Is there an order of operations for fragrance notes? Is there a ratio? Do I mix them seperately, or together?

[SMSV21]

I understand that there are base notes, middle notes, and top notes.

I've heard you should add base notes first, and heard somewhere that base notes are 30%, middle are 50%, and top notes 20%? That was not a reliable source, so I am curious, is there a ratio?

Also, would it be better to mix base, middle, and top notes seperately in 3 jars before combing together? Or should you add Base notes, then middle, then top all in one jar? Can you add a base note after adding the top notes?

I have my ingredients picked out for a perfume I plan to make tomorrow. I've made a cologne I really like (with too many ingredients I feel lol) but idk best way to do this. Perfume scents are strong, I don't wanna a mess it up and add too much or too little essential oils.

 

[ourmess]

"Top note" means "you smell this a lot at first, but it fades". They're not literally, physically "on top". The order that you put the materials into the bottle is meaningless.

There are no "standard" ratios for anything, no more than painters have "standard ratios" of blue to red. ;p

 

[SMSV21]

"Top note" means "you smell this a lot at first, but it fades". They're not literally, physically "on top". The order that you put the materials into the bottle is meaningless.

There are no "standard" ratios for anything, no more than painters have "standard ratios" of blue to red. ;p

Yeah cuz I use drops (no scale) for essential oils, and the cologne I made has like 100 plus drops. Assuming a drop is like .05 ml, then I only used like 1/4 of what I should have, but that sounds like a ton of oils, and I'm afraid of it being too strong

 

[jfrater]

Order doesn't matter. And you won't make it too strong It may seem that way if you are using pure materials but by the time you dilute to 10-20% in ethanol and rest it for a month, you'll be surprised at the softening and balancing that occurs. There are perfumes with 10% pure ambrocenide - it is one of the strongest chemicals I know in modern perfumes and it is perceptible at parts below 0.1%.

Chanel No.5 had more than 20% PURE jasmine oil and nearly the same ylang ylang. Worry about balance, not strength for now.

 

[SMSV21]

Order doesn't matter. And you won't make it too strong It may seem that way if you are using pure materials but by the time you dilute to 10-20% in ethanol and rest it for a month, you'll be surprised at the softening and balancing that occurs. There are perfumes with 10% pure ambrocenide - it is one of the strongest chemicals I know in modern perfumes and it is perceptible at parts below 0.1%.

Chanel No.5 had more than 20% PURE jasmine oil and nearly the same ylang ylang. Worry about balance, not strength for now.

Thank you, that's reassuring. I formulated something new. I love the initial smell, but we'll see how it matures in a month. I've heard people use less top notes (compared to the other notes) so I tried that. I worry it might smell like "old lady" (as my niece calls floral-scented perfume) as a result. The initial aroma is very much like a mature, complex perfum, so I am very hopeful, being an absolute novice.

 

[ScentAle]

Order doesn't matter. And you won't make it too strong It may seem that way if you are using pure materials but by the time you dilute to 10-20% in ethanol and rest it for a month, you'll be surprised at the softening and balancing that occurs. There are perfumes with 10% pure ambrocenide - it is one of the strongest chemicals I know in modern perfumes and it is perceptible at parts below 0.1%.

Chanel No.5 had more than 20% PURE jasmine oil and nearly the same ylang ylang. Worry about balance, not strength for now.one think about

One thing about ambrocenide. I have perception that many marine perfumes use a really high ambrocenide dosing, like a pure strong enhancer.

 

[jfrater]

Thank you, that's reassuring. I formulated something new. I love the initial smell, but we'll see how it matures in a month. I've heard people use less top notes (compared to the other notes) so I tried that. I worry it might smell like "old lady" (as my niece calls floral-scented perfume) as a result. The initial aroma is very much like a mature, complex perfum, so I am very hopeful, being an absolute novice.

Trial and error is invaluable in the early days

 

[jfrater]

One thing about ambrocenide. I have perception that many marine perfumes use a really high ambrocenide dosing, like a pure strong enhancer.

That's probable. I use it in a lot of perfumes at a very low percent just to give a boost, but I have used it up to 4% in a woody scent and know it has been used beyond 10% by others. It has an amazing ability to soothe at just the right dose, or destroy at the wrong dose

 

[marcelo123]

I start with base notes then middle then top notes, because Im afraid if I start with top notes, they will evaporate before I finish my whole formula... sometimes I take a long time to weigh every single ingredient

 

[marcelo123]

the top, middle and base note ratio, depends on what youre doing with the concentrate, are you making a perfume or are you adding it to a candle etc? also if its for perfume, if you use more base notes and middle notes it will last longer, but you can choose the ratio. Ive seen some formulas with only base notes, etc.