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Perfume need not come off a store window. You can make it yourself at home. It's not too difficult.

It may smell different from what you buy in the store - but this will be your very own brand. And you'll have plenty of fun making it!

Caution:

If you are using essential oils - get to know their properties beforehand. Some essential oils have great potency and could pose health hazards!

Fragrant oils can be used in the place of essential oils. And plastic sheets will be needed to cover the work place. Oils in used in perfumes could damage surfaces.

Any perfume should have 75% of dilutants like vodka and 25% of fragrances. Glycerine is normally added to the mixture to help retain fragrances.

Here is a simple way to make perfume. Start off with this basic method.

Take one cup of water

Take one cup of chopped rose petals.

Take a cotton cloth.

Place it in a bowl - ensure the edges of the cloth are hanging outside the bowl.

Put the rose petals onto the cloth in the bowl.

Now pour water over the flowers - make sure they're completely covered.

Cover the bowl with a lid. Leave overnight.

The next day, use the edges of the cloth and take it out of the bowl - with the flowers in tact.

Squeeze the scented water into another container.

Simmer on low heat till it reaches half its original quantity.

Cool and pour into a clean bottle.

Store in a cool dark place.

This perfume can last for a month.

For those who prefer the scent of lime to that of flowers, here's an appropriate recipe.

You'll need:

1 cup of distilled water

1 cup of vodka

3 drops of lemongrass oil - (essential or fragrance oil)

7 drops of lavender oil - (essential or fragrant oil)

10 drops of lime oil - (essential or fragrant oil)

Methodology

Combine all the oil drops and the vodka in a bottle with a firm seal.

Shake well. Keep aside for three weeks.

Add distilled water.

Set aside for one week. Shake bottle every day.

Store in a dark bottle in a cool dry place.