How to Make Perfume at Home: DIY Scents for Perfume, Cologne, Deodorant, Beauty Balm, Essential Oils, Body Splash - Includes 14 Unique Aromatherapy Recipes Paperback – October 20, 2020

That is the opening statement this book makes. Yes, I too had the impulse to roll my eyes but it's actually the very next sentences that make it seem like a valid point: “A good perfume offers more than just a good smell to your body. It exudes confidence and makes an individual feel special...”Fair. That explanation also gave me the inkling that this was going to be much more than just another how-to, which brings me to my first pro: I really like that this is written by someone who sounds competent and confident (and it doesn't hurt that I also like her writing style) especially because I am a novice to this and so a knowledgeable guide is particularly reassuring. That said another pro has already been implied: this isn't just your typical here's-how-you-do-it. Yes this *does* cover how to prepare perfumes from natural products (from the most basic level) such as flowers, tree barks, stems and other plant matter but it also takes time to prepare you with the obvious (like what supplies you'll need) and the less obvious (like a short history on perfumes) and I particularly like that it comes with a glossary of terms related to perfumes/fragrances to help you better understand the commonly used perfume world terms used in the book.I also like that this is at its core a practical book with step by step directions that on reading sound simple enough to follow (which is to say I can't attest to more than that as I have yet to do them but it doesn't take much imagination to believe 'pour and wait' isn't as easy as it sounds even if preparing a tincture can take *a month* what?!) I also appreciate that after teaching you the basics this encourages you to make your own sought after perfume but doesn't leave it at that and includes several recipes in case you want something tried and true. And because this really goes above and beyond it comes with a troubleshooting section *and* FAQs even if some in the latter there *are* repeats of content in the book (like again answering what top, middle and base notes are) but I realize some people may not have read it the first time or just want a quick answer so fair enough.All that said normally I would follow my pros with my cons but this to me was an overall excellent read that I found negligible faults with; it promises to teach how to make perfumes and it delivers, therefore I can but rate it five stars. Perfumes I was surprised to learn aren't hard to make and this book makes it sound so easy that one might be tempted to believe it's no easier than what you could find on the internet, to which I reply maybe, but like any how-to book this is everything in one place, you're paying for the work of having it all together as well as the author's expertise which is value (but up to you how you want to weigh that value).Lastly I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to know about making perfumes and has little to no prior knowledge about them. This book will give you a rough idea of what you need and how to go about the process of perfume making however don't forget that it still takes time and practice. Also keep in mind that this book is not a case study or a theoretical textbook, it is a practical guide that by its own admission is “ideal for those who love perfumes and those who wish to learn to make their own perfumes at home” and having read it I have to agree, if you want something reader (and newbie) friendly about making perfumes this is a great one.

The author does a very thorough job of explaining not only how to make the different types of perfume and other scented products. She also explains the history of perfume and how perfumes are made, provides a glossary of terms she uses throughout the book, and provides information on the tools needed for the different processes.Then she goes into detail explaining how to make each different type of scented product - perfumes, skin salves, deodorant, and balms. At the end she provides some bonus tips on making perfume, explains how to troubleshoot different perfume issues, how to deal with allergens, including the symptoms of an allergic reaction, explains how to store different scented products, and answers some frequently asked questions about perfume, and provides information on precautions and mistakes to avoid.If you’re interested in trying to make your own perfumes and scented items, this book is definitely worth a read. Be aware though, you will have to invest some money into buying all the ingredients and tools you need to make the different perfumes - you might want to look at the price of your favorite perfume vs. the price of all the tools and ingredients you’ll have to buy and decide if it’s worth it. It can also take some time to make each product, because you’ll have to let the herbs used in the different products infuse for a certain amount of time before you use them - the amount of time varies with each different product.The only thing about this book I didn’t like is that the author didn’t do a very good job of proofreading the book - there are several places where theYou’ll definitely want to read this book if you’ve ever thought about trying to make your own perfumes and scented products. Just be sure to do your research before you start making anything. Make sure you can afford all the ingredients, and that you have the space and time needed to make each product.

If you're planning to make your own perfumes this book will get you from basic to mid-level.

Smelling nice is something many people strive for because it grants a level of confidence amongst our peers. Who thought making fragrances as a DIY project at home could be so much more fun than spending money to buy already made ones?In "How to Make Perfume at Home: DIY Scents for Perfume, Cologne, Deodorant, Beauty Balm, Essential Oils, Body Splash - Includes 14 Unique Aromatherapy Recipes," author Anne Robinson clarifies all that one would need to know about fragrances as well as teach how to make them from home. She begins by mentioning key-points about the history of scents, how they came to be, and what it originally made for. An accompanying glossary of new terms provides a greater understanding along with a learner's need to add to their vocabulary is within. Learning what types of ingredients are needed to develop a fragrance, by using only natural products, and knowing which are better in sales, demonstrates the author as a business-minded individual.I highly recommend anyone curious about starting a fragrance business using natural ingredients or creating scents as a side hobby. I am excited to try these methods and witness what could potentially become an additional stream of income.

It gives some decent basic information about scents and mixing them to create your desired smell. However, some of the info I wouldn’t use without further research. Some of the “perfume” recipes and methods are questionable and scientifically would not seem to work. So again, I’d do further research before following the ideas listed here because essential oils are expensive and if you can make them properly at home with a still it’s labor intensive.