Guest guest Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 At 09:21 PM 10/16/2005, you wrote: >Dear Anya, >I have been reading about all the varieties of alcohol in perfumery. I >want to know from your experience do you find one better than the other >for tincturing, colognes, perfumes? I moved recently and am now happily >in an environment contusive for tincturing.(yeah) I find you an expert at >tincturing and wanted to know which form of alcohol do you prefer for >tincturing? Hi Lesle I was hoping others would jump in with their alcohol expertise. Mine is limited. I use the same alcohol for tincturing, colognes and perfumes. I am considering using cheaper 151 proof vodka from the liquor store for tincturing strong essences, to save money. I will be experimenting with this over the winter. I want to make sure that the tincture doesn't have so much water as to turn the blend cloudy, or that I have to do double work to remove the cloudiness. >I am also intrigued by making perfumes with alcohol and the need to add >anywhere from 10-150 drops of H2O to an alcohol based perfume blend. The >information that I have says the amount of water you use depends on if you >are making a perfume (less water) a cologne (more water) (10 drops to 150 >drops respectively) because of the water content in the alcohol more in a >vodka with 40- 70% alcohol content. Calling those who add water to their blends == Lesle needs help here! I don't add water, so I don't know. >I believe I read the grain alcohol (everclear is about a 75% alcohol >varying state to state....a pharm grade alcohol has no water content??? >and grape spirits superior to grain alcohol?? With the variation of water >per type of alcohol does this effect the perfume? I have up until this >time only worked with an oil base....In the past I made air fresheners for >friends using or I believe misusing the alcohol. It was fine my friends >were happy but I think I used proportionally too much alcohol and wasted >it a bit :-( ! Not to make that mistake again I hope!!!! I don't use grape. Too fruity for me. Grain girl here. Don't use dehydrated alcohol -- you do need some water in there, and I believe some chemical is added to dehydrate the alcohol. Like I said, not an alcohol expert here. Anya http://.com The premier site on the Web to discover the beauty of Natural Perfume " The Age of the Foodie is passé. It is now the Age of the Scentie. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 At 09:21 PM 10/16/2005, you wrote: >Dear Anya, >I have been reading about all the varieties of alcohol in perfumery. I >want to know from your experience do you find one better than the other >for tincturing, colognes, perfumes? I moved recently and am now happily >in an environment contusive for tincturing.(yeah) I find you an expert at >tincturing and wanted to know which form of alcohol do you prefer for >tincturing? Hi Lesle I was hoping others would jump in with their alcohol expertise. Mine is limited. I use the same alcohol for tincturing, colognes and perfumes. I am considering using cheaper 151 proof vodka from the liquor store for tincturing strong essences, to save money. I will be experimenting with this over the winter. I want to make sure that the tincture doesn't have so much water as to turn the blend cloudy, or that I have to do double work to remove the cloudiness. >I am also intrigued by making perfumes with alcohol and the need to add >anywhere from 10-150 drops of H2O to an alcohol based perfume blend. The >information that I have says the amount of water you use depends on if you >are making a perfume (less water) a cologne (more water) (10 drops to 150 >drops respectively) because of the water content in the alcohol more in a >vodka with 40- 70% alcohol content. Calling those who add water to their blends == Lesle needs help here! I don't add water, so I don't know. >I believe I read the grain alcohol (everclear is about a 75% alcohol >varying state to state....a pharm grade alcohol has no water content??? >and grape spirits superior to grain alcohol?? With the variation of water >per type of alcohol does this effect the perfume? I have up until this >time only worked with an oil base....In the past I made air fresheners for >friends using or I believe misusing the alcohol. It was fine my friends >were happy but I think I used proportionally too much alcohol and wasted >it a bit :-( ! Not to make that mistake again I hope!!!! I don't use grape. Too fruity for me. Grain girl here. Don't use dehydrated alcohol -- you do need some water in there, and I believe some chemical is added to dehydrate the alcohol. Like I said, not an alcohol expert here. Anya http://.com The premier site on the Web to discover the beauty of Natural Perfume " The Age of the Foodie is passé. It is now the Age of the Scentie. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Anya wrote: > > Don't use dehydrated > alcohol -- you do need some water in there, and I believe some chemical is > added to dehydrate the alcohol. Like I said, not an alcohol expert here. 95% ethanol and 5% water form a solution where it's no longer possible to distill the water out as it evaporates along with the ethanol. The usual method of dehydrating ethanol involves treating it with benzene, and while the end product is theoretically pure, there's supposedly a good chance some benzene traces will remain, and that stuff is poisonous and carcinogenic. There's another method of dehydrating ethanol that (IIRC) produces a safer end product.. but I gather it's more expensive and not generally used. (It's been a while since I read up on this. Memory fuzzy.) You don't really NEED the 5% water for anything, but 95% ethanol is strong enough to dissolve anything that dissolves in alcohol - hell, you can strip paint with it - as well as being safer and easier to obtain. -Xplo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Anya wrote: > > Don't use dehydrated > alcohol -- you do need some water in there, and I believe some chemical is > added to dehydrate the alcohol. Like I said, not an alcohol expert here. 95% ethanol and 5% water form a solution where it's no longer possible to distill the water out as it evaporates along with the ethanol. The usual method of dehydrating ethanol involves treating it with benzene, and while the end product is theoretically pure, there's supposedly a good chance some benzene traces will remain, and that stuff is poisonous and carcinogenic. There's another method of dehydrating ethanol that (IIRC) produces a safer end product.. but I gather it's more expensive and not generally used. (It's been a while since I read up on this. Memory fuzzy.) You don't really NEED the 5% water for anything, but 95% ethanol is strong enough to dissolve anything that dissolves in alcohol - hell, you can strip paint with it - as well as being safer and easier to obtain. -Xplo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I'd be interested in hearing some ideas, as well. I tried using alcohol, but all I could get locally was 150 proof vodka. So I haven't even tried using it in a perfume yet. I tinctured a bunch of items - oh must be almost a year ago now, but because it's only 150 proof I haven't used them in a perfume yet. I heard that when some eo's are added, it would become cloudy due to the amount of water present. I should probably experiment with them - they've been in my basement for several months now, being completely ignored while I concentrate on oil perfumes. Hmmm, I'm very curious now to see what they're like \ Jody in NS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 On 19/10/05, Jody Pass <jody_pass@...> wrote: > > I'd be interested in hearing some ideas, as well. I tried using > alcohol, but all I could get locally was 150 proof vodka. > Hi all Now - this is my biggest perfume stumbling block - over in the UK the highest proof alcohol I can get is 40% vodka. Obviously useless for perfume So when I read about you all tincturing and perfuming like beavers I feel lost and left out - I really DO want to get started in making " real " perfume, and making my own tinctures to create luscious perfumes from, but how do I do that; without access to the start point material? I can make an aromatherapy " blend " - Wonderful! ;( so can anyone! - but I cant capture that blend, or add delicate, tinctured, nuances into a perfume. Yes, I know - solids, creams and lotions - but its so frustrating not to be able to make a " real " genuine, spray on - Perfume. Sorry for outburst! Just really frustrated.... LLx Please join me in sending our protective energy and love out to Anya - and all those who stand in the path or wake of Wilma... May natures wrath be soothed, before it hits land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Yes, I know - solids, creams and lotions - but its so frustrating not to be able to make a " real " genuine, spray on - Perfume. Sorry for outburst! Just really frustrated.... I really sympathize with you about your alcohol situation. Here in the states, I used to run across the border to a neighboring state to buy 190 proof everclear to make my perfumes because I couldn't get it in my state. At least I had that option. I've since found sources for hi-proof organic alcohol, but I'm just waiting for the day when my access to this will be restricted. I live in the USA and you know what kind of foolish ass's are running this country. I will say that, I only make alcohol based perfumes and people are always asking me if I make perfume oils! Well, I don't and I'm not good at them. But, you might consider making them. People will ask for them and you can take that mode of perfume making as far as you can imagine and beyond. As for tincturing, the oil-based equivalent is infusing. Alcohol prohibition is a real drag, and particularly ironic when one doesn't drink. Kind regards Terry dragonflyaromatics.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 28, 2005 Report Share Posted October 28, 2005 Hello! I have been reading through the archives to get a better fix on the process of tincturing but I have a couple of questions. Do you folks tincture all of your oils/resins, etc. before mixing accords? At what ratio do you tincture (drops of oil to alcohol)? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 1, 2005 Report Share Posted November 1, 2005 > hi > just so you know, there is a company in California that will deliver > 190 proof grain ethyl alcohol. it costs me 65 dollars for a gallon > including delivery,taxes etc etc. here's the link. > http://www.remet.com/alcohol_products.html > hope this helps > -linda > The Perfumer's Apprentice > www.perfumersapprentice.com > Thank you very much! I knew that many yeas ago when I was in college I used to see alcohol being delivered to the laboratory stockrooms. Rcently though I did a Google search and couldn't find a California supplier. Do I need to show a business license or any such to get them to sell to me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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