By Katie Vance
This alluring solid perfume recipe combines rose geranium essential oil with the sweet, citrus aroma of bergamot, and a hint of vanilla for lasting fragrance.
Tip: you may also be interested in our Lavender Vanilla DIY perfume spray.
Make Solid Perfume
I’ve wanted to make solid perfume for quite some time, but I always struggle to find scents that blend well together and last longer than a few minutes. I also dislike overpowering aromas, which makes it difficult to find a happy medium.
I am not a huge floral fan and I tend to stick with more herbal floral aromas like Rosemary or Lavender. However, spring has sprung! I have been craving a good quality rose aroma for some time now.
Rose Scent
What is better than rose for a Springtime solid perfume recipe? And if you know anything about essential oils, you likely know that rose essential oil (rose otto) and rose absolute are very expensive. This is because it takes a lot of plant material to make these precious oils. They are definitely worth every penny, but my budget is tight so I knew a true rose aroma was out of the question.
However, the beautiful thing about nature is that there is always something similar! Rose geranium is a suitable substitute for rose otto essential oil or rose absolute. It carries that quintessential rose aroma but is actually not from the rose family. Plus, it is significantly cheaper and you can even use it to adulterate true rose otto essential oil.
Accompanying Scents
Because I’m not a huge floral fan, I need a way to tone down the brightness for this solid perfume. The combination of rose and vanilla is timeless, so it is perfect for a spring blend. I used vanilla infused jojoba oil in this perfume as vanilla oleoresin does not always combine completely in solid salves. I keep a jar of jojoba and vanilla oleoresin infusing at all times so I can have it on hand for DIY projects like this.
The vanilla infused jojoba is subtle, so I needed something else that could add another element to this blend. I chose another favorite, Bergamot essential oil. It has an uplifting citrus aroma with just a hint of floral, making it the perfect one to blend with rose. I love the complexity Bergamot gives, as well as the fresh, light aroma. Make sure to use a Bergaptene-free, cold pressed bergamot essential oil to avoid any adverse reactions from the sun. Bergamot essential oil that contains Bergaptene is phototoxic.
The result of this recipe is a smooth, long-lasting, solid perfume. And not only does it smell great, but it also makes an amazing gift! I packaged mine in a small glass jar but you could also use a cardboard tube or even lip balm tubes.
Solid Perfume Recipe: Rose | Bergamot | Vanilla
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Active Time
- 30 minutes
- Total Time
- 40 minutes
- Servings
- 3 ounces
Ingredients
- 2 ounces vanilla infused jojoba
- 1 ounce beeswax (pastilles)
- 10 drops geranium essential oil (Pelargonium roseum)
- 20 drops bergamot essential oil (Citrus bergamia) *Make sure it is Bergaptine-Free
- 4 ounce glass salve jar (or three 1 ounce glass jars OR several lip balm tubes)
Instructions
-
Over a double boiler, melt beeswax in a small, glass pyrex measuring cup
-
Add in vanilla jojoba and gently return to liquid
-
Remove from the heat
-
Allow to cool slightly, then measure in essential oils
-
Pour into glass jars or lip balm tubes and cap
-
Cool for several minutes, then store in a cool, dry location until ready for use
Notes
I rub some of this solid perfume on pulse points and behind my ears. It's also solid enough that I can take it in my purse and use it later in the day as the aroma dissipates. A little goes a long way and I find myself catching whiffs of this bergamot rose solid perfume well into the day.
Made this recipe?
Mention @diynatural or tag it #diynatural!
If you are looking for Mother’s Day gifts, I definitely recommend making this DIY solid perfume recipe!
*******
I’m not a rose fan and vanilla bothers my asthma. I will try this with some other essentials though, probably something citrus like blood orange or grapefruit as the main essential.
Good idea Sherry! That sounds like it would be lovely! You might want to add a fixative like sandalwood, vetiver, or ylang-ylang to help ground your perfume or else you might notice the scent evaporate more quickly.