Understanding Alcohol for Perfume

Regarding your question about using alcohol to mix with perfume oil, specifically Ethanol 99% and Proof 200:

• Ethanol 99% vs. Proof 200: For ethyl alcohol (ethanol), 200 Proof is equivalent to 100% alcohol by volume. Therefore, Ethanol 99% and 200 Proof alcohol are essentially the same in terms of being very high-purity ethyl alcohol, with 200 Proof being slightly higher purity (closer to 100%).

• Which gives the best fragrance quality? To achieve the best fragrance quality when mixing with perfume oil, it is recommended to use a high-purity, low-odor ethyl alcohol. This type of alcohol evaporates cleanly and does not have its own strong smell that could interfere with the delicate notes of the perfume oil.

  Based on the product information:

  • Ethyl Alcohol (99.9% , 200 Proof, Research/Perfumer Grade) is described as having a "very mild smell (low odor)" and high purity (99.75-99.99%). This makes it excellent for use as a perfume base as it minimizes interference with the fragrance.
  • Ethyl Alcohol (96% , Perfumer Grade, Low-Odor) is also described as having a "mild odor" and being suitable for mixing perfumes. It offers a good balance of quality and economy.

  For the absolute best quality where preserving the true scent of the perfume oil is paramount, the Ethyl Alcohol (99.9% , 200 Proof) is generally preferred due to its higher purity and very low odor.

• Which is the mildest alcohol? In the context of perfumery, "mildest" often refers to the alcohol that has the least impact on the fragrance itself, meaning it has very little to no inherent odor and evaporates cleanly. The Ethyl Alcohol (99.9% , 200 Proof) fits this description best due to its high purity and "very mild smell". While Ethyl Alcohol 96% is also low-odor and suitable, the 99.9% version is purer. Lower concentrations of alcohol contain more water and potentially other impurities that can affect fragrance quality.

In summary, both Ethyl Alcohol 96% and 99.9% (200 Proof) are suitable for mixing perfumes as they are low-odor. However, for the highest quality and least interference with the fragrance, the 99.9% (200 Proof) alcohol is the superior choice.