2012 has been a perfume year for me! I discovered perfume last spring. That might sound strange, but I really never thought much of, or used, perfume before that. Most commercial scents have never really worked on my skin, or been much to my taste... They are often too fresh, too sharp, too boring... (Not to mention that I can´t afford the few commercials that I like.) Last spring I discovered indie perfume oils, wonderfully strange concept blends that were sweet and dark rather than fresh and light... So started my obsession!
Ever since I discovered perfume oils I have also worked on learning to blend them myself... I have used single note essential oils as perfume since I gave up on commercials, so I already had a few, I just had not thought of blending them. I have since bought essential oils almost obsessivly and now have a nice little collection of about 30 different oils. After much experimenting and many awful scrubbers I have now finally managed to create a blend that I find pleasure in... Behold, in this green bottle resides my first perfume! It is murky and strange and made from mostly essential oils diluted in almond oil... Top notes are bergamot and petitgrain, two citrus notes that I can stand simply because they are darker and not so fresh. Middle notes are myrtle, roman chamomille and hints of spices.The base is mostly benzoin with cedarwood, patchouli and birch. The most dominant notes here are myrtle and benzoin and I like those two together, the sweet and dark of the benzoin made interesting by the more lively and fresh myrtle. On my skin this blend is almost unsettlingly sweet, vaguely like something rotting...
I don´t have a name for my perfume, and I don´t know if it needs one honestly, that would feel a bit pretentious. But for me it brings to mind a wild garden at midnight, an abandoned garden where nature's circle of life and death has taken over again... I wish I could add notes of moss, fern and more dark herbals and resins to this, but I had to make do with what I had.
Have you tried blending your own perfume? What kind of perfume would you want to make?
P.S. If you are wondering about the bottle ( I know I would, as I´m always hunting small bottles for my perfume experiments), it is an old Cognac miniature bottle, 30 ml... The lable is still on it.
well this is certainly and interesting undertaking. I'm curious. keep sharing. Kind regards, Michal @ Sweets
ReplyDeleteWell, it is certainly not easy... I have lots of respect for all the real perfumers out there now! :)
DeleteI´m just now sniffing the drydown and patting myself on the back for a job well done... While the top and parts of the middle in this perfume are rather iffy, that base is pure creamy delight! For me the base is the most important part of a perfume...
ReplyDeleteThat perfume sounds amazing! I love benzoin. You sure are talented and maybe think about selling on Etsy? :) I have tried blending and it is fun. But it needs patience and persistence in getting the blend consistently right! That is why I have given up :D If you are looking for fun things to work with, I recommend Perfumer's Apprentice (just google search). They have kits and individual blends plus supplies like vials and pipettes. It is good value for money too :) x
ReplyDeleteYeah! Benzoin is amazing! I´m so pleased I got my hands on some! Nah, I don´t want to sell my creations... I´m not that serious about it. I make for myself and friends, at least for now...
DeletePerfumers Apprentice seems like an awesome place! Really great variety of essential oils at least, and really good prices! Thank you for pointing that place out! I´ve got to get an account and make a wishlist!