13 Ways to Make Your Own Perfume (and Make It Last)

Have you ever wanted to make your own perfume? You should, because it’s one of the easiest DIY beauty projects you can do! A few essential oils and the right base ingredients, and you’ve got a million possibilities – even soap! Check out some of our favorite perfume DIYs, and some tips that will help you make your perfume (store-bought or homemade) last longer—on you and in the bottle.

13 ways to make your own perfume

Solid Perfume

Solid perfume is perfect for traveling or keeping in your purse as it’s made with beeswax. A ratio of 2 parts carrier oil to 1 part beeswax seems to create the right consistency – hard but not too hard. This jasmine-clove solid perfume can easily be made into a lotion bar with a little more beeswax. You can even add some shimmery powder if you like. Pour it into fun containers for a DIY gift!

1. DIY Sandalwood Vanilla Solid Perfume

This warm and sweet sandalwood vanilla DIY solid perfume is a perfectly light and uplifting fragrance. A lip balm container makes it easy to apply – and it moisturizes your skin every time you use it.

2. DIY Solid Perfume Trio

This DIY solid perfume trio uses essential oils to create custom fragrance blends with aromatherapy benefits. The small tins are perfect for giving as a gift.

Botanic-Infused Perfume

If commercial perfumes make you feel a little woozy, try infusing herbs and flowers (fresh or dried) to make a light scent. A clean-smelling hydrosol perfume is bright, fresh and totally inexpensive to make.

3. Make Your Own Botanical Cologne

Say so long to store-bought perfume once you learn how to infuse vodka to make your own botanical cologne in two pretty scents, vanilla-rose or orange-mint.

4. Fresh Flower Petal Perfume

Find a pretty spray bottle and bottle some blooms to make this fragrant flower petal perfume using fresh flowers, vodka, essential oils and distilled water.

Body Spray & Splash Perfume

Body sprays provide a light fragrance along with moisturizing ingredients, making them ideal for a refreshing fragrance on hot days.

5. Jasmine Aloe Perfume Body Spray

Stay cool with a light, moisturizing perfume body spray that has an intoxicating jasmine scent. Aloe and glycerin add a light moisturizing texture.

6. Lavender Lemonade Body Spray

Lemon is uplifting, and lavender and sandalwood soothe frayed nerves and round out the fragrance, helping it linger a little longer. The perfect pick-me-up on a hot day.

7. Hydrating Body Splash

An energizing citrus body splash made with a base of orange blossom water combined with aloe and your favorite essential oils. Keep it on hand for whenever your skin is parched!

Cologne

Cologne uses vodka to dilute the essential oils. Start by combing about three essential oils to find a combination you like, then blend with roughly 20% from top notes, 50% from middle notes and 30% from base notes.

8. Citrus Sunshine Perfume

Make your own citrus sunshine perfume with sweet orange, grapefruit, and peppermint that you’re gonna love wearing regardless of the season.

9. Flower Power Spray

This ‘flower power’ spray is a blend of my favorite florals – jasmine and rose – with a bit of lavender and orange. It’s a happy smell. The vodka reduces sweat and handles odors, making it an excellent natural deodorant option!

Body Oil Perfume

This couldn’t be easier – just combine your favorite carrier oil with your favorite scent. For every tablespoon of carrier oil, add between 6-10 drops of your essential oil blend.

10. Vanilla Clove Body Oil Spray

We’re not making any promises, but let’s just say there’s a reason this body oil spray is called Man Magnet. The oil will leave your skin smooth and silky, especially in the winter.

11. Coconut Body Oil

This moisturizing (and SPF!) coconut body oil can be customized with your favorite essential oil. Vanilla, rose or sandalwood would all be great choices.

Roller Ball Perfume

My favorite way to make perfume is with a roll-on bottle. It’s easier than making a solid perfume and faster than a cologne. And you can apply it by just rolling it over your pulse points.

12. Essential Oil Perfume

Roller ball blends are all the rage right now for treating headaches, insomnia and other ailments, but you can just as easily mix up a lovely essential oil roller ball perfume blend. Try one of our five blends: floral, citrus, earthy or spicy.

13. Essential Oil Fragrance

Mix in your favorite essentials oils in a roll-on vial and always keep your new purse-friendly perfume at home. Get three blends: musky floral, warm & earthy, summery & spicy.

How To Make Perfume Last Longer

How long your perfume lasts will largely depend on how you store it. Keep those bottles out of the bathroom! Get 4 more tips on perfume storage over at PopSugar.

Make sure to apply it to the right places. As this Free People post notes, pulse points are the best spots to make it last (due to the warmth of your blood).

Try layering your scents to make your perfume last longer. Cupcakes & Cashmere has a great tutorial on what scents work together and which ones will just smell…not good.

This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical review board here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.