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Creating your own perfume is a wonderful way to express your personality and creativity. Whether you want to make a signature scent for yourself or start a small business, making perfume using fragrance oil is one of the easiest and most affordable methods.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to make both oil-based and alcohol-based perfumes using fragrance oil. Whether you're a hobbyist or a budding perfumer, you can use our guide to create repeatable, professional-quality results, every time.
What Is Fragrance Oil?
Fragrance oil is a concentrated aromatic compound designed to mimic specific scents. Unlike essential oils, which are naturally derived from plants, fragrance oils can be synthetic or blended with natural ingredients. They’re commonly used in perfumes, candles, cosmetics, and personal care products.
The main advantages of using fragrance oil in perfume making include:
Affordability compared to essential oils
Consistency across batches
Stronger and longer-lasting scent
Wider scent variety, including designer-inspired and fantasy blends
Why Measure Fragrance Oil in Grams?
Using grams instead of drops or millilitres offers better accuracy - especially when you're creating products to sell or trying to replicate a formula. Different fragrance oils have varying densities, so weighing in grams ensures consistent ratios every time which is especially important when making perfume.
Supplies You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make your own perfume using fragrance oil:
Ingredients:
Fragrance oil (measured in grams)
Perfumers alcohol (or high-proof ethanol)
Distilled water (optional, for sprays)
Carrier oil (like jojoba or fractionated coconut, for oil-based perfume)
Glycerin or fixative (optional)
Tools:
Digital precision scale (0.01g accuracy recommended)
Glass perfume bottles or roller bottles
Pipettes or glass stir rods
Small funnel
Measuring beaker
Labels for naming and dating your blends
There are two main types of perfume you can make: oil-based and alcohol-based. Here’s how to make both using accurate weight measurements.
1. Oil-Based Perfume (Rollerball Style)
Oil-based perfumes are gentle on the skin, easy to make, and don’t require alcohol.
Formula:
2g fragrance oil (20% of the total)
8g carrier oil (80% of the total)
Optional: 0.5g glycerin (acts as a mild fixative)
Instructions:
Weigh out 2g of your chosen fragrance oil.
Weigh 8g of your carrier oil (jojoba is ideal for skin compatibility).
Combine the oils in a glass beaker or directly into your roller bottle.
Shake well to mix.
Allow your perfume to rest for 24–72 hours to mature (up to 2 weeks for full development).
Label your perfume with the name, scent notes, and date.
2. Alcohol-Based Perfume (Spray Bottle)
This type of perfume feels lighter and more traditional. It sprays easily and evaporates quickly, leaving the fragrance behind.
Formula (100g batch):
20g fragrance oil (20%)
80g perfumer’s alcohol (80%)
Instructions:
Weigh 20g of fragrance oil and pour it into a clean glass beaker or perfume bottle.
Add 60g of perfumer’s alcohol.
Stir gently, then seal and shake.
Let your perfume age for at least 48 hours. The longer it sits (up to 6 weeks), the better it will develop.
Shake before use and label clearly.
Choosing the Right Fragrance Oil
The fragrance oil you choose is the heart of your perfume. Some fragrance oils are single-note (like lavender or vanilla), while others are pre-blended and mimic designer perfumes or more complex scent profiles.
Popular fragrance oil categories include:
Floral: rose, jasmine, neroli
Fruity: mango, black cherry, pear
Fresh: linen, rain, sea breeze
Woody: cedarwood, sandalwood, amber
Gourmand: vanilla, caramel, coffee
Spicy: clove, cinnamon, black pepper
You can blend different fragrance oils to create your own unique scent. Always check that the oil is skin-safe and compliant with IFRA standards before using it in a perfume.
Which Fragrance Oil Should I Choose When Making Perfume?
At House of Scent, we offer a wide range of high-quality designer perfume dupes that closely match some of the most popular and iconic scents on the market. These fragrance oils are expertly blended to replicate the essence of luxury perfumes, making them an excellent choice for anyone looking to craft their own custom fragrances.
Whether you’re recreating a beloved designer scent or putting your own twist on a classic, our dupes provide a cost-effective, long-lasting alternative without compromising on quality or complexity. Perfect for personal use or building your own perfume line. Here are a few of our Best Sellers:
Alien Invasion Fragrance Oil
£1.99
Experience the tantalising scent and delight in this exotic blend of green fruity top notes, an oriental floral heart and a powdery amber and musky base. Let the sophisticated floral and fruity aromas transport you to another world. Our version… read more
Aventos For Men Fragrance Oil
£1.99
Indulge in a captivating woody blend of bergamot, lemon, cassis, incense, elemi and pine cone. Let the heart notes of jasmine, rock rose, and velvet woods evoke a feeling of luxury and elegance. The base notes of amber, musk, moss… read more
Black Pomegranate Fragrance Oil
£1.99
Experience a bold and unique scent. Notes of spicy pink pepper and cardamom open up to a heart of clove and patchouli, while fruity hints of apple and plum add a playful twist. Base notes of amber and musk provide… read more
Dark Opium Fragrance Oil
£1.99
An exotic & alluring scent with oriental spices, notes of pink pepper, orange blossom & pear, followed by a heart of orchid and coffee, this scent will awaken your senses; while the sumptuous base of amber, patchouli, vanilla and cedar… read more
La Vie Est Belle Fragrance Oil
£1.99
An opulent fragrance with initial notes of bergamot, grapefruit and cassis, giving way to a bouquet of floral scents such as orris, jasmine, orange blossom and lily. Anchored by a base of vanilla, tonka bean, praline, patchouli, cedarwood, musk and… read more
Wood Sage & Sea Salt Fragrance Oil
£1.99
Transport yourself to the seaside with notes of sage, grapefruit and bergamot to invigorate your senses and bring a warm, sophisticated aroma. Let hints of musk and ambergris round out the experience for a truly refreshing and rejuvenating scent. Paradise.… read more
Blending Tips for Fragrance Oil
Use the Fragrance Pyramid:
Top notes: the first scent you smell (e.g., citrus, mint) – evaporates quickly
Middle notes: the heart of the perfume (e.g., rose, lavender) – lasts longer
Base notes: the deep, long-lasting scent (e.g., vanilla, musk)
Keep ratios consistent: Weigh your oils and record everything in a perfume journal (notebook).
Test in small batches: Start with 10g or 20g batches to experiment before scaling up and commencing batch production.
Let it rest: Perfume improves with time. A resting period allows all components to bond properly so allowing your perfume time to rest and mix properly with the base will be worth the wait.
Please ensure that you are always referring to the fragrance oil IFRA when blending fragrance oils to ensure suitability for your chosen application.
Safety & Storage Tips
Patch test before applying to your skin - especially if you have sensitive skin.
Always use skin-safe fragrance oils intended for personal care products.
Store perfumes in dark glass bottles, away from heat and direct sunlight, to prevent deterioration.
Keep a record of your formulas for consistency and quality control.
Scaling Up for a Small Business
If you're making perfume to sell, weighing fragrance oil in grams is not only professional - it’s essential. It ensures consistency across batches and simplifies compliance with cosmetic regulations.
Use batch numbers and track every ingredient.
Print clear labels with allergens (if required).
Keep safety data sheets (SDS) for each fragrance oil you use.
At House of Scent, we offer high-quality, undiluted fragrance oils perfect for perfume creation, available in bulk sizes to help you scale efficiently.
If you intend to sell (or even gift) your perfume creations, please remember that you need to hold the relevant CPSR assessment in order to be legally compliant.
Final Thoughts
Making your own perfume using fragrance oil is creative, fun, and surprisingly easy. By weighing your ingredients in grams, you’ll get precise, repeatable results every time. Whether you’re crafting a personal signature scent or planning to launch a fragrance line, fragrance oil offers endless possibilities at a fraction of the cost of designer perfumes - allowing you to experiment freely, customise every blend, and develop high-quality fragrances that truly reflect your unique style and vision.
Discover Premium Fragrance Oils for Perfume!
Looking to create your own perfume? House of Scent offers premium, undiluted fragrance oils that closely match popular scents. Whether you're crafting for personal use or starting a business, we have the perfect fragrances to bring your perfume creations to life - offering long-lasting aromas, exceptional quality, and a wide variety to suit every scent profile and creative vision.
