What's that smell?

Have you ever walked by the perfume counter at a department store?  Their fragrance wafts out as you walk by.  Have you ever thought "Exactly what is in that concoction to make it smell so good (or bad)?  Let's take a closer look at those hidden ingredients.  And hidden they are too!  Manufacturers are not required to list their ingredients especially when their potion is proprietary.

Listed on this site, you can see that those ingredients aren't exactly as body friendly as you might think! 

• Laboratory tests found a total of 38 chemicals not listed on the labels in 17 name-brand fragrances (such as Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Bath & Body Works, Old Spice, Calvin Klein, and more)
• The average fragrance product contained 14 chemicals that were not disclosed on the label (along with another 15 that were listed)
• Fragrances commonly contain parabens, phthalates, and synthetic musks that may cause hormone disruption, reproductive problems, or possibly cancer
• The exact ingredients in synthetic fragrances are protected as “trade secrets” and therefore do not have to be disclosed on the label

YUCK!  So, let's talk about options that you will love.  Did you know that you can make your own fragrances based on natural ingredients?  Yup!  So, let's talk about this.

Essential oils were the basis of many perfumes.  Why they strayed so far away from the original beautiful scent is a mystery to me.  Probably because you can't make money with 'natural'. 

Essential oils have many 'notes'.  The notes have to do with the different molecules in the oil.  There are three different groups of weights.  The Top Note, Middle Note and the Low Note.  The Top Note molecules are light weight and are the ones that you smell first especially when you are smelling an essential oil right out of the bottle.  The Middle and Low Notes quickly follows the scent when you have the oil applied to your skin completing the bouquet of the scent of the oil. 

So, let's talk about how you can make your own perfume! 

You can start with the base note, soften with a middle note, and finish with a top note to make a  positive first impression.  Below is a starter list for you.

Base Note Oils:
     Pathouli, Idaho Balsam Fir, Myrrh, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Clove
Middle Note Oils (the floral oils):
     Ylang Ylang, Geranium, Jasmine, Rose, Neroli
Top Note Oils:
     Lime, Tangerine, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Orange, Basil, Lavender, Thyme, Jade lemon, Cinnamon Bark, and Coriander

Young Living essential oils are pure and have no additives and are not adulterated so your concocted perfumes will last and smell great.  You can use empty 5ml essential oil bottles.  You also want an AromaGlide Rollerball to fit on your bottle when you are done.  YL's V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex is great for a carrier but you could use other carrier oils as well.  

Drop 10 - 15 drops of the oils you select into your empty 5ml bottle and top off with your carrier.  Snap on the roller ball and cap and label.  If you would like custom labels and links to each oil listed below, Visit HERE.  

What oils have you used as a perfume just on their own without adding in anything else?  I've used Joy, Awaken, Kunzea and many more!