How to Make a Vanilla Scent Using Extract

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Co-authored by JK DeLapp

Last Updated: April 15, 2025 References

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Using Vanilla Extract as a Scent

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Creating Your Own Perfume

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Choosing New Scents

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Expert Interview

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Q&A

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Things You'll Need

Vanilla is a very popular scent for perfumes and fragrances, but some of those fragrances can end up costing a lot of money. There are easy ways to create your own vanilla fragrances using ingredients in your pantry. You can also purchase essential oils to mix with vanilla for a more unique scent, created by you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Vanilla Extract as a Scent

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1
Buy a bottle of vanilla. Organic vanilla extract has a potent vanilla scent, and most people use it for cooking and baking, among other things. If you don't already have a bottle of vanilla extract in your pantry, then you can purchase a small bottle at your local grocery store.
- Any size will work, but if you plan on using a lot of fragrance, the bigger bottle will come in handy.
2
Open the bottle of vanilla extract. Once you're home, you can unwrap the bottle of vanilla extract, being sure to take off the protective wrapper underneath the lid. Replace the lid and put your finger on the opening, completely covering it, and turn the bottle upside down. Flip the bottle upright again and you should have a dab of vanilla on your finger.
- Be careful not to spill! Vanilla extract pours a very thin liquid, so it's easy to waste if you tip it or pour too much.
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3
Place the vanilla on your body. Most perfume hot-spots are the wrists, neck and under your ears. Put a dab or drop of vanilla extract on both wrists and the sides of your neck, or wherever you desire.
- If your skin has a reaction to the vanilla, it could be that you're using a non-organic or synthetic vanilla with added ingredients.^{[1]
  X
  Research source} Stop using the product, or try using smaller amounts on different areas of the skin.
Using vanilla extract as perfume is a good quick-fix, but it doesn't last long. You'll have to re-apply frequently in order to keep the vanilla scent strong.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Creating Your Own Perfume

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1
Buy a spray bottle. You can buy any size spray bottle, or purchase multiple sizes. You can make a large bottle of perfume for your house, but you can also get a small spray bottle to keep in your purse.^{[2]
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- Make sure you get a spray cap where you push down, and not pull a trigger. These are much easier to apply perfume.
2
Buy a bottle of vanilla extract. You should usually purchase one large bottle, and organic vanilla tends to work the best. Getting a bottle of pure vanilla is important, because the perfume won't turn out well if the vanilla extract has sugar in it.^{[3]
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- If you're worried about the price, just remember: no matter how much you pay, it's going to be significantly less than the price of those expensive perfumes that everyone else buys!
3
Shop for essential oils. Different types of essential oils can be added to your vanilla perfume to create your own unique scent.^{[4]
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Expert Source

JK DeLapp
Perfumer and Fragrance Expert

Expert Interview} You can buy small bottles of essential oils, and try them out to decide what you like best.^{[5]
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Research source}
- Popular essential oils are rose, lavender, peppermint, chamomile and patchouli.^{[6]
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  Expert Source
  
  JK DeLapp
  Perfumer and Fragrance Expert
  
  Expert Interview}^{[7]
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  Research source}
4
Combine ingredients in spray bottle. Pour the essential oil of your choice into the spray bottle, and fill the remainder of the bottle's content with vanilla. If the spray bottle is large, then you can empty the entire essential oil bottle.^{[8]
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Research source} If the spray bottle is smaller, fill it under half-way, and then top it off with vanilla.
- Shake the spray bottle well before spritzing onto your skin or into the air. Some people spray the air in front of them and walk through it to use as a body-mist.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing New Scents

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You can choose between a spray bottle or just a perfume container. Spray bottles are easy to apply and can fit in a purse, but you can make a larger quantity of perfume in larger containers.
2
Buy essential oils. There are a variety of essential oils out there with multiple uses. According to aromatherapy, some scents have certain effects on the mind or body.^{[9]
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Research source} Having a lot of essential oils to choose from will come in handy for creating new fragrances.
- You may want to purchase a bottle of vanilla extract, too, if you want to try mixing vanilla as a scent. Other popular perfumes fragrances are jasmine, lavender and rose.
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Buy alcohol. Alcohol is used to preserve and combine the scents that you use.^{[10]
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Research source} You want to choose a mild alcohol without a lot of influence on the fragrances you select.
- Many people use vodka or rum for their homemade perfumes.^{[11]
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Mix two or three chosen oils in a bottle. You can choose from your essential oil selection which fragrances you'd like to use, but don't use more than three. Put 25-30 drops of the scent you'd like to stand out the most, while adding 12-20 drops of one or two other "base oils."^{[12]
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- It would be best to let these oils sit for several days to allow the fragrances to combine, but this is optional if you need a quick-fix.
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Add the alcohol to the oils. After your oils are mixed, add about four ounces of alcohol of your choosing. Shake the alcohol-and-oil mixture well to allow all the scents to mix and combine. You can either use the perfume right away, or allow it to sit for a few weeks to let the alcohol scent fade and the perfumes to combine.
- Sometimes fragrances change after several weeks. You may enjoy the scent right when you mix the products, but then discover that you don't enjoy it after a couple weeks. Alternatively, you may dislike a scent right away, only to discover the scents combined well after two weeks of sitting alone.^{[13]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Can I replace vanilla extract with lemon extract?

Community Answer

Yes, but you may have to alter some of the amounts as you go along if the consistency is wrong.

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Question

Can I use imitation vanilla extract?

Community Answer

Yes, that would be fine, but the scent will be a lot lighter than the real extract.

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Question

Is there a way to keep a scent in a dry bottle?

Community Answer

No, there is not really a way to preserve a scent in a dry bottle.

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