Buzz
Craft your very own cologne using your preferred fragrances
Designer colognes can be expensive and often contain synthetic chemicals. If you're seeking a more affordable and natural alternative, why not make your own cologne? With just a few ingredients and a bit of patience, you can create a delightful, personalized fragrance either for yourself or as a thoughtful gift. Plus, making cologne at home gives you the freedom to craft a scent that is uniquely yours.
Steps to Create Your Own DIY Cologne
- Select your top, middle, and base note scents. Purchase essential oils for each note.
- Measure 30 drops of essential oils and mix them together.
- Add 2 ounces of high-proof alcohol or perfumer's alcohol, and blend thoroughly.
- Transfer the mixture into a glass spray bottle.
- Allow the cologne to age for a minimum of 2-3 days.
- Finally, add vegetable glycerin and optional distilled water to dilute the mixture to your desired strength.
Process
How to Craft Your Own Cologne
Add six drops of a base note essential oil into a measuring cup. Use a pipette or the built-in dropper of the oil lid to measure out the drops. Base notes provide the foundation of your cologne's scent, lasting the longest—up to six hours after application. Choose wisely, as a great base note helps blend and balance the other scents.
- Common base notes include earthy or woody scents like vetiver, sandalwood, tonka bean, patchouli, vanilla, amyris, muhuhu, oud, and ylang ylang.
- When crafting DIY fragrances, most sources suggest using a ratio of 20% base notes, 50% middle notes, and 30% top notes. This balance may vary depending on the strength of your oils. Feel free to experiment to find what works best for your personal scent.
Select a middle note essential oil, adding 15 drops, and whisk well. Middle notes serve as the heart of your cologne, lasting around 20-60 minutes as the top notes fade away. These are often herbal or floral aromas, such as rose, fennel, and lavender.
- Other middle note options include sage, geranium, lavender, jasmine, and cinnamon. Be cautious with spicy oils like cinnamon, as they can irritate the skin and should be used in smaller quantities than other oils.
Pick a top note essential oil and add nine drops. Top notes form the first impression of your cologne and dissipate the quickest—usually within 5-15 minutes. These scents are fresh and sharp, such as citrus oils like lemon or tree-based scents like pine.
- Top note options include grapefruit, peppermint, spruce, eucalyptus, blood orange, basil, neroli, tangerine, ginger, bergamot, and yuzu.
- Some oils, like peppermint and spearmint, have a very strong fragrance. Use them sparingly, no matter your ratio.
- If you prefer a cologne with more prominent top notes, try a ratio of 20 drops of a top note oil, 15 drops of a middle note oil, and 10 drops of a base note oil (44/33/22 percent balance).
Pour in 2 fluid ounces (59 mL) of perfumer’s alcohol and whisk thoroughly. To achieve a standard cologne concentration, aim for a ratio of 5-10% essential oils to 90-95% alcohol. Use high-proof alcohol, such as perfumer’s alcohol or grain alcohol.
- Alcohol serves to dilute and carry the essential oils. The dilution helps the scents combine faster. It also evaporates quickly, making the fragrance linger on your skin after application.
- If you don’t have perfumer’s alcohol, you can substitute with witch hazel or rubbing alcohol as your base liquid.
Transfer your blend into a perfume bottle and allow it to age. Secure the lid tightly and give the spray bottle a gentle shake for a final mix. Let the cologne sit for 48 to 72 hours in a cool, dark place.
- After 48 hours, shake the spray bottle again to further combine the contents.
- Some people prefer using a dark glass bottle for aging the cologne, transferring it later to a separate spray bottle for use. However, many simply age their homemade cologne in the spray bottle itself.
Incorporate glycerin and distilled water to dilute the mixture. You only need a small amount of vegetable glycerin—just 1⁄2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) to emulsify the ingredients. For distilled water, you can add 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) to dilute your cologne, especially if you have sensitive skin, though you can omit it for a more concentrated fragrance.
- Homemade cologne generally lasts for about six months, but using distilled water may shorten its shelf life to two to three months. Store your creation in a cool, dark place, such as a bathroom cabinet, to preserve it.
Ideas for Scent Combinations
Use earthy, woody base and top notes for an outdoor-inspired cologne. Consider blending douglas fir essential oil and cedarwood essential oil as your base notes. Add an herbal middle note like basil or sage. Finish with a bright top note like lemongrass.
- Basil, along with other herbs, can be categorized as either a top or middle note depending on the scent profile, as these classifications can vary.
Combine sweet and spicy notes for a vibrant cologne. Start with a sandalwood essential oil base note. Blend in a striking middle note like black pepper or sage, and add a sweet, spicy note such as coriander. Finish with a light, citrusy top note like yuzu.
Invoke the timeless pairing of leather and spice. Start with sandalwood as your base note and black pepper as the middle note. Add a touch of ginger essential oil for a subtle lift of sweet warmth in the top notes.
Craft a musky scent with a blend of three base notes. You will need to divide your drop ratio among these oils. Begin with a base of frankincense, patchouli, and sandalwood essential oils. Choose a light middle note, like fennel or geranium, and finish with a complementary top note like basil.
Cologne versus Perfume
Cologne has a lower concentration of fragrance oils compared to perfume. An eau de cologne typically contains three to five percent fragrance oils, while an eau de parfum has 15 to 20 percent essential oils. Although some may think cologne is meant only for men and perfume for women, this is a misconception. Both types of fragrance are designed for anyone and can be worn by any gender.
- Colognes generally highlight musky, woody, and earthy scents, while perfumes tend to focus on floral and citrus notes.
How to Make Cologne Last Longer
Prepare your skin before applying cologne. For a longer-lasting fragrance, apply your cologne right after a warm shower or bath. The steam from the water opens your pores, allowing the scent to be absorbed more effectively. After washing, apply a body lotion or cream to moisturize your skin, as hydrated skin holds fragrance much better than dry skin.
- Choose an unscented lotion to avoid clashing with the fragrance of your homemade cologne.
- For extra moisture, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to your pulse points before spraying the cologne. This will also help prevent body oils from interfering with the fragrance.
Target pulse points, hair, and clothing when spraying cologne. Instead of just spraying the air, focus on pulse points such as the back of your ears, the base of your throat, and your wrists. These areas are warmer and help the scent linger longer. Hair and clothing can also hold fragrance better than skin due to their porosity.
- Keep in mind your hairstyle and the type of fabric you're wearing before spraying. Some colognes may cause damage to certain fabrics. Test an inconspicuous area first. For hair, spray a comb lightly and then style your hair.
What You'll Need
- Essential oils (at least three varieties)
- Perfumer's alcohol, grain alcohol, rubbing alcohol, or witch hazel
- Vegetable glycerin
- Distilled water (optional)
- Pipette
- Measuring cup
- ½ teaspoon
- Glass spray bottle with removable lid
- Whisk
- Funnel
