When the last of my perfume ran out over a year ago, I decided that I wouldn’t buy any more. Instead I would make my own. I finally got around to making some last week and thought I’d share my recipes with you. They are all really easy and fun. Today’s post is about solid perfume.
These are nice because they won’t spill, they fit in a pocket or purse, and are just downright cute!
20% soy wax – you can use beeswax, but soy seems to make it creamer
39% favorite liquid oils – I chose Sunflower, Rice Bran, and Almond but use the ones you like.
30% shea butter
10% fragrance oil
1% Vitamin EÂ
So let’s get started!
Gather all of your supplies together.
You will also need a scale and a pot for the water. You can see on my oils that I have a date circled. That is the date to either throw out or use. Rancid oils are not good!
Our first step is to weigh all of the ingredients except fragrance oil and Vitamin E and put into a container (I used a glass measuring cup.) which you will set inside the pan of water. Weight the fragrance oil and Vitamin E and set aside.
Set this container of oils and butter into the pan of boiling water. If you have a double boiler you can use that, but this works as well.
Continue stirring until the shea butter is dissolved. Remove from bath.
Now pour the fragrance oil and Vitamin E into your melted oils and stir. Then pour into your perfume containers.
I use these small tins but you could use lipstick tubs. I let them set up for an hour and then put the lids on.
And there you have – your own solid perfume. What’s nice about this is you can use any fragrance you like.
Those two other perfumes I’ll post about tomorrow. They are even easier than this one! Stay tuned.
Thanks for the great tutorial and the recipe Lynda!! I guess you make very small quantities of this? Do you use a special scale? How long does it smell nice, does go away after a few weeks or months like with soap?
Kristina, Yes, I use a scale with gram measurements and I made a very little quantity – just what is pictured. The smell should not go away since its in a closed container. And unlike soap, it doesn’t go through that saponification process. We are just heating the oils and butter until really the butter melts, adding the fragrance and then letting it set up.
Thanks Lynda, it sounds very easy. I’ll have to try it 🙂 My favorite scents are always citrus scents, but they never last long unfortunately. Though the citrus soap I had smelled heavenly for up to 6 months before the smell was gone.
Thanks for share that lovely recipe. I have a question, if i want to make a cheaper recipe, without shea butter, what is the better oil or wax replacement??
Thanks again.
Silviangelo.
Silviangelo, You can substitute cocoa butter. I’ve read that some people even substitute lard for shea butter in soap recipes. However, I wouldn’t want to use lard in a perfume. There are a lot of solid perfume recipes out there that you might like that don’t use shea. Enjoy and thanks for commenting.
Thanks a lot lyndash, for your answer. 🙂
ingenious ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Angela, Thanks! And thanks for dropping by.
How to make solid perfume without heat?
Hendi, I don’t know how you would make solid perfume without heat. Thanks for dropping by. Lynda
HI, I’m happy to find this receipe, though I already tried a few and the fragrance never lasted long on me, do you have a tip for that ? Do you ever use benzoin to fix the scent ? Thanks
Lightleaf Studio recently posted..Cupcakes passionnés pour une Saint-Valentin pleine d’amour
No I have never used benzoin and don’t have any tips for making the fragrance last long on you. My only tip is to apply it more often!
hi, where where do you find fragrance oils? I don’t like soy, do when I try I’ll be using jojoba oil and beeswax, for me they rarely go rancid. I’ve recently bought kukui nut oil and it’s fairly neutral scenting, but I don’t like the feel on my skin and it has left behind a horrid hard substance on my tub!
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I already make my own lye soap, and lotions and body butter. I love the Make Your Own items!
Deborah, You are so welcome. Check the tabs at the top for other recipes and tutorials. Thanks for dropping by. Lynda
just wondering if solid perfumes can be made with just shea butter and essential oils… experimenting . I make a Lip Balm using only shea butter and honey and it has the consistency of solid perfume.
Migdalia, I guess you could. Doesn’t hurt to experiment. Thanks for dropping by and good luck on your playing!
I like the idea of making your own perfume. And i can choose my own ingredients and use any fragrance I prefer like you said.
Do you use soy wax flakes ?
Lori, Yes, I used soy wax flakes in this recipe.