Make Your Own Aromatherapy Perfume Oil
By Helena Lundvik
Make your own Natural Perfume Oils
“Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces a "pleasant" smell.” – Wikipedia
A Brief History
The word perfume derives from the Latin “per fumus”, meaning through smoke.
Since the beginning of time humanity have used aromatic fumigations in daily rituals and during religious ceremonies.
The art of making perfume began in ancient Egypt and was later developed and refined by the Romans and the Arabs.
The Egyptians were indeed famous for their use of aromatic substances and the favourites seems to have been Boswellia papyrifera (frankincense) and Commiphora erythraea (myrrh resin).
Kyphi was one of the best-known perfumes and was burnt in the temples in ancient Egypt. The Greek philosopher Plutarch wrote about Kyphi: “Its aromatic substances lull to sleep, allay anxities, and brightens dreams. It is made of things that delight most in the night.”
In Europe it was the Hungarians who introduced the first modern perfume in 1370. The perfume was made of scented oils blended in an alcohol solution and was made by order of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary.
In England perfume reached its peak during the reign of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. The Queen could not tolerate bad smells and all public places were scented during her rule.
Perfume oils – pure and natural
These days most perfumes contain synthetic fragrances which in some cases can cause allergic reactions. Most modern perfumes are too strong with too many chemical ingredients.
Did you know that the average woman uses about 175 chemicals a day on her skin?
Making your own natural and beautiful perfume oils is easy and fun! You can make your own unique blends by mixing essential oils with jojoba oil in a roller ball bottle. It’s easy to carry around with you to re-apply when necessary.
Making your own perfume oils can save you money and it’s kinder to your skin and body. You can experiment with different oils and create one perfume for every mood, instead of spending money on synthetic perfumes.
Homemade blends also make great gifts!
Some fun blends to try
BuddhaMind
A spiritual blend that you can use before meditating or doing a yoga class. Bring out the Buddha in you!
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) – has profound psychological and spiritual benefits and ideal to aid meditation, contemplation and prayer.
Sandalwood (Santalum album) – can encourage states of “higher” consciousness, traditionally used as an aid to meditation, prayer, and spiritual practice in general.
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) – gently calming on the nervous system, able to instil deep tranquility of the mind. Soothing, clarifying and grounding for the intellect.
Orange sweet (Citrus sinensis) – helps us to relax and instils a positive attitude.
StressBuster
Relax, calm and chill out with this blend. Use at times of stress, if you are feeling agitated, or before bedtime for a good night’s sleep.
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) – deeply calming, gently relaxing, whilst uplifting your spirit.
Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. Amara) – ideal for people who are emotionally intense, unstable and easily alarmed and agitated. Instils comfort and strength and is both sensual and spiritual.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – works wonders for insomnia, calming the mind, comforting feelings and alleviating fears, while generally uplifting and reviving the spirit.
Beat the Blues
Autumn has come early this year. Uplift your senses and mood with a zesty blend.
Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) – uplifting and reviving, invaluable for treating stress, depression and nervous exhaustion. Excellent for SAD or winter depression.
Lemon (Citrus limonum) – has a “high vibration” which can lift the spirits and overcome mental fatigue. Clears the mind and helps with decision making.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system and is used for poor concentration and nervous debility. An age-old remedy for apathy and gloom.
Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) – stimulates initiatives and restores determination, warming when you’re feeling cold and flat.
Love is in the Air
Create an aura of love and romance with this blend and fall in love with yourself and the world.
Rose (Rosa centifolia) – a Herb of Love, the Queen of flowers, sacred to the Goddess Aphrodite.. No wonder rose oil is a renowned aphrodisiac! Also calms and supports the heart.
Jasmine (Jasminum officinale) – a renowned aphrodisiac and sexual tonic. Can help to reawaken passion with its euphoric, sensual qualities.
Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) – both soothes and entices, opens and centres us. Also an aphrodisiac.
Clary sage (Salvia sclera) – known for its euphoric effect, also helps to balance and relax.
The sky is the limit when making your own perfume oils! You might have to experiment a bit with the amount of essential oils to get your preferred strength. Try a total of 25 drops of essential oils to 10 ml of jojoba.
Feel great and smell great – in a natural, gorgeous way!
Sources:
Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay
The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy – Salvatore Battaglia
Wikipedia
(c) Helena Lundvik 2009
Aromatherapist, Massage Therapist, Reiki Master & Teacher
www.willowtherapy.com
This article was posted by Helena Lundvik
