Make your own perfume to alter your mood

The fragrance industry isn't heavily regulated. By making your own perfumes, you eliminate your exposure to harmful chemicals and help save the environment.

Making perfume is a simple process. Water, alcohol and essential oils are the three most common ingredients. Vodka is often used as a carrier oil, but use only high quality 80- or 100-proof vodka, which is virtually odourless. Essential oils are found in pharmacies or health food stores, and your perfume can be kept in a small glass or plastic container with a sprayer or in vintage perfume bottles often found at flea markets.

Find your favourite fragrance

Scented oils have three different notes. The base notes, such as vanilla, cinnamon and sandalwood, stay longest on your skin. The middle notes, such as lemongrass, geranium, neroli and ylang-ylang, add to the scent for a while but not as long as the base notes. The top notes, such as rose, lavender, jasmine, bergamot and orchard, do not last as long as the other two notes, but add to the scent significantly. When making a perfume of more than one scent, add the base note oil first, then the middle note oil, and finish with the top note oil.

Control your frame of mind

Certain scents can alter your mood. Geranium oil is very effective in treating stress, fatigue and anxiety. Ylang-ylang oil is good for relaxation and is a reported aphrodisiac that calms the senses. Jasmine and lavender are restful and promote sleep, and sandalwood and grapefruit are known to fight fear. For a confidence boost, try cypress or rosemary while frankincense, rose and bergamot are uplifting and soothing. To improve your memory, try black pepper and peppermint.

You can try several of the many natural perfume recipes online and make perfumes as gifts as well if you like. Who wouldn't love their own signature perfume, especially if it's named after them?

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EWP) is available 24 hours a day. If you want to know more about things affecting your mood, call us on the EWP number or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .