Is it just me or is solid perfume seriously one of the best beauty inventions? I bought a few from Pacifica years ago and I’ve carried them in my purse ever since. By now I’m down to the last little bit in the bottom of the tin but I just can’t bring myself to use it up. With the holidays right around the corner, I figure it’s a great excuse to make a whole bunch of DIY solid perfume options so I can keep a few for myself and give the rest away.
Make a few different scents, like I did for this giftable perfume trio, and package them up in a ribbon-tied box for an easy DIY present your besties will actually love.
Why We Love Solid Perfume
And you can keep it in your purse! Because who remembers to put on perfume in the morning? And if you do, the smell is gone in no time. Solid perfumes are super portable and you can touch up anytime. Funny story, my perfume bottles have become toys for the kids – they LOVE to douse themselves while playing dress up. You can smell them coming a mile away.
Solid perfumes are honestly a game-changer, IMO. First, they’re much more travel-friendly than their traditional counterparts—you don’t have to worry about them breaking if they’re packed in your check-in bag, nor do you have to worry about them being taken away by TSA because they’re no longer considered liquid.
They’re also alcohol-free, unlike regular perfumes. Alcohol can be super irritating to skin—in comparison, the base of this solid perfume is almond oil and beeswax, two super skin-friendly ingredients!
You’ll also find that solid perfumes last way longer—and I don’t just mean how the scent lingers. Because solid perfumes are quite concentrated to use and you have full control over what you use, you won’t go through it as quickly as regular perfume.
TBH, it’s way too easy to accidentally spray perfume everywhere, wasting product and potentially annoying others with it wafting around. So if that’s not reason enough to try solid perfume, I don’t know what is! However, if you’re already here, you probably already want to make some perfume—so let’s run through the recipe.
Essential oils for solid perfume
One of the best things about essential oil perfume is that it’s not strong or overbearing like commercial perfumes. It’s subtle, which I love, and it has aromatherapy benefits to boot. Because of that, this perfume trio doesn’t smell like the floral perfumes you’re used to. It does contain hints of geranium, but instead of just smelling good, it was designed to calm frazzled nerves, banish the blues, and energize a tired mind. It’s perfume with a purpose.
If this is your first time making your own perfume, it helps to know a bit about layering scents. Essential oils are divided into three main categories: Base, Middle, and Top Notes.
Base Notes are sharp, uplifting and slow to wear off. Think cedarwood, frankincense, ginger, vanilla and sandalwood.
Middle Notes are supportive and last for an hour or two. Bay, geranium, jasmine, lavender, rosemary, and orange are typically considered middle notes.
Top Notes are the easiest to detect in a perfume and they evaporate quickly. Grapefruit, eucalyptus, ginger, bergamot and clary sage are some of my favorites.
But rather than worrying over your scents and whether you’ve layered them correctly, I say just go with your gut. Most of us know instinctively what smells good and what doesn’t.
And while learning about perfume chemistry can help, combining scents that smell good to you is easier and much more rewarding than playing by the book.
How to Make DIY Solid Perfume
To make your own solid perfume, first combine a neutral-smelling oil (like almond or grapeseed) with beeswax pastilles. Gently melt it in the microwave or on the stove, then add your essential oils.
Start slowly, adding just a few drops of oil at a time until you have a scent you like. Then pour the mixture into a small container and let harden. That’s it!
Solid Perfume Essential Oil Blends
Calming Blend
—20 drops bergamot
—15 drops vanilla
—20 drops patchouli
Energizing Blend
—25 drops grapefruit
—10 drops ginger
—20 drops lemongrass
Joyful Blend
—15 drops bergamot
—10 drops orange
—20 drops geranium
—10 drops lemon
Combine beeswax and almond oil in a small bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals until melted. Add your essential oils and stir to combine, then pour into a lidded tin and let cool.
On a perfume making roll? Try this sandalwood vanilla essential oil perfume in a handy lip balm tube!
Solid Perfume Trio
This DIY solid perfume trio uses essential oils to create custom fragrance blends with aromatherapy benefits. It’s perfect for giving as a gift!
Yield: 3 tins
Cost: $15
Materials
- 3 tablespoons beeswax
- 6 tablespoons almond oil
- 45-55 drops Essential oils see Notes for specific blends
Instructions
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Combine beeswax and almond oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals until melted.
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Add your essential oils and stir to combine.
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Pour into a lidded tin and let cool.