| Basically, every cologne has four essential | | | | After a few days, pour the liquid cologne into jars for |
| components: | | | | storage and discard the solids. To keep your cologne |
| -Water | | | | pure from some of the settlement, pour your |
| -Alcohol | | | | cologne through cheesecloth. Now, add your glycerin. |
| -Fragrance | | | | Use 1 ounce of glycerin to a quart of cologne. |
| -Fixing Agent | | | | Tip for Creating Cologne Faster |
| The water used should only be distilled water. Tap | | | | If you don't want to wait a couple of days, you can |
| water can contain impurities which can interfere with | | | | always speed up the process by placing the jar in a |
| the aesthetics and aromatic qualities of a cologne. | | | | sunny window. As the sun warms the jar, you will be |
| The alcohol provides a solvent for the other | | | | able to see the petals' cellular breakdown and release |
| ingredients. It also releases fragrance as it | | | | of essential oils. By using this method you can often |
| evaporates. The fragrance can be any floral oil, | | | | have cologne in the same or next day, rather than |
| essential herbal oil, liquid gums and resins you desire | | | | having to wait a few days. Be sure the jar is kept |
| to provide fragrance. The fixing agent could be | | | | tightly covered. Remember, agitating it from time to |
| various gums and resins, however, glycerin is an | | | | time will speed up the process of dispersing the |
| excellent fixative for colognes, as it is already a liquid | | | | essential oils. |
| and blends easily with other liquids. The fixing agents | | | | If you've been reading my blog, you know I like to |
| job is to maintain the fragrances integrity. | | | | do things as easy as possible. With all the fantastic |
| Steps to Creating Cologne From Flowers | | | | essential oils available you can make or mimic many |
| Using flowers to make cologne is probably the oldest | | | | of the name brand colognes. The following recipe is |
| method of cologne making. If you have a favorite | | | | just an example. To change the fragrance, just |
| flower in your garden and want to make a cologne | | | | change the fragrance oils added. Mix this all up |
| from it's blossoms, this will work well for you. | | | | together, fill your atomizer and you're ready to go. |
| First, fill a Mason jar with flower petals, packing them | | | | Fleur D'Coeur Cologne |
| in tightly. Add distilled water to the jar until it is 3/4 | | | | - 1 pt. distilled water |
| full, then add 2 tablespoons of liquid vegetable oil. | | | | - 4 oz. unscented rubbing alcohol |
| (Avoid highly scented oils, such as peanut oil, as they | | | | - 1 oz. glycerin |
| will interfere with your fragrance.) Finally, add 1 ounce | | | | - 1 drop rose oil |
| of unscented rubbing alcohol. Cover the jar with a | | | | - 1 drop violet oil |
| tight lid and shake contents thoroughly. Set the jar | | | | - 1 drop gardenia oil |
| aside remembering to shake it a couple of times a | | | | I purchase all my essential oils from one place |
| day, or as often as you like, as shaking the jar will | | | | because they are inexpensive yet high in quality. And, |
| agitate the ingredients and speed up the cologne | | | | they have fragrances that mimic expensive |
| making process. | | | | name-brand fragrances. In this case, since the |
| As the flower petals become saturated with water, | | | | fragrance of the oil is the scent I want, I just use |
| the cellular membranes burst. This releases essential | | | | the above recipe and add 3 drops of the same |
| oils, as well as some of the coloring pigments. These | | | | fragrance. Now, I can have wonderful fragrance at a |
| floral oils escape into the water and cling to the | | | | fraction of the cost, and you can too. I hope you |
| vegetable oil. The alcohol acts as a solvent, dissolving | | | | found my article interesting. |
| the oils so that they mix with the water. | | | | |