This week on the show Karen is talking about Perfumer's Alcohol. What exactly is perfumer’s alcohol? Why do we use it? What are the different types? Are there any substitute materials? And what is the best practice for using it? Karen answers all these questions and more to help you continue to grow in your perfume-making journey.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Perfumer's alcohol is denatured and obtained by fermenting sugar starch. To buy it in the UK, you need a license from HMRC.
• When using alcohol for your perfumes it has to be a high-proof, at least 190 proof so that it can dissolve various materials.
• Denatured alcohol is simply alcohol that has other materials added to it to stop people from drinking it.
• The majority of perfume materials blend really well with alcohol and allow their natural scents to shine, that is why most people use it.

 

BEST MOMENTS

“Don’t use methanol. Any alcohol that contains methanol is poisonous.”

“If you’re not sure about the alcohol you are using, go to the supplier and ask.”

“Alcohol does not have to be denatured for perfume making, but it has to be odourless.”

 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Getting Started Guide: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/podcast-getting-started-guide    

Artisan Perfumery Mastermind: https://karengilbert.info/artisan-perfumery-mastermind

Website: https://www.karengilbert.co.uk/

Make a Perfume Oil Masterclass: https://karengilbert.info/make-a-perfume-oil-masterclass

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.

 

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