America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking
Eau de Cologne
Meaning:
A perfumed liquid made of
essential oils and alcohol
Synonyms:
cologne water; cologne
Hypernyms
("eau de cologne" is a kind of...):
essence; perfume (a toiletry that emits and diffuses a fragrant odor)
I experimented with essential oils and Vodka to create my own cologne for gifts. The entire process was a fun creative adventure.
It was a joy to give my homemade colognes and perfumes as Christmas gifts.
Scented mixtures need to age in a glass container anywhere from a few days to a few years to develop the full aroma.
So - let's get started.
Are you ready to become a "le nez" (French for perfumer) and make your own homemade perfume and cologne?
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| Blue Moon Cologne: Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
I ordered clear glass corked bottles from Specialty Bottle.
CLICK on the link or
COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://www.specialtybottle.com/corkedbottlesmi.aspx
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| Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
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| Marcia's Blue Moon Cologne: Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
I ordered amber, spray bottles from Specialty Bottle.
CLICK on the link or
COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://www.specialtybottle.com/amberbostonroundglassbottlesmi.aspx
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| Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
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| Antique Perfume Bottles; Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
Perfume, cologne and all other liquid scents are simply a mixture of fragrant oils, alcohol and/or water.
Remember: The scented mixture is then aged in a glass container, anywhere from a few days to a few years, to develop the full aroma.
Perfume has the strongest concentration of oils per ounce. Cologne is next on the list with a slightly higher concentration of oils than eau de perfume, eau de cologne and eau de toilette.
Click on each photograph to enlarge.
Gather Supplies
Vodka
Glass Bottles with Lids or Corks
Distilled Water
Decorations or Jewelry for Bottles
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| Shells to decorate cologne bottles. Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
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| Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
Shopping for supplies is always a fun part of any project.
"I'm buying this Vodka to make perfume," I confessed to the clerk at Hy-Vee.
"Sure," he said with a grin on his face. "That's what they all say."
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| I added blue coloring to the cologne in clear glass bottles from Specialty Bottles. I discovered beautiful glass perfume bottles at Hobby Lobby. Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
Warning
Test homemade cologne before you actually use it. Experience the full scent, and check for any allergic reactions. Apply a small amount of cologne to a patch of skin on your arm. Wait 24 hours and check for an adverse reaction.
Directions
Blue Moon Perfume1 Cup Distilled Water
1/3 Cup High-Proof Vodka
5 to 6 Drops Lavender Oil
9 to 10 Drops Chamomile Oil
Musk Cologne
1/3 Cup High-Proof Vodka
11 Drops Musk
7 Drops Sandalwood
6 Drops Oakmoss
4 Drops Jasmine
3 Drops Patchoili
2 Drops Cinnamon Scented Oil
Place ingredients in a glass bottle.
Place lid securely on bottle, and shake vigorously to mix.
Place cologne in a cool, dark place to mature...for at least one week.
Shake the cologne well once a day.
Test the cologne scent, and adjust fragrance as needed.
Experiment
Try mixing different essential oils to create your own signature fragrance.
I blended lemongrass, eucalyptus, and patchoili oil for a unique fragrance that just happens to keep bugs away!
My daughter, Faith's boyfriend, actually sprayed the cologne on bugs and it killed them. That's probably not a great thing to market for a perfume - but - hey - it's the truth.
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| Homemade Lemongrass Cologne: Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
Discover the fragrance likes and dislikes of the person you're giving the fragrance to. I gave a lemon-scented fragrance to a special friend before I realized he overdosed on lemon previously, and can't stand the scent of lemon. I'll do better next time.
My favorite essential oils to mix for cologne and perfumes are:
- Blood Orange
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Lavender Oil
- Mulberry Oil
- Baby Powder Oil
"We are what we repeatedly do.
Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
Aristotle
(384 BC - 322 BC)
Greek Philosopher, Student of Plato, Teacher of Alexander the Great
One of the most important founding figures in Western philosophy.
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| Homemade Lotion and Bath Salts. Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
CLICK on this link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser
for my recipe for homemade cream:
http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/2013/09/wrinkles.html
Come back often, and bring a friend!
Look for more special STORYTELLER Gift Projects in upcoming blogs....like homemade Bath Salts!
Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking
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| Homemade Bath Salts. Copyright 2012 Marcia Norwood |
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