DIY Body & Room Spray: Create Your Own Signature Scent!
- Molly Ishmael
- Oct 18, 2021
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 20, 2022
Is this the perfect stocking stuffer? Spoiler alert for those on my gift list - I think it is! Honestly, I just LOVE this DIY body spray. And it doubles as a room spray, BONUS!
I've been so excited to share this amazingly easy and fantastic scented spray - it's literally two ingredients plus water - that you can make in seconds and keeps in a spray bottle smelling lovely for months. Scroll down and give it a spin!
Wait until you see how easy it is to make this spray - and how delicious it smells!
Since I was little, I've had reactions to synthetic fragrances. I've just always been sensitive to harsh chemicals and "fake" scents. I can't tolerate plug-in fragrances or anything like it around the house. I even have to be careful about candles; so many are unhealthy and I end up sniffling or coughing as the chemicals burn off into the air and I breath them in.
Some of you may not have such an overt sensitivity. But even if you don't notice an immediate reaction, inhaling unhealthy ingredients and and spraying caustic chemicals directly onto our skin can't be the best idea for anyone. Long-term effects are virtually unstudied and from my understanding, the FDA does not require ingredients to be approved or tested in order to use them in fragrances, or cosmetics at all. It seems the manufacturer just has to list the ingredients on a label, but even that requirement has loopholes. For instance, the word "fragrance" can be listed, and then the manufacturer doesn't even have to tell you what's in the "fragrance" if they claim it's proprietary. What are we all inhaling and spraying directly onto our skin every day?! There is literally no way to know!
What you CAN know is what you put in your own homemade products. What's more, I think this handmade all-natural fragrance smells better and fresher than any artificial product out there!
Okay, let's get to the FUN part - creating your very own signature scent!
Creating your signature scent is as easy as 1, 2 ,3.
How to Create Your Own Signature Scent
The first step is identifying what scents you like best. When it comes to creating a signature scent for yourself, perhaps think about your current products: a favorite perfume, shampoo, or candle, for example. I used to have a favorite perfume that featured vanilla, gardenia and pear, along with other notes, but I had to actually google to find that out - if you're anything like me, you may have a favorite perfume but not really know what exactly comprises the scent. For instance, I knew there was vanilla in my perfume, but I would never have guessed pear. You can look up the main scents in your favorite products and them find natural essential oils to use instead.
Second, decide on three main components to blend. You'll want to choose a top note, middle note, and bottom note. Expert perfumers will choose many fragrances and chemicals to blend at each level, but since I'm an amateur, I usually choose just one or two for each note. Scroll down to see more on perfume notes.
Third and finally, mix the appropriate amount of each scent (organic essential oil drops work great) with water and a tiny amount of food-grade alcohol to keep it. Alcohol helps preserve the perfume, fuses the oils and water, and strengthens the scent level. I like using vodka for this purpose. It smells a little more palatable than rubbing alcohol and is arguably healthier. Also, I water down my spray which I find makes for a more appealing and less alcohol-y scent. There are several ways to make your own perfume but with the high water content, mine is more of a "body spray;" I like an easy pleasant scent that I can spray anywhere, anytime.
Learn a little about top, middle, and base notes, then craft your signature scent!
Here's how to choose which scents to blend:
Top Notes:
This is the first thing you smell. It's the most overt but it also tends to fade quickly, within a few minutes. You'll smell it while you're getting ready, but not much beyond that.
Common top notes include citrus and florals.
Middle Notes:
These are the scents that you start to notice within about half an hour. As you're driving to dinner, they'll be blooming.
Common middle notes are florals, fruits, and some spices.
Base Notes:
This is the longest-lasting part of the fragrance blend. They can last all day!
Often, base notes are based on woodsy and seed oils such as vanilla, patchouli, and balsam.
Of course, perfumers work for years to perfect their craft, and I certainly don't pretend to know a fraction of what the professionals do. I know just enough to make a delicious smelling natural spray! If you'd like to read more, there are great resources online; here is one:
And now without further ado, here's my recipe for all-natural, easy and delicious-smelling body and room spray!
HANDCRAFTED BODY & ROOM SPRAY: Lemon Raspberry Cake
Prep Time: 5 mins plus aging period / Makes 100 ml (3.4 oz)
INGREDIENTS
15 drops essential oil (6 drops lemon, 3 drops red raspberry seed, 6 drops vanilla)
1/2 tsp pure vodka
4 Tbsp water
DIRECTIONS
1. Add water directly into a spray bottle. 3.4 oz (100 ml) is a good size.
2. Add the other ingredients in this order: Add oils in order of base, then middle, then top notes. In the case of this recipe, that would be vanilla (bottom), raspberry (middle), and lemon (top.) Finally, add alcohol.
3. Wait at least 24 hours to use, allowing the scents to bloom and blend.
Spray liberally on yourself, laundry, linens, in rooms, in the car, wherever you'd like to have a light, refreshing natural fragrance. Enjoy!
STEP-BY-STEP DIRECTIONS WITH PHOTOS & LINKS
This spray bottle is 3.4 oz = 100 ml. A small funnel may help. The bottles I suggest using come with a funnel and dropper.
1. Add water directly into a spray bottle. 3.4 oz (100 ml) is a good size.
This is the perfect size attractive spray bottle and comes with a small funnel and dropper.
2. Add the other ingredients in this order: Add oils in order of base, then middle, then top notes. In the case of this recipe, that would be vanilla (base), raspberry (middle), and lemon (top.) Finally, add alcohol.
3. Wait at least 24 hours to use, allowing the scents to bloom and blend.
Spray liberally on yourself, laundry, linens, interior rooms, in the car, wherever you'd like to have a light, refreshing natural fragrance. Enjoy!
Not only is this spray wonderful for personal use, but it makes a lovely gift!
This could make a lovely gift for anyone, especially as the spray doubles as a body and room spray. You can mix custom scents for your friends and family in masculine, feminine, or neutral scents.
Who doesn't love a beautiful scent in the air? In a diffuser, on my linens, or on my skin, I just love inhaling and smelling something good! And how much fun it is getting to try new scents anytime and knowing it's healthy, to boot. I hope you give this a try, and share your personalized scent creations!
With Love,
Molly
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