I love the feeling of cool mist on my skin, especially when scented with flowers and citrus and earth. As a teenager, I collected bottles of perfume and reveled in the transformative magic that aroma inspires. Soft honeyed amber, light fruity florals, and spicy evergreen woods set the mood each morning before I adventured out into the world.
What I didn't know then was that these aromatic experiences I treasured so much...were actually synthetic. When I learned the truth about commercial perfumes and body sprays, I was heartbroken. For years, I had been spraying myself with potentially toxic petrochemicals, some of which are known allergens and hormone disruptors. Isn't it interesting that the ingredients aren't listed on all of those pretty bottles? Transparency is not the industry's forte it seems.
I immediately abandoned designer fragrances and discovered a new passion for crafting my own perfumes with natural botanical extracts. With so many gorgeous organic essential oils and hydrosols being distilled or pressed from fruits, barks, flowers, resins, and other plant material, it's easy to become enchanted with the blending process. Plus, many of these ingredients also offer aromatherapeutic and skin care benefits. Creating beautiful fragrances that are perfect for you is a dreamy pursuit.
To begin this aroma journey, you'll need to stock up on a few supplies. Think of your perfumery ingredients as if they are a collection of paints. Like strokes of color on a canvas, it's fun to have a variety of scents to layer while blending, including several top, middle, and bottom notes. These essential oil kits are a wonderful way to get started. You'll also want a few bases, like organic hydrosols, organic witch hazel extract, or plain vodka. I really like to have little amber vials handy for making test blends and a cobalt blue bottle with mister top for the finished recipe.
Once you have an essential oil blend you love, it's time to make the body spray. The instructions below will yield two ounces of finished spray, but feel free to scale up or down to meet your needs!
Makes about 2 ounces.
Ingredients
Directions
Pro Tip
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