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Natural Scents for Your Type

posted by Cait Johnson Dec 28, 2006 7:31 am
Natural Scents for Your Type
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by Cait Johnson, author of Earth, Water, Fire, and Air (SkyLight Paths, 2003).

My friend Mag always smells so lusciously sweet and spicy, but when I asked her what perfume she uses, she laughed and said, “Oh, I make it myself. Artificial scents make me feel sick, so I don’t go near them. Instead I use natural ingredients–and it’s really cheap and easy.” This all sounded pretty fabulous to me. We came up with these terrific all-natural cologne recipes for every type, whether you are a flowery romantic, a crisp sporty, or a spicy earthy-exotic–and they make great gifts, too.

Many people are sensitive to artificial fragrances, which contain suspected neurotoxicants that can give them headaches and difficulty concentrating. It is healthier and more thoughtful to avoid them!

If you were wondering about the difference between a cologne and a perfume, here’s the skinny: perfumes are generally stronger and heavier than colognes, and contain oils and fixatives that make them longer-lasting, while colognes contain botanical essences in an alcohol base, which keep them on the lighter side.

These all-natural formulas are colognes, with botanical materials and alcohol in the form of vodka or rum. They are lighter than their artificial relatives, and they can be used lavishly by most of us with no ill-effects.

The Basic Method
Place dry ingredients in a pint jar with a tight lid. Fill jar with vodka. Cover jar and shake daily for 1 to 6 weeks. Strain out dry ingredients and use the liquid as a cologne on your pulse points.

Romantic
You prefer classically sweet flower and herbal scents. Try any of these ingredients, or a combination:

1 cup fresh or dried lavender blossoms
1 cup fresh or dried chamomile blossoms
1 cup fresh or dried basil
1 cup fresh or dried rose petals

Sporty
You prefer refreshing, crisp scents that don’t cloy. Try any of these ingredients, or a combination:

Lemon peel from an organic lemon
Lime peel from an organic lime
1 cup fresh or dried peppermint leaves
1 cup fresh or dried rosemary leaves

Earthy/Exotic
You like warm and spicy scents that exude grounded sensuality. Try any of these ingredients, or a combination (Mag uses a blend of vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and orange peel):

1 whole vanilla bean, broken in pieces
2 teaspoons whole cloves
1 three-inch piece cinnamon stick
Orange peel from an organic orange
1 cup sandalwood chips
1 cup bay leaves (this traditional formula calls for rum instead of vodka to make Bay Rum)

More on Make-Up (7 articles available)
More from Cait Johnson (396 articles available)

16 comments

Earth, Water, Fire, and Air

Essential ways of connecting to Spirit.buy now
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16 Comments       add a comment »
Dina M.

For the most authentic scent for me, I go to the Aveda store for their essential oil blends called Earth, Air, Water and Fire.
When you decide on one of these scents, they mix it up just for you, and you might find it may be the only scent you'll ever want to wear!
I get so many compliments when I wear it. Love it!

Rachel Howe

Michelle C
I love green tea and make various bath products with it. Recently I made a lovely smelling bath/perfume oil. I made it with Hemp seed oil and added dried green tea, let it "soak for 2 weeks and the scent is ilght but very appealing, you could add a bit of lemon oil for a zing to it.

Michelle C.

Does anyone have a suggestion to add a "green" scent? I'd like something grean and earthy.

Jane Buckley

Just wondering if anyone has a suggestion for fixatives. I love natural perfumes but the ones I've made with alcohol don't last long on my skin. Someone once recommended castor oil?

carol h.

Can you use whitch hazel instead of vodka??

Nikolas Karman

that makes a lot of good scents

Dana Carpio

Vodka still has a smell of it's own to me, and witchhazel makes me itch. I use pure grain alcohol, brand name "Everclear" that you find where liquour is sold. It also evaporates very quickly on the skin, it's the glycerine that holds the fragrance

Dana Carpio

I'll have to try these. I make fragrances with essential oils, vegetable glycerin and "Everclear", grain alcohol you buy at the liquor store. Vodka still has a smell of it's own to me, and witchhazel makes me itch.

Denise Reiser

These ideas sound great! I can't wait to try them. Thankyou :-)

Gina Rafkind

Lisa, I have used 100% pure grape spirits. I used to get it from a holistic therapy center by me. There was an aromatherapist there that sold essential oils, aromatherapy products and the grape spirits. I went there to get some supplies one day and the business was gone. I found a source on the internet but you have to look into the whole shipping rules as applied to your state so I haven't done that yet. The grape spirits were the best though that I used as a perfume base. Very light, hardly any scent and great carrier of the scent of eo's.

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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