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For perfume lovers, the shift toward more natural products can be a tough one. The world is becoming more sensitive to scents and limiting people from wearing their traditional favorites.

Fortunately, you can make your own subtle, chemical-free homemade perfumes using flowers from your garden. Here are a few ways to expertly design your own florals scents.

Choose Your Scent

The first thing to do when making perfume is to choose your scent. You can choose a favorite flower that you love or make do with something from your garden– the choice is yours. You may even try to experiment with a few favorites and create a custom blend. If you do, remember to put together a confusing perfume commercial to show your friends.

A few favorite floral scents include:

  • roses
  • lilacs
  • honeysuckle
  • lavender
  • jasmine

To test the scent of a plant, rub the petals between your fingers to release the natural essence before smelling.

Gather Your Materials

Once you’ve chosen your flowers, you’ll need other materials to turn them into perfume. Some of the items you will need include:

  • a pot
  • access to a stove
  • distilled water
  • cheesecloth
  • a glass spray bottle or glass dropper bottle (empty essential oil bottles work well)

When storing your perfume, you should go for glass over plastic. Glass bottles ensure the best shelf life for your perfume and limits any cross-contamination with the container. The usual ratio of water to petals is 2:1, respectively. Feel free to experiment and make your scent as powerful or as subtle as you prefer.

The Process

The process of making your perfume is similar to making rosewater. Making rosewater is one of many great ideas for getting started with making natural beauty products, such as perfume, lotion, toner, conditioner, and more.

First, bring your distilled water to a boil. While you wait, rinse the flower petals. Rinsing them will remove any remaining dirt or leftover chemicals used in the gardening process.

Chop the petals and drop them into the boiling water. Turn the temperature down to low heat to allow the water to simmer. Don’t bring the water to a boil with the petals added already, as it can kill the scent.

Let the water simmer on low for two to three hours. Remove from the heat and allow the water to cool. When the water is cool, use the cheesecloth to strain the mixture and remove the petals. Be sure to squeeze the cheesecloth to get every last drop of goodness out of the petal mixture.

Transfer the perfume to the glass containers you’ve chosen and store them in a cool, dark place when not in use. Apply to your skin, and voila! You have a natural perfume.

Try New Things

Feel free to experiment with other elements as well. Some people add sugar or honey for a hint of sweetness or pine needles for something more earthy and distinctive. Vanilla extract is another ingredient that can enhance your custom scent.

Find your perfect blend, write down your formula, and enjoy.