Learn how to make your own tropical perfume scent blends that recreate the iconic Sol de Janeiro aromas. This scent dupe evokes the same warm, sultry vibes minus the headache!
I got hooked on Sol de Janeiro with the 'warm gourmand' scent of Cheirosa 62. The slightly sweet nutty vanilla aroma with a hint of caramel instantly makes me feel like I'm on vacation
Unfortunately, the scent of store bought perfumes quickly becomes overwhelming, so I experimented to recreate my own nutty caramel vanilla perfume at home.
Ingredients
You'll need essential oils, alcohol, and water for a homemade perfume that mimics Sol de Janeiro's scent notes.
Key notes in Sol de Janeiro's Cheirosa 62 scent
Sol de Janeiro perfumes are known for their unique blend of warm, sensual scent profiles.
- Top Notes: Pistachio, Almond
- Middle Notes: Heliotrope, Jasmine Petals
- Base Notes: Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Sandalwood
Essential oils to mimic these notes
Here we're using several essential oils pre-diluted in carrier oil because the pure versions are quite expensive.
- Pistachio: Pistachio Essential Oil
- Almond: Almond essential oil
- Heliotrope: A vanilla + almond fragrance so you can use a fragrance oil or skip it
- Jasmine Petals: Jasmine Absolute
- Vanilla: Vanilla Oleoresin or Absolute
- Salted Caramel: Tonka Bean + Balsam Wood essential oil blend (or use a caramel fragrance oil) and a tiny bit of Ocean + Salt essential oil blend or this Vanilla Sea Salt essential oil
- Sandalwood: Sandalwood Essential Oil or try this Vanilla Sandalwood blend
Other ingredients:
- Alcohol: Use a high-proof, unflavored alcohol like vodka or perfumer's alcohol as the base.
- Carrier Oil (if making an oil-based perfume): Sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil.
- Benzoin tincture: Scent fixative
- Distilled Water: To dilute the alcohol strength.
- Glycerin (optional): For added moisture.
Tools
- Glass dropper bottles or perfume bottles for storage.
- Pipettes or droppers for transferring oils.
- Funnel (optional, for transferring liquid).
Instructions
Step 1: Blend Your Essential Oils
Making perfume is an art, so it may take a few tries to get a scent you're happy with. Begin with the base note, add your middle note, and finish with your top notes.
A general starting ratio is 20% top notes, 50% middle notes, and 30% base notes, but adjust according to your preference.
- Top Notes (Pistachio): 20%
- Middle Note (Jasmine): 50%
- Base Note (Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Sandalwood): 30%
A typical concentration for Eau de Parfum is 15-20% essential oil blend to alcohol. For a 1-ounce (30 ml) alcohol base, you'll need between 90-120 drops of essential oils.
I'm going to use less here because the scent of jasmine can quickly overpower everything else, but you can add more if you'd like.
- 20 drops pistachio essential oil
- 10 drops jasmine essential oil
- 15 drops vanilla essential oil
- 10 tonka & wood essential oil blend
- 2 drops ocean salt essential oil blend
- 15 drops sandalwood essential oil
In a small glass mixing bottle, add the drops of pistachio, vanilla, jasmine, tonka & wood, ocean salt, and sandalwood essential oils.
Optional: Add 5 drops of benzoin tincture as a scent fixative.
Step 2: Dilute with Alcohol
Once you're happy with the blend, pour the essential oil blend into a 1-ounce (30 ml) bottle with a fine-mist spray cap. Fill the rest of the bottle with a perfumer’s alcohol or a high-proof vodka.
Add more alcohol for a lighter cologne-like scent. Or use the essential oil blend to a hair perfume mist, body spray or a perfume oil roll on.
Step 3: Add Water and Glycerin
If you're making an Eau de Parfum, you might add a small amount of distilled water and a few drops of glycerin to the mixture. The glycerin helps to moisturize the skin and can help the fragrance to last longer.
Step 4: Age Your Perfume
Cap your perfume tightly and store your blend in a dark, cool place for at least 48 hours, preferably 2-4 weeks, shaking it gently every few days. This aging process allows the scents to meld and deepen.
Step 5: Adjust and Refine
After aging, smell your perfume and adjust if necessary. You can add more of certain oils to perfect the scent.
Variations: DIY Sol de Janeiro Perfume Blends
It's challenging to replicate complex scents exactly, but exploring similar scent profiles can help you evoke the same sense of relaxation and escape.
You can delve into more scents by using fragrance oils. Essential oils are distilled directly from the natural source (plant, flower, etc.) while fragrance oils are synthetically made. Just look for fragrance oils that are skin-save and phthalate and paraben free.
Follow the essential/fragrance oil dilution instructions from the manufacturuer or use roughly a total of 100 drops for a 1-ounce (30 ml) alcohol base, aiming for a 15-20% fragrance concentration:
- Top Notes: 20 drops
- Middle Notes: 50 drops
- Base Notes: 30 drops
Cheirosa 40: Warm floral
- Top: Black Amber plum, creme de cassis (try black currant essential oil)
- Middle: Jasmine blooms (jasmine eo), Brazilian orchid (orchid fragrance oil)
- Base: Vanilla woods (vanilla fragrance oil), warm musk (musk fragrance oil)
Cheirosa 59: Woody gourmand
- Top: Velvet plum, sugared violet (or violet essential oil)
- Middle: Vanilla orchid (orchid + vanilla fragrance oil), whipped amber (amber fragrance oil)
- Base: Vetiver, Sandalwood
Cheirosa 62: Warm gourmand
- Top: Pistachio, Almond
- Middle: Heliotrope (vanilla + almond fragrance), Jasmine Absolute
- Base: Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Sandalwood
Cheirosa 68: Fruity floral
- Top: Pink Dragonfruit (a berry + floral scent), Lychee Essence (lychee rose fragrance oil)
- Middle: Brazilian Jasmine, Ocean Air (sea spray fragrance oil), Hibiscus
- Base: Sheer Vanilla, Sun Musk
Cheirosa 71: Amber gourmand
- Top: Caramelized Vanilla, Sea Salt (try salted caramel + warm vanilla sugar)
- Middle: Toasted Macadamia Nut (macadamia essential oil), White Chocolate (cocoa fragrance oil)
- Base: Tonka Bean (tonka & wood essential oil blend), Coconut Blossom (sweet coconut fragrance oil or coconut vanilla essential oil)
Cheirosa 87: Solar floral
- Top: Leite de Coco (coconut milk fragrance oil), Warm Sand (sand fragrance oil or sun & sand fragrance oil)
- Middle: Solar Tuberose (smells like a mix of salt, creme brulee, honey, and gardenia), Ylang-Ylang
- Base: Creamy Vanilla, Amber Essence
Sol de Janeiro Inspired Perfume Blends
1. Tropical Beach Blend
This blend is inspired by the refreshing and exotic scents of the beach. It's perfect for those who love the smell of sun-warmed skin and tropical flowers.
2. Rio Carnival Blend
A vibrant and fruity blend that captures the excitement and energy of Rio's famous carnival. This scent is all about celebration and joy.
- Top Notes: Passionfruit, Pineapple
- Middle Notes: Mango, Peony
- Base Notes: Sandalwood, Amber
3. Brazilian Romance Blend
This sensual and slightly gourmand fragrance is inspired by romantic evenings in Brazil. It combines the sweetness of chocolate and berries with the richness of jasmine and patchouli.
4. Amazon Rainforest Blend
Inspired by the lush, green heart of Brazil, this blend is for those who appreciate the earthy and mysterious scents of the rainforest. It's refreshing, deep, and complex.
- Top Notes: Green Leaves, Fresh Rain
- Middle Notes: Orchid, Ylang-Ylang
- Base Notes: Moss, Rustic Woods
5. Sunkissed Skin Blend
A warm and inviting blend that mimics the scent of skin warmed by the sun on a breezy beach. It's perfect for capturing the essence of summer all year round.
- Top Notes: Sea Spray
- Middle Notes: Orange Blossom, Magnolia
- Base Notes: Amber, Cedarwood
Top Tip
You can sometimes get a better deal if you buy a set of oils, and then you have several scents to play with! A few to mix and match with:
- Floral | Spring Flowers | Tropical Fruit
- Surf & Sand | Beach | Summer | Coastal
- Tranquil | Nature | Woodshop | Elements
FAQ
Allow the perfume to mature for at least 48 hours. For best results, let it sit for 2-4 weeks, shaking it gently every few days to blend the scents.
Yes, there are no rules so feel free to adjust the proportions to suit your personal preferences.
Apply the perfume to pulse points such as the wrists, behind the ears, and the neck. This helps in diffusing the fragrance with body heat.
If you can't find specific oils like pistachio, try blending vanilla with a carrier oil like sweet almond or hazelnut to achieve a similar effect.
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