Beginner questions about perfume ratios, Maximum Dose, and fixatives

Question

I have quite a few questions; I'm very new to perfume making

I don’t know where I should start because I tried looking for a pinned thread recommending basic perfume making but couldn’t find one..

From searching and reading threads briefly...I found that Staff recommended the main ingredients for making perfume as:

Fragrance oil 30-40%
And the rest is all Ethyl Alcohol

(There was still no mention of using a scent fixative)

But when I looked at the details of some fragrance oils, some list a Maximux Dose, while some don’t. For example, Rice Flower & Shea (Bath and Body) states that for Perfume, use at 5-15%. So I interpreted this as the Max Dose for body spray/perfume being no more than 15%, and the rest being Ethyl Alcohol 85%. Is that correct?... For fragrance oils that don’t list a Max Dose, use 30-40% as the standard.

Next is the matter of scent fixation, which I’m a little confused about: in general standard practice, is it necessary to add it or not?

Flora Fix compared with Last Fix ------- from what I read, Last Fix has better+longer effectiveness in fixing perfume scent. Am I understanding correctly?

For now, I have only these 2 questions. I’m about to buy ingredients to try starting to make body spray/perfume, and I’m still confused about which fragrance oil I should choose to start practicing with. Please feel free to recommend one to me. Thank you very much.

Answer 1

Basic Perfume Making

Welcome to the world of perfume making! It's completely normal to have many questions when starting out. I'll help answer your questions one by one.

1. Fragrance Oil and Alcohol Ratio

Your understanding is correct:

General Principle: Generally, making body perfume uses a relatively high proportion of fragrance oil, which can range from 30-40% or more, with the rest being Ethyl Alcohol.
Specific Fragrance Oil Recommendations: However, some fragrance oils, such as Rice Flower & Shea (Compare to Bath and Body), may have different usage recommendations (Maximum Dose) depending on their properties and scent concentration. If a fragrance oil specifies a Maximum Dose for Perfume, like the 5-15% you found, you should follow the specific recommendation for that fragrance oil. This means you would use no more than 15% fragrance oil, and the remaining 85% would be Ethyl Alcohol.
Summary: If a fragrance oil has a specific usage recommendation for Perfume, follow that. If there is no specific recommendation, you can start with the general ratio of 30-40% fragrance oil and the rest Ethyl Alcohol.

Regarding the Ethyl Alcohol products available, such as Ethyl Alcohol (99.9% , 200 Proof, Research/Perfumer Grade) and Ethyl Alcohol (96% , Perfumer Grade, Low-Odor), both are perfumer grade with high purity and low odor, suitable for use as a base in perfume making.

2. Using Fixatives

Fixatives are another component that helps perfume last longer.

Necessity: Using a fixative is not a strict requirement for every perfume, especially when you are just starting out. However, fixatives play an important role in slowing down the evaporation of fragrance molecules, helping the scent last longer on the skin and contributing to a more complex and balanced fragrance.
Effectiveness: Different fixatives have varying properties and effectiveness in fixing scents. The choice depends on the type of fragrance you are creating and the desired longevity.

Although I couldn't find specific information on "Flora Fix" and "Last Fix" directly in the product database, generally, more effective fixatives will help the perfume last longer. If you want your perfume to have extended longevity, considering the use of a suitable fixative is beneficial.

Recommended Fragrance Oils for Beginners

For starting out making body perfume, you can choose any fragrance oil scent that you like! Simple, less complex scents might be a good choice for your initial experiments with mixing and understanding proportions.

Examples of interesting fragrance oils for beginners could be single notes or less complex blends, such as:

Jasmine Fragrance Oil
Strawberry (Fragrance Oil)
Clean Fabric (Fragrance Oil)

Or any other scent from the wide selection available that particularly interests you.

Have fun experimenting with your perfume making!

Answer 2

As of May 17, 2026, we have updated information regarding fixatives and perfume bases. Flora Fix is now confirmed for use at 0.2-2% to enhance floral notes and extend drydown. For significantly extended longevity, 12H Fix can be used at up to 5%, though it requires pre-dissolving in a solvent like LipidSoft Lite with heat (60-70°C) before adding to the final blend. Other specialized options include Musk Fix and Sugar Fix for different scent profiles.

Alternatively, for a simpler formulation process, you may use 8 Hours Fragrance Spray Base (Musk-Free). This is a ready-to-use base designed to extend scent duration by at least 50% without changing the original scent profile or requiring manual fixative blending. Always verify the specific Maximum Dose for your chosen fragrance oil, such as Rice Flower & Shea, to ensure safety and compliance with current usage standards.