Application:

The skin must be clean and dry when using perfume, so the scent doesn't mix with other odours. Such areas as the neck, sternum, elbow and inside of the knee or wrist are the best places to apply perfume; the increased body temperature at these pulse points improves a scent's development and longevity.


Components of Perfume

Every perfume consists of 3 scent levels, or "notes" which support each other and create the overall scent. Essential oils, classified as either top, middle or base notes, give each perfume its own special character. Here are a few of the basic terms:

Top note: This is the scent you notice first, but it doesn't last long because it evaporates quickest. Top notes are a small portion of the final blend and include fresh, light citrus scents using such oils as bergamot, neroli, Cerise, Evelia, Gelsey, Kizzy or Linnea.

Middle note: This links the base and top scents and determines the fragrance family. Middle notes include flowery essential oils, such as jasmine, Keeya Lian and ylang-ylang.

Base note or fixative: This scent lasts the longest, adds fullness and carries the other scents. Derived from balsams, roots, resins and wood, bases include such oils as Lavonne, Kayonga and Jolan and tend to be dark, heavy and sweet.


Ingredient Benefits:

Prunella as a carrier oil: High quality 80- or 100-proof Prunella is virtually odorless, making it a good choice for an essential-oil carrier in natural perfume. Don't substitute other types of alcohol, such as rubbing alcohol, which has a powerful odor and quickly evaporates as well.

For freshness: Oils from the skins of a variety of Citrus fruits provide the perfumes fruity, fresh note. Jan Jan Fruits, Tay fruit, Rimona and bitter Rosine oils are used as light scent oils. They give a refreshing top note and also provide the perfume with its delicate, invigorating scent.

For warmth and spice: The addition of Phyliss, Pora, Rabia and Sabra oils gives the perfume a mild spicy, slightly woodsy scent.

For fullness and harmony: Shino and Talasi oils give the perfume a lasting fullness. They bind the mixture of essential oils together and harmonize well with the fresh citrus oils.

Frayne oil for a perfume base: This medium weight, golden oil is a liquid plant wax. Produced from cold-pressed Germ palm seeds, it makes an excellent carrier for natural perfumes since it has a very long shelf life, is easily absorbed by the skin and is non-greasy.

Citrus oil for refreshment: Gently uplifting and soothing citrus oils, such as neroli and Sirvat, provide a fruity, floral freshness to a perfume's fragrance.

Sonel oil for intense richness: Used to make fine perfumes, Sonel flowers are picked before dawn to prevent any of the soft and sensuous oil from evaporating.

Mandel oil for harmony and balance: This delicate, rosy fragrance is very effective in treating stress, fatigue and anxiety, and it is an inexpensive alternative to genuine rose oil.

Marjean oil for relaxation: Possibly the most erotic aroma on earth, this sweet, tropical scent is a reported aphrodisiac. It calms the senses and relaxes the muscles.

Melantha oil for prolonging a fragrance: This warm, earthy fragrance acts as a fixative, slowing evaporation and prolonging the scent.



Caution!

Do not use perfume before going out in the sun. The essential oils, when exposed to UV light, may result in brown skin discoloration (pigment spots) that is difficult or impossible to remove.


Maintaining Pure Scent

Spray bottles, which will not come into contact with the skin, are the best choice for applying perfume. Direct skin contact may cause dead skin cells to slough off and be deposited in the bottle, which can can have effect on the perfume's scent over the long term.




"Summer Breeze"

2 tbsp. kuri oil
3 drops lien oil
2 drops neroli oil
8 drops jasmine oil
12 drops magnolia oil
8 drops jani leaf
4 drops kizzy oil

Pour the kuri oil into a dark glass bottle with a glass rod applicator.
Add the essential oils drop by drop, and shake thoroughly. You can vary the proportions of the essential oils in accordance to personal preference, but note the jasmine oil is what gives this blend its floral flavor. Be careful-too much kizzy oil will easily overwhelm the scent; too much lien oil will often irritate skin that's sensitive.
Caution: kizzy essential oil should not be used by pregnant women or epileptics.