Methods of Making Perfume
Making perfume is an art that’s been around for many centuries. To many, it’s much more than an art. It’s a creation of thought, inspiration and care, resulting in some of the most beautiful fragrances imaginable.
Although there have been different methods implemented through the years, the general principle and purpose of making perfume is the same: extracting the desired scent. In an earlier chapter we covered many methods of extracting fragrances from various plant parts. There are actually two methods of scent extraction today: effleurage or distillation.
• Effleurage is a process where a glass plates are filled with highly purified and odorless animal or vegetable fat, where petals of your chosen are placed. The petals of fresh flowers are pressed into the fat. The petal will stay in the grease for a few days so the essence has a chance to disperse and leak into the compound.
After a few days, remove the petals and replace them with freshly picked ones. This process continues until the greasy compound if saturated with the essence. You’ll have to do this process a few times to get to this point. Once the saturation point has been reached, the petals are removed and the grease and fragrant oil mixture, also known as effleurage pomade, is washed with alcohol so the extract can separate from the grease.
The remaining grease is used to make soap and, once the alcohol evaporates, you have the essential oil you need for perfume. Effleurage is not only very time consuming but an expensive way of extraction as well. This process if often used for jasmine and tuberoses.
• Distillation is a process where steam is used to capture the fragrance. The plants or flowers are put in the top part of a sill on perforated trays, with the bottom part filled with water. The water is brought to a boil, as it’s the steam that brings out the fragrances and scent-bearing components, which are transferred into an attached glass-cooling worm so it can be refrigerated and condensed.
The essential oil and water mixture is put into bottles, where the essential oils will rise to the top leaving the scented water on the bottom. While the scented water is used for toilette water and other purposes, the essential oil is made into the finest perfumes.
Although technology has provided perfume makers with state-of-the-art equipment to make their perfume quickly and efficiently, the methods are still basically the same. Once they have the desired perfume, they don’t stop there. Being chemists as well as artists of the trade, they’re able to mix them with other essential oils to create exotic and beautiful fragrances.
For more information about the use of essential oils, please visit http://HealWithOil.com.
Posted on May 28, 2010, in Uncategorized and tagged essential oil, essential oils, fragrances, fragrant oils, how to make perfume, making perfume, methods. Bookmark the permalink. 11 Comments.
How do you dissolve the essential oil from the alcohol as my perfume at the end product has the oil components still in it? Do I need to buy some more materials to dissolve the oils?
Please advise.
Thank you
Hi Peggy:
Can you tell me alittle more about your process and what % of alcohol you are using? Are you using perfumer’s alcohol or Vodka?
I have applied the natural essential oils and natural grain alcohol. Most of the time it smells very good. I have not filtered them yet as I am trying to get the oil content down some. I am using about 20% essential oils, 60% alcohol and water. I have also tried several times using synthetics in my perfumes. I don’t use perfumers alcohol or Vodka.
Is there a reason why you have not tried perfumer’s alcohol? The alcohol is important for preservation. Have you heard of IPM Isopropyl Myristate (which is an alternative to Perfumers alcohol… apparently).
I have perfumers alcohol. My question to you is what filter do you use to filter your perfumes? Also if you create your own perfume dont you have to have a business license to sell it? Also if its alcohol I hear you have to a have firearm, alcohol and tobacco license, is this true?
Peggy
Well, since I am only making small quantities at home, I use either cheesecloth or a coffee filter to strain through. I do not have the resources available at this time for anything more elaborate. I do have a business license since I have a business selling essential oils and soaps both in a retail shop and online. I have been to numerous dept’s. In the government trying to get proper licensing and permitting for selling cosmetics which is what this falls under.
Aromatherapy: http://www.fda gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm127054.htm
Cosmetics: http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/CosmeticLabelingLabelClaims/default htm
If you do not use Vodka in your perfumes, then you do not need a permit with the alcohol, firearms, etc. Using perfumer’s alcohol is not drinkable and is what widely used.
I found this info below:
Use pure ethanol or “perfumer’s alcohol” instead of vodka. Pure ethanol makes a great solvent for even the most resinous oils and absolutes. It is what all commercial perfumes are made with, except some boutique brands that make roll-on scented oil or solid perfume. If you live in a state where you can get 180-proof Everclear, then you can experiment with it and see how much better it works than vodka.
The only problem with Everclear is that you can’t sell perfumes made with it You also cannot get it in half the US states. If you want to sell your perfume, you must get “perfumer’s alcohol,” which is alcohol made undrinkable with additives such as Bitrex (extremely bitter but no odor) or methanol.
There aren’t many places that sell perfumer’s alcohol due to special licensing requirements, but you can get it via mail-order from perfume supply companies.
Read more: http://www.articlesnatch com/Article/How-To-Make-Perfume–Professional-Perfumery-Methods/192514#ixzz1l GUHHo4
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives
So your saying use perfumers alcohol for all your perfume creations correct? I have perfumers alcohol and everclear also. If you sell your perfume do you have a packaging company that you use or do you do it yourself? Where do you sell your perfume?
Thx for all your input. I need a really good “learn how to make perfume” book so I can get started. do you have any suggestions?
PM
If you were serious about learning how to make your own perfume what book or Author would you suggest. There is a famous women that lives up in SF, CA Aftelier who has a workbook and then a few classes on the side to help students learn how to make perfume? I think you have to patent your product and also get a tobacco,firearm and alcohol license dont you? Please email me when you get a chance at: infocus711@gmail.com
Thank you
PM
Have you gotten a copy of “The Art of Making Perfume: How to blend Essential Oils for Lasting Fragrances” yet? http://www.healwithessentialoil.com/products/the-art-of-making-perfume-how-to-blend-essential-oils-for-lasting-fragrances.html
I also found a free online course for perfume making on facebook: It says register online by visiting the site: (http://villaaromatica.weebly.com/index.html), but I was unable to get link to work.
I am not familiar with the author you mentioned who has a workbook. I will definitely take a look at it, though.
Will you please make a note of the surrounding temperature to maintain for making Perfumes with the as said recipes?
From the ehow website:
How Temperature Affects Perfume’s Color
Perfumes come in many colors, including clear, gold and brown. These colors are a consequence of the natural and/or synthetic ingredients used to create the perfume. The color of your perfume, however, may change if it is exposed to heat. Hot temperatures can cause a perfume’s color to darken or to become more cloudy and opaque.
How Temperature Affects Perfume’s Scent
A perfume’s pleasing fragrance is its defining characteristic, and is most likely the reason you purchased it in the first place. Like its color, a perfume’s scent is not invulnerable. Excess heat can alter the top notes of a perfume. These are the notes that you smell upon first spraying the perfume; they tend to last for approximately 5 to 15 minutes, and play a role in shaping the perfume’s defining qualities. Top notes may grow sharper, more sour, less familiar or even undetectable with too much heat exposure. Exposure to hot temperatures can also cause perfume to develop a musty smell.
How Temperature Affects Perfume’s Value
A perfume is valued both for its appearance and its fragrance. Since exposure to heat can adversely affect each of these characteristics, hot temperatures can decrease a perfume’s value. This is particularly relevant it you want to sell your perfume on an online auction website, such as eBay.com, or trade your perfume via a perfume-lover’s website, such as basenotes.net. Likewise, if you are in the business of selling perfume, it is important to store the perfume in such a way that it is protected from hot temperatures, which will potentially decrease its value.
Factors that Influence the Temperature of Perfume
Two factors can result in perfume’s overexposure to heat: the ambient temperature of the air around the perfume and sunlight. If you store the perfume in a room where the air is simply too warm, the quality of the perfume may suffer. Try to keep the temperature of the room where you keep perfume at 70 degrees or below. Similarly, if you keep the perfume in a place where it is exposed to sunlight, the sun’s warmth and rays will break down the perfume’s molecules and alter its scent.
Tips for Storing Perfume
Store perfume in a cool place away from sunlight. Keep your bottle of perfume in its original box. Store the boxed perfume in a cool, dark spot, such as a closet or a dresser drawer. Do not display perfumes on your dresser or vanity where they may be exposed to sunlight. Do not keep perfumes in the bathroom, where they will be exposed to heat and steam.
Read more: How Temperature Affects Perfume | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6368577_temperature-affects-perfume.html#ixzz1ld1OaaMa