The Perfume Making Podcast11 Aug 2024

2+2=4 - Perfume Math Made Easy

Get your calculators, beakers and bottles ready because this week Karen is tackling the often talked about subject of perfume math, or more simply, the basic calculations involved in creating and scaling up perfume formulations. The idea of perfume math can fill most first timers with dread, especially when considering ratios, scaling up and concentration equations. But, Miss. Gilbert is here to give you the easiest math lesson of your life as she once and for all simplifies perfume math.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

You've got your materials measured out, you’ve made your accords, but now you want to scale up or reproduce that scent. This is the part of perfume making that can stump a lot of people. But, Karen has created a spreadsheet to help you. She breaks down what her spreadsheet can do and how to use it.
Understanding percentages is essential for creating safe and consistent perfumes. But it’s easy to become stuck when you want your perfume to smell great but also add up to 100%. Karen shares her insights on how to tackle this problem.
Getting the ratio of your materials correct is key to making sure your scents blend well, but it can be a daunting aspect to learn. Karen shares some of the many tools to help you understand ratios.
Complying with regulations and allergy needs requires complex calculations. But, as Karen explains, you might be worrying about something that isn’t essential to your production scale.

BEST MOMENTS

“There’s a misconception that you have to be a math genius to make perfume.”

“With practice, focus and the right tools you can master these skills without becoming a math expert.”

“A well balanced ratio ensures that fragrance components work together harmoniously.”

EPISODE LINKS

Perfume Calculations Spreadsheet - Use Coupon Code to get this for free: PODCAST-FS

Episode on Diluting

Episode on Jean Carles

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Getting Started Guide

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind

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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