Think of building a fragrance collection, as curating your olfactory library—each scent telling a story, bringing back a memory, and making you feel a sense of place. Essential oils are a great place to go, if you’re just starting to get into the fragrant world, or are looking to expand your collection, without necessarily incurring a large cost. These oils are a rich variety of aromas that are more than fragrances – they are mood boosters, calming and energizing experiences.
In this guide, I’ll outline what I’ve done to build my collection of essential oils, whether your first oils are from the drugstore or are made by your great-grandma, and give you some tips on how to get started experimenting with different blends and layers and testing scents on yourself. Set yourself up for a foray into the wonderful world of fragrance collecting and the construction of a collection that truly speaks to you!
Step 1: Understand the Basics of Fragrance Types
Before you start downloading the collection, it’s good to know the three basic types of fragrances: top, middle, and base notes. These layers work together to create a harmonious scent profile:
- Top notes: These are the first scents you smell when you put on perfume, traditionally light and fruity. This category includes Lime Essential Oil and Orange Essential Oil and gives an uplifting, refreshing start.
- Middle notes: The heart of your collection is these fragrances which are more lasting than top notes. I recommend Lavender Essential Oil or Rosemary Essential Oil – both are calming and herbal in scent.
- Base notes: These are what constitute your fragrance and will last the longest. Good examples are Cedarwood Essential Oil or Frankincense Essential Oil — great to add depth and richness to any fragrance blend.
As you build your collection, you want to have a lot of these notes that you can string together to create balanced, versatile scent experiences.
Step 2: Start With Essential Oils That Suit Your Personality
That’s the fun thing about choosing your essential oils, it is all about personal preference. What sort of smells make you feel good? Fresh citrus, floral, earthy, woody? So don’t be scared to experiment and scent selection should be reflective of your personality and mood.
If you like calming and peaceful vibes it might be time to go for Lavender Essential Oil or Chamomile Essential Oil. It is also known both for its soothing properties and versatile scent profile.
For the ones who love fragrances, you have the Lemon Essential Oil or Peppermint Essential Oil. And, just as they can calm down our nerves, these oils invigorate and refresh, making them so perfect to use during the day to pick us up.
If you’re into deeper, grounding aromas, try Patchouli Essential Oil or Sandalwood Australian Essential Oil. These have a rich, earthy smell that is good for meditation or for relaxing.
If you can start your collection with oils you’re naturally drawn to, the whole process will be a more enjoyable and meaningful one.
Step 3: Experiment with Blending and Layering
Part of starting a collection of perfume with essential oils is starting with the ability to make personalized blends, making it one of the most exciting things. Now you can create unique fragrances using different essential oils that will enhance your mood or even the season. Here’s a simple blending guide to help you get started:
- Citrus and Mint: To give it a more invigorating and refreshing scent you can blend Lemon Essential Oil with Peppermint Essential Oil.
- Floral and Woody: For a balanced blend that’s both grounding and a little bit calming, mix Lavender Essential Oil with Cedarwood Essential Oil.
- Spicy and Warm: Blend Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil and Clove Essential Oil for a Fall and Winterly spicy scent.
So play with various combinations and proportions to achieve an ideal signature scent. A diffuser allows you to experiment before fully committing to a blend as seeing how the oils work together is much easier.
Step 4: Build a Collection Based on Seasons and Occasions
When building out your fragrance collection, you know as you build it your smells will change with the seasons, or pair with different occasions. You may find that your preferences change as the weather shifts, so curate your collection accordingly:
- Spring: Lemmon, Orange, and Rosemary are fresh light fragrances to pick for the spring months when you’re craving something fresh and breezy but don’t want something too heavy.
- Summer: In the heat, Peppermint, Spearmint Essential Oil, and Eucalyptus Essential Oil are all bright refreshing scents that can help you stay cool and energized.
- Fall: Cinnamon Bark, Clove, and Frankincense are Cozy and Warming oils that bring that comfortable Fall feeling.
- Winter: Colder months rich, grounding scents like Cedarwood, Patchouli, and Sandalwood Australian is also great for roots, and can inspire feelings of warmth and tranquility.
But it’s all about being able to have a range of essential oils, a variety for when you need to take care of a certain mood, the season, or a special event.
Step 5: Learn the Art of Scent Application
Once your collection is solid you’re ready to learn how to apply your essential oils properly. The fragrance is released most commonly through a diffuser that releases the fragrance into the air. You can also mix oils with a carrier oil, like Jojoba Oil, to create your roll-on fragrance or add them to bath salts for a soothing bath.
When decorating your home or work space, or when mixing essential oils, it’s better to start small because once you’ve overdone it, it’s difficult to take away that much! Sometimes when there are more concentrated oils such as Frankincense or Cedarwood a little goes a long way.
Conclusion: Your Essential Oil Fragrance Journey with HBNO
Putting together a perfume collection with essential oils is incredibly fun and very rewarding. It’s true whether you’re new to the scent world or a seasoned bunch of the stuff, you’ll always benefit from expanding your horizons. Start with the oils that are you, experiment with layering and blending, collecting oils with care as you find your new faves.
HBNO has a fantastic range of high-quality, must-have essential oils like Lavender, Lemon, Frankincense, and Cedarwood for beginners and more seasoned eco-collectors alike. When you put these oils into your fragrance journey, you will be able to create unique, personalized scents for every occasion and season. Have fun with it and your fragrance collection becomes a representation of your style!
