Q&A for How to Make Perfume

The coffee filter is used because after the sitting process, there develop some minute particles that, when mixed with water, can be seen in a transparent bottle. That's why you need a coffee filter, to prevent any cloudiness.

The date to put on the bottle is when you get the final product completely finished. As for how long it will last, most handmade perfumes should be used within three months, and at the latest, within six months. The amount of time the perfume lasts will be affected by how it is stored, as heat, high levels of humidity and light will cause it to deteriorate much faster than cool, dry and dark storage places.

Start by sharing your products with family and friends so they can help spread your business through word-of-mouth. Open accounts on social media for your business and create a website to sell your perfume.

It may last for about 5 months if you get a dark glass bottle. If you get a normal glass bottle it will last about 3-4 months if you don't waste it.

You don't have to use bottled water, it is just advised for the purification in the perfume, but yes, you can use your water instead. Beware though, if it has a scent then it may affect the final product.

It depends what bottle you put it in and how strong the perfume is. If the perfume is strong, then you might want to dab it.

You can use carrier oils, such as jojoba oil, almond oil, or grape seed extract oil.

You can put them in a dry container for a couple weeks, use a food dehydrator, or you could put them in the oven at its lowest heat setting for a few hours.

That pretty much means add everything together: the essential oils, carrier oil, and plants. The "plant material" basically refers to the plants.

Try searching for a "toasted marshmallow" fragrance oil. You can find it in online shops that specialize in soap and candle making supplies.

Dry the flowers with heat and smoke from a fragrant wood such as cypress or cedar. Do not do this for too long, as it may overpower the scent you want.

About a 100ml bottle, but it can be halved or doubled, depending on how much you want to make.

If you want to make the scent stronger and more concentrated, yes. If you want to make a weaker perfume, then no.

The point of using vodka is that the scent is easily masked by the essential oils. If you use too much of it, you'll notice the smell. Otherwise, the only noticeable scent will be the essential oils.

Yes, but be aware that witch hazel has its own scent and can affect the finished product.

Everclear is a 190-proof alcohol (95 percent alcohol by volume). It is much stronger than vodka (40 percent alcohol by volume).

Rubbing alcohol would work except for the fact it has a very distinct scent which may affect your product overall.

Try using a woody base such as cedarwood, a rosewood middle note, and a basil top note.

To dilute the mixture so the smell is not overwhelming and to increase the volume of the perfume.

Alcohol makes the perfume sprayable and evaporate in a way that distributes the scent. This is not required; you can make a solid perfume (using beeswax, in the instructions above) or a scented body oil. However, the latter takes practice to apply, so as not to leave grease stains on clothing. If you require a substitute for religious reasons, note that most religions only restrict the imbibing of alcohol to alter mood or consciousness, not its use in other products; as well, in the finer points of some religions, it only restricts alcohols made of specific ingredients. If it is for sobriety reasons, you can substitute pharmaceutical grade or inedible alcohols. Please research skin safety

The intensity of the scent depends entirely on what notes/scents you are using. I suggest doing some research on the attributes of the ingredients you plan to use.

Yes. Wash the flower petals and gently clean off any dirt and sediment with water. Then, soak the flowers in water for about 30 minutes. After that, put a cheesecloth inside a bowl (with the edges overlapping the bowl) and strain the water. Finally, heat the flower-scented water and bottle the perfume.

No , because surgical alcohol is denatured with chemical aromas to make it unfit for drinking; that smell will negatively impact your perfume.

Yes, it will last, just not as long. It'll last for up to 5+ months in a dark container, but may only last 3-4 months in a normal glass container. As long as you use it all up within 3-4 months there should be no issue.

Yes, but it won't be as healthy for your skin.

The reason people use vodka or similar alcohols is because it has no scent that impart on the perfume, no color to cloud the formula, evaporates easily, and it does not contain sugars or other elements that will become sticky on a surface as it evaporates/dries. This is not true for scotch, rum or bourbon - they have distinctive scents, become sticky when drying and can make the formula cloudy. If you like the scent of these spirits, you could experiment with a balance of them with another alcohol to try to balance the qualities. However, you may be better off using an essence or an ingredient that gives the alcohol that distinctive scent.

You could just use 2-3 drops of food coloring.

Yes. I have tried this method and it works pretty well. Microwave your plants for about 1-3 minutes and you're done. Beware though, they will be very hot, so let them cool afterward for about 10 minutes.

No. Vodka is a popular choice, because it’s easier to find than other alcohol, but you can use pretty much any alcohol. Everclear and grape alcohol also work.

Technically, yes, but removing the alcohol from the recipe will have two effects. It will lose the drying speed granted by the quicker evaporation rate of the alcohol. Also, the oil will neither suspend easily in the mixture, nor will it stay suspended. Oil and water do not mix.