Eau de Cologne recipes

The traditional Eau de cologne is a certain type of perfume that was made by various makers and originally only in Cologne (Cologne = Keulen). Nowadays we mean a distinct perfume; a perfume with relatively few fragrances. Nice and cheap, nice and fresh and the scent is not a scent that is dominant for hours. Eau de colognes are easy to make perfumes. The recipes below can be easily adapted by using other essential oils, perfume oils and even pure fragrances or by changing the proportions between the scents. Make sure that the total number of drops of the different fragrances remains about the same (so about 40 drops on 50 ml of cologne) then little can go wrong, except that a cologne may not smell so good.

Classic Eau de Cologne

Based on the oldest eau de cologne recipes: as Johann Maria Farina, the famous inventor of the eau de cologne, made it.

Ingredients

– 50 ml Cosmetic hair water
– 15 drops of EO Bergamot FCF (org)
– 12 drops EO Lemon CP (org)
– 5 drops of EO Petitgrain Paraguay
– 3 drops EO Orange Sweet CP (org)
– 3 drops EO Lavender Bulgaria (org)
– 1 drop FO Farmers Jasmine
– 1 drop EO Rosemary CT Camphor (org)
– 1 ml Orange flower water
– Perfume bottle E4 Cilindro 50 ml
– Atomizer or cap Black E4
– Plastic dropper 1 and 3 ml: at least 7 x 1 ml and 1 x 3 ml, but it is recommended to buy more, reuse of these plastic pipettes is difficult. A 10 ml bottle of an EO (essential oil) or FO (pfragrance oil) usually contains about 200 drops.

Procedure

Fill perfume bottle Cilindro with about 40 ml of cosmetic hair water, does not come very precisely. Use a plastic 3 ml dropper for this, which is easier than a small funnel. Then add the other raw materials one after the other. Finally, top up the bottle with cosmetic hair water until it is nicely filled. When using an atomizer: the riser of the atomizer must be cut to size, the riser takes up space, so do not fill the bottle completely. Make sure that the pipettes are not mixed up, otherwise the lavender oil might smell like lemon and the petitgrain oil smells like rosemary.

Eau de cologne does not need to be preserved, because of the high percentage of alcohol it cannot spoil. However, due to the effect of oxygen from the air, high temperature and too much (sun) light, it can still go bad. Store it (like other perfumes) cool, dry and dark in a tightly closed container. Usually the smell gets a little better after storage, when it is 3-6 months old it is usually at its best, but if properly stored it normally lasts at least a year, sometimes (much) longer.

Eau de cologne like 4711

Although by no means the first, eau de cologne from the 4711 brand is the best known. It is a floral, not so spicy cologne.

Ingredients

– 50 ml Cosmetic hair water
– 14 drops of EO Bergamot FCF (org)
– 8 drops EO Lemon CP (org)
– 5 drops EO Orange Sweet CP (org)
– 5 drops EO Petitgrain Paraguay
– 3 drops FO Farmers Jasmine
– 2 drops FO French Rose
– 2 drops FO Lavender Bulgaria (org)
– 1 ml Orange flower water
– Perfume bottle E4 Cilindro 50 ml
– Atomizer or cap Black E4
– Dropping pipette plastic 1 and 3 ml: at least 8 x 1 ml and 1 x 3 ml, but it is recommended to buy more, reuse of these plastic pipettes is difficult. A 10 ml bottle of an EO (essential oil) or FO (fragrance oil) usually contains about 200 drops.

Procedure

Fill perfume bottle Cilindro with about 40 ml of cosmetic hair water, this is not very precise. Use a plastic 3 ml dropper for this, which is easier than a small funnel. Then add the other raw materials one after the other. Finally, top up the bottle with cosmetic hair water until it is nicely filled. When using an atomizer: the riser of the atomizer must be cut to size, the riser takes up space, so do not fill the bottle completely. Make sure that the pipettes are not mixed up, otherwise the lavender oil may smell like lemon and the petitgrain oil smells like jasmine.

Eau de cologne does not need to be preserved, because of the high percentage of alcohol it cannot spoil. However, due to the effect of oxygen from the air, high temperature and too much (sun) light, it can still go bad. Store it (like other perfumes) cool, dry and dark in a tightly closed container. Usually the smell gets a little better after storage, when it is 3-6 months old it is usually at its best, but if properly stored it normally lasts at least a year, sometimes (much) longer.

Florida water

Not so well known in Europe, but very common in the Caribbean (and surroundings) to freshen up before dinner.

Ingredients

– 50 ml Cosmetic hair water
– 15 drops of EO Bergamot FCF (org)
– 15 drops EO Lemon CP (org)
– 6 drops EO Orange Sweet CP (org)
– 4 drops EO Clove bud (org)
– 1 ml Orange flower water
– Perfume bottle E4 Cilindro 50 ml
– Atomizer or cap Black E4
– Plastic dropper 1 and 3 ml: at least 5 x 1 ml and 1 x 3 ml, but it is recommended to buy more, reuse of these plastic pipettes is difficult. A 10 ml bottle of an EO (essential oil) usually contains about 200 drops.

Procedure

Fill perfume bottle Cilindro with about 40 ml of cosmetic hair water, this is not very precise. Use a plastic 3 ml dropper for this, which is easier than a small funnel. Then add the other raw materials one after the other. Finally, top up the bottle with cosmetic hair water until it is nicely filled. When using an atomizer: the riser of the atomizer must be cut to size, the riser takes up space, so do not fill the bottle completely. Be careful not to mix up the pipettes, otherwise the clove oil might smell like lemon and the bergamot oil smell like orange.

Eau de cologne does not need to be preserved, because of the high percentage of alcohol it cannot spoil. However, due to the effect of oxygen from the air, high temperature and too much (sun) light, it can still go bad. Store it (like other perfumes) cool, dry and dark in a tightly closed container. Usually the smell gets a little better after storage, when it is 3-6 months old it is usually at its best, but if properly stored it normally lasts at least a year, sometimes (much) longer.

Hungary water

A classic, with the strange twist that no one knows what it originally smelled like. It was apparently intended for the Queen of Hungary around 1200, hence the name Hungary water. In French it is called l’eau de la Reine (the water of the queen), from which the Dutch word lodderein (also called loderein) is derived.

Ingredients

– 50 ml Cosmetic hair water
– 16 drops EO Rosemary CT Camphor (org)
– 12 drops EO Lemon CP (org)
– 6 drops EO Lavender Bulgaria (org)
– 6 drops EO Orange Sweet CP (org)
– 1 ml Orange flower water
– Perfume bottle E4 Cilindro 50 ml
– Atomizer or cap Black E4
– Plastic dropper 1 and 3 ml: at least 5 x 1 ml and 1 x 3 ml, but it is recommended to buy more, reuse of these plastic pipettes is difficult. A 10 ml bottle of an EO (essential oil) usually contains about 200 drops.

Procedure

Fill perfume bottle Cilindro with about 40 ml of cosmetic hair water, does not come very precisely. Use a plastic 3 ml dropper for this, which is easier than a small funnel. Then add the other raw materials one after the other. Finally, top up the bottle with cosmetic hair water until it is nicely filled. When using an atomizer: the riser of the atomizer must be cut to size, the riser takes up space, so do not fill the bottle completely. Make sure that the pipettes are not mixed up, otherwise the lavender oil may smell like lemon and the bergamot oil smells like orange.

Eau de cologne does not need to be preserved, because of the high percentage of alcohol it cannot spoil. However, due to the effect of oxygen from the air, high temperature and too much (sun) light, it can still go bad. Store it (like other perfumes) cool, dry and dark in a tightly closed container. Usually the smell gets a little better after storage: when it is 3-6 months old it is usually at its best. If properly stored, it normally lasts at least a year, sometimes (much) longer.

Eau de cologne #7

Eau de cologne is a classic perfume that is easy to alter and variate. Below we give a nice example: Eau de cologne #7.

Supplies

  • 50 ml Cosmetic hair water
  • 15 drops (± 0,8 ml) EO Bergamot FCF (org)
  • 12 drops (± 0,6 ml) EO Lemon CP (org)
  • 8 drops (± 0,4 ml) EO Petitgrain Paraguay
  • 8 drops (± 0,4 ml) EO Orange Sweet CP (org)
  • 3 drops (± 0,2 ml) Benzoin Siam resinoid 50% in DPG
  • 2 drop (± 0,1 ml) EO Rosemary CT Camphor (org)
  • 2 drops (± 0,1 ml) EO Lavender Bulgaria (org)
  • Perfume bottle E4 Cilindro 50 ml
  • Atomizer attachment E4
  • 6 x Dropper plastic 1 ml
  • 2 x dropper plastic 3 ml

Procedure

Cut the riser to the correct length: when the atomizer attachment is screwed onto the bottle, it should fit loosely into the corner of the bottle. If it is too long, the closure can become loose. If this is too short, you cannot completely empty the bottle.

Fill perfume bottle Cilindro about half full with Cosmetic hair water, it doesn’t come very precisely. Use a plastic 3 ml dropper for this, this is easier than a small funnel. Then add the other raw materials one after the other. Always use a new 1 ml pipette for this, except for the Benzoë Siam resinoide 50%. The latter is quite viscous, so a 3 ml pipette works a bit easier. Fill the pipette slowly to avoid the formation of air bubbles. Make sure that the pipettes are not mixed up, otherwise the lavender oil might smell like lemon and the petitgrain oil smells like rosemary. Finally, top up the bottle with cosmetic hair water until it is nicely filled. Finish with the atomizer attachment.

Freshly made Eau de cologne #7 often still smells strongly of alcohol, this alcohol smell diminishes after a few days and eventually disappears. Eau de cologne does not need to be preserved, because of the high percentage of alcohol it cannot mold. The effect of oxygen from the air, high temperature and too much (sun) light can cause the odour to deteriorate. Store it (like other perfumes) cool (not in the fridge), dry and dark in a tightly closed container. Usually the smell gets a little better after storage. It is usually at its best when it is 3-6 months old. If properly stored, it normally lasts at least a year, sometimes (much) longer.

Splash cologne

Nice and fresh: a splash of cologne!

Simply put, a splash cologne (also: body mist) is a light perfume that you can spray liberally on your entire body. A splash cologne doesn’t have to be long lasting: just freshen up. A light after-scent is allowed, but not necessary. Nice on the road, or when you come home sweaty, but don’t really have time to shower.

The basic recipe is very simple, the secret lies in the fragrances used. Therefore: one basic recipe and a few variants for the fragrance.

Splash cologne

  • 100 ml Cosmetic Hair Water
  • 30 drops of fragrance composition

Mix, put in a bottle with an atomizer attachment and you’re done. As with all perfumes, it improves during the first hours to weeks as the perfume matures. The pungent alcohol smell will go away on its own. Pipettes are required for dripping the fragrances, a suitable funnel is useful for filling the bottle(s).

Choose one of the compositions below as a fragrance composition, or make up your own.

Fragrance compositions

Lafresh

A modern lavender scent – fresh and light:

  • 12 drops EO Lavender Bulgaria (org)
  • 10 drops EO Bergamot FCF
  • 8 drops of linalyl acetate

Limint

A spicy citrus scent – fresh and spicy:

  • 11 drops Dihydromyrcenol
  • 11 drops Terpinyl Acetate
  • 6 drops of EO Lime distilled
  • 1 drop EO Peppermint VSA
  • 1 drop EO Sage Dalmatia (org)

Berrydew

A modern fruit fragrance – fresh and sweet:

  • 10 drops Terpinyl Acetate
  • 9 drops Dewfruit TEC (Giv)
  • 3 drops Fructone (IFF)
  • 3 drops EO Lime distilled
  • 2 drops of cis-3-Hexeenol
  • 3 drops EO Davana

Bubble gum

The scent of strawberry gum – fresh and surprising:

  • 10 drops of Hedione (Fir)
  • 10 drops of Fructone (IFF)
  • 8 drops Benzyl Acetate
  • 1 drop of Aurantiol 50% in DPG
  • 1 drop EO Bergamot FCF

Of course you can vary, or come up with your own scent. For example, take a look at our parfumolie, any of them can be used in a fragrance composition. You could also use the recipes from 26 DIY Perfume Formulas as a starting point.

Easy Eau de Cologne

For those who like to keep it simple

Description

An Eau de Cologne is in practise a simple perfume, so we give you a simple recipe that contains nothing more and nothing less that it needs to contain.

Formula

Mix the following in any order:

  • Linalyl acetate – 12 drops
  • EO Lemon CP – 12 drops
  • Aurantiol 50% in DPG – 3 drops
  • EO Lavandin Abrialis – 1 drop
  • Cosmetic hair water – 30 ml

Directions

It is easiest if you mix this in the bottle in which you want to use the perfume. Because the formula yields about 30 ml of perfume, the Quadro bottle (which comes complete with atomizer attachment and cap) is a great choice. Remember to shorten the riser! You do not use more than 1 ml of any fragrance, so you can get started with the smallest bottles of fragrances of each. When ordering, consider plastic pipettes, the bottles with fragrances are supplied without a dropper. The 1 ml pipettes are the most convenient for this. Cosmetic hair water can be added with a 3 ml pipette, but a funnel is more convenient. Our glass 50 mm funnel or 60 mm plastic funnel are suitable for the bottle of the Quadro atomizer.

After mixing you can use the perfume immediately, however, due to maturation the perfume gets better over time, especially the alcohol smell becomes less intense.