DIY Cologne Recipes
Making your own cologne can be really rewarding, and even after you find your 'scent' it's nice to play around with it. Take your same cologne and turn it into something that suits you for day, night, work, or play. After making thousands of them myself, I'd like to share with you a few of my favorite essential oil cologne recipes. We'll also go over a few common tweaks that I like to do to really make them stand out. We'll start with a few of the classics of perfumery, then move into some of the more common notes that people like to start with.
Click in our directory to skip to the perfume recipes that you'd like to view
If you'd like us to do the work for you feel free to try our on-line custom perfume builder.
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts so that it can be easily converted to the ration that you would like to use for your fragrance. Whether you're measuring it out in mL or using drops as your measure. 100 drops in a 100 mL fragrance will give you a 5% Eau De Toilette. If you are to double that to 200 drops, it would give you a 10% solution. There are 20 drops in a mL. Using drops is the easiest way to measure your scents, but more exact measurements are better.
You'll want to give every fragrance a resting period of 2-6 weeks to let it come into it's own.
All fragrances should be mixed with alcohol.
Chypre Cologne Recipes
Popularized in 1917 by a perfume of the same name, this fragrance is characterized by it's warm and woody base with a crisp citrus top. It's a cornerstone of modern perfumery, and can me made to be masculine or feminine. A basic chypre accord consists of oakmoss, labdanum, and citrus (bergamot), patchouli is often included as well.
Basic Chypre Recipe
The bare bones of a chypre accord, this will get you started
- 12 Labdanum
- 24 Oakmoss Absolute
- 64 Bergamot
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Woodsy Chypre Cologne Recipe
More of a mascuine twist to the traditional chypre recipe. Use Himalayan Cedar if you'd like it to be a softer wood or Texas Cedar for a more manly scent.
- 10 Labdanum
- 10 Sandalwood
- 20 Cedar (Try Atlas, Himalayan, or Texas)
- 20 Oakmoss Absolute
- 40 Bergamot
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Chypre Recipe with Patchouli
The bare bones of a chypre accord with patchouli, this will get you started
- 10 Labdanum
- 20 Oakmoss Absolute
- 20 Patchouli
- 50 Bergamot
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Herbaceous Chypre Recipe
The bare bones of a chypre accord, this will get you started
- 10 Labdanum
- 20 Oakmoss Absolute
- 10 Patchouli
- 5 Galbanum
- 5 Lavender
- 5 Hay
- 10 Basil
- 35 Bergamot (Or other Citrus to taste)
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Masculine Floral Chypre Recipe
A good recipe for a floral chypre, you can adjust the ingredients to make it more or less floral. Add your own ingredients to get really creative.
- 10 Labdanum
- 20 Oakmoss Absolute
- 4 Vetiver
- 5 Patchouli
- 5 Jasmine
- 3 Rose
- 3 Ylang-Ylang
- 3 Lavender
- 10 Cedarwood
- 36 Bergamot (Or other Citrus to taste)
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Make your own Cologne using our Chypre Accord
Use our proprietary blend, and add your own twist.
Make Custom Chypre CologneEgyptian Cologne Recipes
A less defined fragrance family, Egyptian perfumes are defined by an undertone of Myrrh, Frankincense, and often Patchouli. Often paired with spices and florals (especially lotus), you'll enjoy playing around with this fragrance.
Basic Egyptian Musk Oil
The bare bones of an Egyptian Musk accord, this will get you started. You can also try to add more florals to this if you would like.
- 20 Myrrh
- 20 Frankincense
- 5 Amber
- 10 Angelica
- 15 Patchouli
- 10 Rose
- 15 Cedar
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Make your own Cologne using our Egyptian Accord
Use our proprietary blend, and add your own twist.
Make Custom Egyptian CologneFougère Perfume Recipes
A fresh and woodsy scent, in modern perfumery Fougère fragrances are typically associated with more masculine scents, although they can be quite feminine with the right ingredients.
Floral Fougère
Some basic tweaks to the original recipe
- 10 Hay
- 20 Oakmoss Absolute
- 10 Tonka Bean Absolute
- 4 Vetiver
- 8 Patchouli
- 16 Lavender
- 4 Geranium
- 8 Jasmine
- 10 Bergamot
- 10 Blood Orange
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Fougère #2
A second way to create a Fougère, this uses Hay and Tonka Bean to get a similar effect to Coumarin.
- 15 Oakmoss Absolute
- 5 Tonka Absolute
- 15 Patchouli
- 5 Hay Absolute
- 5 Vetiver Absolute
- 25 Lavender
- 5 Geranium
- 25 Bergamot
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Make your own Cologne using our Fougère Accord
Use our proprietary blend, and add your own twist.
Make Custom Fougère CologneOriental Cologne Recipes Essential Oils
Quite a broad fragrance family, these blend a warm woody base with a spicy sensuality throughout. An exotic and sexy family of perfume.
Basic Oriental Recipe
The bare bones oriental recipe to get you started.
- 15 Labdanum
- 10 Sandalwood
- 5 Amber
- 20 Vanilla Absolute
- 5 Cloves
- 20 Cinnamon
- 10 Cardamom
- 10 Pepper (Black)
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Pretty Wonderful Oriental Fragrance
Some basic tweaks to the original recipe
- 20 Cedar (Himalayan or Atlas)
- 15 Sandalwood
- 10 Labdanum
- 5 Amber
- 10 Vanilla Absolute
- 10 Tonka Bean Absolute
- 10 Patchouli
- 10 Bitter Almond
- 10 Lavender
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Make your own Cologne using our Oriental Accord
Use our proprietary blend, and add your own twist.
Make Custom Oriental ColognePatchouli Cologne Recipes Essential Oils
A wonderfully rich fragrance that can add a bit of sensual depth to your perfume, I use patchouli a lot to give my scents that extra bit of complexity when I feel they're missing something. It's great as a small addition to a fragrance, or can carry a scent as it's main component.
Basic Egyptian Musk Oil With Patchouli
The bare bones of an Egyptian Musk accord with patchouli, this will get you started. You can also try to add more florals to this if you would like.
- 20 Myrrh
- 20 Frankincense
- 5 Amber
- 10 Angelica
- 15 Patchouli
- 10 Rose
- 15 Cedar
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Floral Patchouli Recipe
A basic floral scent with patchouli at the heart. I use Himalayan Cedar for this as it brightens it up, but you can try Texas or Atlas Cedar as well. Jasmine can be switched out for Ylang-Ylang if you'd like a slightly more animalistic floral.
- 20 Himalayan Cedar
- 25 Dark Patchouli
- 10 Lavender
- 10 Ylang-Ylang
- 35 Sweet Orange (Or other citrus to taste)
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Hippie Patchouli Recipe
Patchouli has a bit of an association with the hippie movement of the 60's, this recipe takes that and runs with it.
- 5 Vetiver
- 20 Dark Patchouli
- 10 Black Pepper
- 10 Clary Sage
- 10 Pine
- 10 Rosemary
- 10 Basil
- 10 Lavender
- 10 Spearmint
- 5 Basil
After trying this out you can add more vetiver/patchouli to increase it's smokey hipster vibe, or add a citrus top to brighten it up.
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Chypre Recipe with Patchouli
A bare bones chypre accord with a touch of patchouli, this is a well built fragrance that you can add florals or woods to.
- 10 Labdanum
- 20 Oakmoss Absolute
- 20 Patchouli
- 50 Bergamot
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Vanilla Cologne Recipes Essential Oils
The great equalizer, I use vanilla in a lot of my recipes to help bridge the gap between heavier base notes and light top notes. It does a great job of rounding out the heart of your scent. For these recipes make sure that you get a vanilla absolute, it has a much more full flavor then vanillin and is made without synthetics. Beware it can be a bit pricey though.
You can also play around and add vanilla to any of the other recipes on this page to get a more 'grounded' scent.
Basic Vanilla Recipe
A nice and simple vanilla recipe that you can use as an accord on it's own. You'll find it to be light and bright, you can add florals, woods, or spices to it as it's quite versatile.
- 25 Vanilla Absolute
- 35 Himalayan Cedar
- 40 Bergamot
I find that especially using the vanilla absolute, you'll have to let this one rest for a week before the vanilla really comes into it's own.
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Lavender Accord
A simple accord that is popular among DIY'ers for it's simplicity, but also can stand alone as a basic fragrance
- 40 Vanilla Absolute
- 60 Lavender
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Simple Vanilla Floral Recipe
This is quite versatile, you can swap out any of the florals to suit your tastes.
- 20 Vanilla Absolute
- 15 Sandalwood
- 5 Myrrh
- 10 Patchouli
- 10 Jasmine Absolute
- 10 Ylang-Ylang
- 20 Bergamot
- 10 Neroli
To play around with this recipe you can try substituting any of the florals (although beware of geranium as it has a habit of taking over a fragrance if you use too much), bergamot can also be changed out for a simpler sweet orange, or the sandalwood for a brighter himalayan cedar.
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Sandalwood Accord
This is a simple yet beautiful scent that can be made to fit with florals or citrus.
- 60 Sandalwood
- 40 Vanilla Absolute
This can easily be turned into a floral or citrus scent by adding either.
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.
Vanilla Oriental Recipe
This is our bare bones oriental recipe which contains vanilla.
- 15 Labdanum
- 10 Sandalwood
- 5 Amber
- 20 Vanilla Absolute
- 5 Cloves
- 20 Cinnamon
- 10 Cardamom
- 10 Pepper (Black)
Each recipe is based on a ratio of 100 parts. Divide or multiply according to your needs.