Smell sweet for cheap: how to make your own fragrances at home

No need to go out and splurge on fancy designer perfumes. These insider tips will help you save money and smell super-sweet.

Fragrances have played an important role in human attraction for thousands of years. On special occasions, the ancient Egyptians would wear cones of scent on their heads that melted in the heat, exuding exotic aromas. Today, men and women are still seduced by fragrant mixtures of flowers, fruits, woods and spices.

• Succulent fragrances stimulate your mind. You'll feel refreshed and revitalized when you apply any of these traditional formulas.
• Smells sway emotions, modify perception and are the ultimate wake-up call for your senses. No need to go out and splurge on fancy perfumes.
• Don't give the drug store or department store money for what you can make at home yourself. Between your pantry and your garden, you'd be surprised at the wealth of fragrances you can create.
• Even if you wind up buying some oils for your mixes, in the long run with how much they'll help make, you'll be spending a fraction of the price.

• Eau de Cologne, a time-tested classic, is easy to make at home. Mix 300 millilitres (1.25 cups) of water with 12 drops each of bergamot and lemon oil, 10 drops each of orange and geranium oil, six drops of rosemary oil and three drops of neroli oil. Shake vigorously and set mixture aside for two days. Then add about 75 millilitres (1/3 cup) of distilled water, shake once again and let steep for about a week before using.
• To produce a feminine fragrance with a subtle vanilla aroma, slit open two vanilla beans and soak in about 100 millilitres (3.5 ounces) of vodka. Remove the vanilla pods after three days and add 250 millilitres (one cup) of distilled water.
• To make a classic summer perfume that relies on the pure, fresh scent of citrus fruits, mix together 15 millilitres (one tablespoon) of vodka, 10 drops each of orange, neroli, lemon, mandarin orange and rose oils, plus five drops of bergamot oil, then add about 100 millilitres (3.5 ounces) of orange flower water. The scent needs a week to develop fully.
• For a distinctive violet perfume, pour about 40 millilitres (1 1/3 ounces) of rubbing alcohol and 50 millilitres (1/4 cup) of distilled water over 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of violet flowers and let steep for a full week. Strain the liquid and mix with 100 millilitres (3.5 ounces) of distilled water. You can also substitute two handfuls of lavender or rose flowers for the violets, if you prefer those scents.
• For a fragrant rose water, pour one litre/quart of boiling water over 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of fresh rose petals and steep for an hour, then strain. Bring the rose water back to a boil and pour it over another 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of rose petals. Store the cooled rose water in a dark bottle.