Using Essential Oils for Natural Perfume
In the age of green-living, what you put on your body is becoming just as important as what you put in it. After all, what good is an organic diet if the largest organ in your body (your skin) is exposed to harmful chemicals?
That’s where essential oils come into play.
We all know by now just how powerful and versatile these plant-based extracts can be. Properly diluted, essential oils can be used as all-natural household cleaners, vegan skincare and so much more. However, one of their primary uses is for aromatherapy.
You’ve probably seen (or smelled) popular essential oils like Lavender or Eucalyptus in everything from diffuser blends to candles to lotions. And one of our favorite uses for beautifully fragrant oils is just that--as fragrances.
How can essential oils be used for natural perfume?
We like to think of essential oils as something like Mother Nature’s signature scents.
Depending on your mood, you can choose essential oils to naturally evoke different emotions, memories and reactions. A spritz of Lavender can be a calming blanket of tranquility. A dab of Frankincense can fill the room with luxurious peace and easy confidence.
The very qualities that make aromatherapy so effective are what make essential oils perfect as natural perfumes.
What are the best essential oils for natural perfume?
There are countless essential oils to use for a natural perfume. The right blend of essential oils can be just as richly complex as a traditional one--without the harmful toxins and parabens.
However, to get that perfect combination, it's important to know what a perfume is made up of. In their most basic form, all perfumes are a combination of a head note, heart note and base note.
Essential Oil Top Notes
Head notes, often known as top notes, are the first part of the perfume you smell. These are usually lighter, brighter scents and fade quickly. Some of the most popular options for these notes are citrusy oils like Lemon or minty, potent oils like Peppermint and Fennel.
Essential Oil Middle Notes
Next, you have your heart notes or middle notes. These are the most influential notes in the perfume and last long after the initial head notes fade. Heady, floral oils like Geranium, Lavender and Ylang-Ylang are popular choices for these notes and create a classic, elegant ambiance. For a more rounded aroma, try herbal oils like Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Thyme. Sharper, more powerful oils like Clove Bud, Rosemary and Clary Sage also make great middle notes--especially for a warmer, more piquant fragrance.
Essential Oil Base Notes
Last but not least is the foundation of any perfume--the base note.
These notes are the deep, powerful fragrances that tie everything together. They last much longer than both the head and heart notes, helping to sustain the perfume’s overall scent. Most importantly, without a good base note, your perfume could lack depth and complexity.
Having a solid base note (or notes) is essential to avoiding a flimsy, one-dimensional fragrance. Because they play this bedrock role, base notes tend to be darker, expansive scents--to support the lighter, brighter top and middle notes.
Woodsy oils like Cedarwood or luxurious resin oils like Frankincense and Myrrh are perfect for this role.
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