tablespoon of filtered
• 6 drops of Lemon essential oil
• 6 drops of Orange essential oil
• 6 drops of Bergamot essential oil
• 6 drops of Lemongrass essential oil
• 5 drops of Lavender essential oil
• 5 drops of Clove essential oil
• 5 drops of Vanilla essential oil of a cap-size amount of Vanilla extract

Clove pairs so well with the citrus oils, and lavender really seems to unite them all. Both of these scents are suitable for all, just depends what kind of mood you’re in!

Tip for choosing oils:

The mind is intimately linked with our sense of smell. If scents can influence our mood and sense of well-being, then it’s important to look at the spiritual properties of oils when constructing a blend. If you’ve got the winter blues, citrus and sage refresh and ease depression, support clarity of mind and promote optimism. If your inner insomniac is trying your patience, lavender, chamomile and sandalwood calm me and put me in a meditative state. Reflect on what experience you’d like to create for yourself (decrease worry, bring balance, ease digestion, relieve a headache) and choose oils that will transmit the essence of those intentions.

Designing a blend using oils of the same category never fails.

Earthy: Patchouli, Vetiver, Frankincense, Myrrh, Vanilla, Sandalwood

Spicy: Clove, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Juniper Berry, Black Pepper

Citrus: Orange, Lemon, Mandarin, Lemongrass, Bergamot, Lime, Grapefruit

Floral: Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Rose, Roman Chamomile, Blue Tansy, Geranium, Neroli

Herbal: Eucalyptus, Lavender, Basil, Rosemary, Clary Sage, Peppermint, Spearmint, Wintergreen, Oregano, White Thyme

Woodsy: Pine, Balsam Fir, Atlas Cedar, Cedarwood, Cypress, Spruce

Or you could combine oils based on their notes!

Top Notes: Citrus oils, Basil

Middle (or Heart) Notes: Floral and Herbal oils

Base Notes: Earthy oils, Jasmine, Spicy oils

I hope this DIY article inspires you to get into your kitchen and start crafting things that smell good, are natural and made with love! Leave a comment about some of your favorite combinations and blends! Happy Spraying, Friends!