Eau de What? - Demystifying Perfume Concentrations

This week, Karen is tackling a question she's asked all the time, especially by those transitioning from aromatherapy to natural perfumery: “What’s the deal with concentration levels for leave-on and rinse-off products?” It’s a topic surrounded by myths, often fueled by social media posts or 'how-to' guides, and the conflicting advice out there only adds to the confusion. That’s why, in this week’s episode, Karen will set the record straight and share everything you need to know about concentration, so you can step confidently into the world of natural perfumery.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• One of the biggest misconceptions around this topic is the idea that you can only use 1.5% for a leave-on product and 3% for a wash-off. Karen busts this myth and explains what numbers you should be aiming for.
• Many people think that blending a scent for a room product is different from formulating perfume, but this could not be more wrong. Karen explains why the process is the same, but also points out some differences.
• The key to getting the fragrance you want is understanding your materials, not hitting targets. Karen gives various examples of how different products are best served with different formulations.
• Safety regulations also play a part when deciding upon the concentration of your materials. Karen shares a brief overview of this topic and provides you with valuable resources so you can understand this area fully.

BEST MOMENTS

“Fragrance is fragrance, regardless of what medium you dilute it into.”

“It’s not about the amount of fragrance that you can use in each different product category, it’s about the materials that you use in the formulation.”

“In higher end products, you have a much higher fragrance load, because people expect more performance from a more expensive product. ”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Short Masterclasses

Spreadsheet Download

Studio Classes

Episode 16 - Navigating Safety Regulations

Episode 58 Understanding MOCRA

Getting Started Guide

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind

Website

ABOUT THE HOST

Fragrance expert, author, teacher and speaker; Karen Gilbert runs courses in the UK and online which demystify the secretive world of perfumery in a fun and interactive way.

Karen has inspired thousands of students to explore their olfactory sense and create their own personalised fragrances.

With extensive product development experience in both the commercial perfumery and the organic skincare industry, Karen is able to offer a unique insight into creating natural and mixed media fragrances for fine fragrance, room scents and skincare/bodycare products using commercial perfumery techniques.

Karen is also a certified meditation teacher and has a passion for helping people to create daily rituals that integrate scent with other modalities to shift state and increase your sense of wellbeing.

CONTACT DETAILS

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This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/