Blending a perfume essence means mixing its compounds with a carrier (oil) in order to release the scents of the perfume components and soften the harshness of those raw materials. In our case, the ratio is 5% carrier oil (colorless jojoba oil or sweet almond oil) and 95% essence (base oil). Avocado oil and apricot kernel oil are also relaxing and pleasurable.

Diluting or cutting a perfume essence is adding more than what is needed to release the scents of the perfume components and soften the harsh of the raw materials. An example of low quality and therefore cheap carrier oils are Isopropyl myristate (IPM) and Dipropylene Glycol (DPG). They are used to dilute aromas in the opposite ratio (95% carrier oil and 5% base oil). No need to say that the outcome is very cheap.

The best way to differentiate a perfume essence blended with the right amount and good quality carrier oil from one diluted with too much and low quality carrier oil is to apply both types on your skin, and watch them dry: the good perfume essence will blend onto your natural body oil and disappear almost immediately without leaving a greasy feel, while the bad perfume essence will stay for a while, even leak on your skin, not disappearing until you rub it away. As a result, your skin is left feeling greasy.

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