You’ve started your journey to a non-toxic lifestyle, and you know that synthetic fragrance is a major no-no, which means store-bought perfumes and colognes are out the window. What’s a natural living guru to do? The answer is simple: DIY your perfume. When you make my DIY Essential Oil Perfume and Cologne, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Not only do these perfumes help you smell amazing, but they’re also non-toxic and beneficial to living an abundant life. I’m confident one of these options will become your new favorite.
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The Dangers of Artificial Fragrances
Everyone wants to smell delightful. Store-bought perfumes can help you reach that goal, but at what cost to your body? Your signature scent might be costing you more than just dollars. Here are two of the harmful ingredients you can find in most perfumes.
Synthetic Fragrance
It’s no secret that the fragrance elements in your favorite cologne aren’t the real deal. Unfortunately, you’ll never know just what ingredients fall under what’s labeled “fragrance.” Due to a legal clause, manufacturers aren’t required to reveal their recipes. There are about 4,000 ingredients that are classified, though, and the side effects are shocking.
Have you ever gotten a headache after smelling a particular perfume or cleaner? That’s a surface-level symptom telling you that your body is rejecting toxins. Another seemingly small symptom of synthetic fragrances is contact dermatitis. (1) These irritations can range from mild spots and itching to a full-blown rash.
If these chemicals damage the outside of your body, what are they doing to your internal systems? Synthetic fragrance can be an endocrine disruptor, affecting fertility, libido, mood, and more. (2) Using products that contain these fragrances can also increase your chances of getting cancer.
The bottom line is artificial fragrances and scents are harmful. The more you eliminate synthetic fragrances from your home, the more sensitive your body becomes to them. Don’t be surprised if, like Dr. Z, you are hardly able to walk down the cleaning aisle at your local big-box store! What once smelled amazing might start to smell nauseating.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a toxin found in most personal care products. This chemical is also found in plastic, which should tell you it doesn’t belong on your body! Aside from being a known carcinogen, it can also affect your BMI levels. If you struggle with your weight, exposing yourself to phthalates can cause insulin resistance, which leads to an increase in weight. (3)
Eliminating chemicals and perfumes that contain phthalates is a significant first step to detoxing your home. There are much healthier ways to add fragrance to personal care products. Many members of our Natural Living Family have reported a significant increase in their overall wellness just weeks after kicking these items out of their lives for good!
Safe Ingredients for Homemade Perfume & Cologne
We’ve talked about what ingredients you should avoid; now, let’s talk about some good, all-natural options. Many DIY kits on the market allow you to customize your own perfume, but those options aren’t much better than store-bought brands. They still contain synthetic fragrances!
Shopping for your ingredients is easy, and you know exactly what you’re putting on your body. Chanel No. 5 may be timeless, but peace of mind is priceless.
Mama Z’s Oil Base: This custom mix of carrier oils is my absolute favorite. I use it in almost all of my DIYs. This blend moisturizes skin and provides, in my opinion, the most benefits.
When applying essential oils, it’s important to use carrier oil. The use of a carrier oil helps the EOs disperse evenly and not evaporate right away, so your body has more time to absorb the benefits of the oil. On a more practical note, adding a carrier oil to a recipe helps stretch your oils even further.
Essential Oils: Essential oils are going to add a delightful fragrance to these perfume recipes, but they can also benefit your mind, body, hormones, and more. Each of these perfume recipes has been created with a specific purpose in mind. No store-bought perfume can provide you with the healing that DIY perfume can!
How to Make DIY Essential Oil Perfume
Even the newest natural living enthusiast can make these recipes. They are, quite simply, shake and go! Until you find a favorite fragrance, I recommend making these recipes in small amounts.
Women’s Delight Perfume:
Not only are these ingredients extremely fragrant, but they are also optimal for women’s wellness. Ylang ylang is the queen of essential oils. It can boost the mood and harmonize the body.
Clary sage is one of the best oils for fighting depression and anxiety. (4) When you mix these two oils, you get a fantastic blend that will help balance your entire endocrine system.
- 2 drops clary sage essential oil (see note below)
- 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil
- Carrier oil*
- Supplies:
- 5 ml glass roller bottle
- Add the essential oils to your glass roller bottle.
- Fill the remaining space of your roller bottle with the carrier oil of your choice.
- Shake well.
- Roll on your wrist and behind the ears each morning.
Mama’s Milk Version:
Use clary sage during pregnancy to help start your breastmilk supply. I begin using clary sage EO at 36-38 weeks pregnant and stop after birth. I then use basil & fennel after birth to keep the supply coming.
Step One: Add Essential Oils
Add the essential oils to your glass roller bottle.
Step Two: Add Carrier Oil
Fill the rest of your bottle with the carrier oil of your choice or Mama Z’s Oil Base. Be sure to leave enough room to insert the roller without overflow. Shake well. To use, apply on wrists and behind ears each morning. Enjoy!
Men’s Cologne & Gender-Neutral Variations:
Homemade Men’s Cologne
Citrus essential oils are an instant antidepressant! This homemade blend is the ultimate spicy, woodsy, manly fragrance. Bergamot adds a hint of citrus that is energizing and uplifting. This citrus oil signals to the brain that it’s time to release dopamine. (5)
Patchouli is an antibacterial oil and, when paired with vetiver, gives this cologne a deep, long-lasting scent. Nutmeg is universally comforting, and most people feel “at home” when they smell it. I know this cologne will be a win for so many men!
- 1 drop bergamot essential oil
- 1 drop vetiver essential oil
- 1 drop nutmeg essential oil
- 1 drop patchouli essential oil
- Carrier oil*
- Supplies:
- 5 ml glass roller bottle
- Add your essential oils to a glass roller bottle.
- Fill the remaining space in your roller bottle with the carrier oil of your choice.
- Shake well.
- Apply to wrists and back of neck each morning.
Gender-Neutral Perfume
Everyone enjoys essential oils, and most are gender-neutral. Below are some of our gender-neutral blends to choose from, or you could even adapt your favorite diffuser blends.
- 4 drops essential oils (See gender-neutral blend ideas below)
- Carrier oil*
- Supplies:
- 5 ml glass roller bottle
- Add your blend of essential oils to your roller bottle.
- Fill the remaining space in the glass roller bottle with the carrier oil of your choice.
- Shake well.
- Apply to wrists and back of neck each morning.
*<em><strong>GENDER NEUTRAL BLENDS:</strong></em><ul><li>Relaxing Citrus – <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/lime-essential-oil-benefits/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/lime-essential-oil-benefits/">Lime</a>, <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/lemon-essential-oil-uses/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/lemon-essential-oil-uses/">Lemon</a>, Bergamot, <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/geranium-essential-oil-uses/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/geranium-essential-oil-uses/">Geranium</a>, <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/marjoram-essential-oil-uses/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/marjoram-essential-oil-uses/">Marjoram</a>, Palmarosa, <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/lavender-essential-oil-uses/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/lavender-essential-oil-uses/">Lavender</a></li><li>Everyday Favorite – Lemon, Grapefruit, <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/helichrysum-essential-oil-uses/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/helichrysum-essential-oil-uses/">Helichrysum</a>, Vetiver, Juniper, <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/eucalyptus-essential-oil-uses/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/eucalyptus-essential-oil-uses/">Eucalyptus</a></li><li>Spicy Focus – <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/sandalwood-essential-oil-uses-benefits/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/sandalwood-essential-oil-uses-benefits/">Sandalwood</a>, Patchouli, Sweet Orange, <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/ylang-ylang-essential-oil-uses/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/ylang-ylang-essential-oil-uses/">Ylang Ylang</a>, <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/neroli-essential-oil-for-menopause-and-stress/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/neroli-essential-oil-for-menopause-and-stress/">Neroli</a>, <a href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/cardamom-essential-oil-uses/" data-mce-href="https://naturallivingfamily.com/cardamom-essential-oil-uses/">Cardamom</a></li></ul>
DIY Essential Oil Perfume & Cologne Safety Note
If you spend a lot of time outside, you might want to listen up. Some essential oils, particularly those in the citrus family, can increase your skin’s photosensitivity. EOs like bergamot, grapefruit, lemon, and lime are all notoriously phototoxic.
If you go outside after applying products with citrus EOs, the essential oils amplify the sun’s rays, and you’re more likely to get sunburnt.
If you’re planning on a day in the sun, I recommend sticking with EOs that are not in the citrus family. If you’re planning on being inside most of the day, or you’re applying this cologne at night, you should be fine to add any essential oils to your perfume.
