Everything to Know About Perfumers Alcohol

What is "Perfume Alcohol"?

Perfume alcohol is any volatile carrying agent used to topically deliver essential oils or other aromatic compounds onto the skin.  Alcohol's high evaporative rate (volatility) and superior solvent properties make it a preferred carrying agent for perfumers. 

Will any alcohol work for perfume?

Well, no, not all alcohols are created equally.  The term "alcohol" on a package or online listing doesn't alone guarantee purity of recipe, strength, or safety for skin application.  Perfumers should always read the full description of the alcohol product to understand what is, or is not, blended into the alcohol.  Look for words below to understand more about the perfumers alcohol base you are about to buy.

  • ABV - Alcohol by Volume, represented as a percentage. 
  • 200 Proof - A term representing 100% ABV and 0% water.     
  • Ethyl Alcohol - Also goes by "Ethanol", this is the alcohol generally regarded as the safest for extended contact with the skin.  Ethyl alcohol should make up the majority (>70%) of most all perfume and cologne recipe components.
  • CDA 12A - Completely Denatured Alcohol formula 12A containing the additives methanol and isopropyl alcohol.
  • Denatured - A term representing the addition of additives to the alcohol, primary to inhibit consumption.
  • SD 40B - Specially Denatured Alcohol formula 40b containing the additives Tert-Butyl Alcohol and Denatonium Benzoate.
  • SDA 3C - Specially Denatured Alcohol formula 3C containing the additive isopropyl alcohol.
  • Undenatured - Also "non-denatured", this term means "no additives" or just pure ethyl alcohol.

Read More: Understanding Perfumers Alcohol Terms and Vocabulary.

woman evaluating perfumer's alcohol labels for ingredients and additives

What makes a good perfumers alcohol?

Never use methanol or isopropyl alcohol for making perfume.  A good perfumers alcohol will be a base of ethyl alcohol and exhibit the following properties and characteristics:

Miscibility

  • Miscibility refers to two or more substances’ ability to completely mix together to create a homogenous mixture.
  • Ethyl alcohol and SD40b denatured alcohol are highly miscible with fragrance oils and water.
  • Adding water to 200 proof perfumers alcohol will create a solution with a new ABV.  Fragrance oils that are miscible at 200 proof (100%ABV) may not be as miscible at a lower proof, which can result in foggy perfume or settling of the fragrance oil at the bottom of the perfume.

Volatility

  • Volatility refers to a substance’s ability to vaporize. 
  • Ethyl alcohol found in food grade ethanol or SD40b denatured alcohol are both naturally volatile (evaporates easily, but not instantly). 
  • Volatility changes as the concentration of alcohol decreases from added water or fragrance oils.

Shelf Life

  • Perfumers alcohol, before being diluted with fragrance oils, does not expire. 
  • Adding fragrance oils or water to your perfume may alter the shelf life of your final perfume recipe, every fragrance oil is different there is no stead fast rule to offer here other than be aware a change may occur.
  • Store unused perfumers alcohol at full strength or blended with water in the original bottle it was shipped in.
  • Store finished perfume in a cool dark place, out of direct sun light, away from children and pets, and always with the cap tightly sealed.
  • Atomizers and misters may not be as air tight as they look, they may be more susceptible to loss due to temperature changes of the liquid. 

Base Aroma

  • Perfumers alcohol base should have a "sensation" of alcohol, but should not "smell" of anything specific.
  • Food grade alcohols made from different raw ingredient bases have different aromas, even at 200 proof, and perfumers should understand the differences presented by each before buying discount organic cane alcohol.  What to do: Read the descriptive profiles of alcohol distilled from Cane, Grape, Corn, & Wheat here.
  • Denaturants, depending on their source or specific origins, may contribute their own aroma/odor to the base alcohol and should be considered.

Does Certified Organic matter for Perfume?

Finally, there are options and choices for perfumers that are best for our body and planet.  Products offered as organic must meet strict quality and chain of custody requirements, however not everyone requires certified organic ingredients for their final product.  If you are offering an organic perfume, cologne, or body product, sourcing USDA certified organic alcohol is key to maintaining your product's complete organic certification.  If a product is labeled as denatured, it is unlikely to be granted USDA certified status.

Denatured vs Pure Alcohol for Perfumers

All products labeled "perfumers alcohol" for sale online should contain only "ethyl alcohol" (ethanol).  Some products available online, even if listed as "200 Proof Perfumers Alcohol" may still contain additives or "denaturants". 

If denaturants are toxic, why use them at all?

Because of the reduced cost of denatured ethyl alcohol vs tax-paid undenatured ethyl alcohol, denatured blends like SDA40b are used throughout the commercial perfume making industry.  

Many perfumers have grown accustomed to using denatured alcohol for their perfume recipes, or unaware that a better, more pure alternative exists in food grade ethyl alcohol.

Does Food Grade Ethanol make for a good Perfumers Alcohol?

Yes.  Food Grade Ethanol refers to pure ethyl alcohol, identical to what's used in SD40b denatured alcohol blends but devoid of any harmful additives. It's completely safe for consumption and topical use, making it the superior choice for creating perfumes.

    About Food Grade Ethanol, for Perfumers.

    Pure ethyl alcohol is incredibly versatile, learn more about this amazing molecule that perfect for perfume and so much more.

    Learn More

    Perfumers Alcohol Online Suppliers - 2024

    Evaluating perfumers alcohol suppliers and prices, 2024.

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    How to buy pure Perfumers Alcohol from CulinarySolvent.com

    Click the "Buy" link in the top menu or view our step-by-step guide on how to buy perfumers alcohol online.

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    Perfumers Alcohol FAQs

    Due to its neutral profile, coupled with clean evaporative properties and zero toxic additives, we recommend Culinary Solvent 200 Proof (100% ABV) Food Grade Alcohol for your next perfume making project.

    Rubbing alcohol, which uses isopropyl alcohol, is not suitable for perfumery. It has a strong smell and can be harsh on the skin. Additionally, the added water content in rubbing alcohol can interfere with the perfumes. Therefore, it is advised to avoid using rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol in perfumery.

    Everclear, a brand of high-proof grain alcohol, can be used in perfumery as a substitute for Trade Specific Denatured Alcohol (TSDA), especially for beginners who may have difficulty obtaining TSDA. However, vodka, with its lower alcohol content (typically around 40%), is not suitable for perfumery as it does not meet the desired high-proof requirement of 95%+ alcohol content.

    Witch hazel is not a suitable substitute for alcohol in perfume making, despite some information found online suggesting otherwise. It is advised to ignore such information entirely. As for methanol, it is a different alcohol altogether and should never be considered for use in perfumes due to its extreme toxicity and high skin absorption rate.

    When it comes to perfumery, the distinction between grain alcohol and organic grain alcohol is not significant. What matters is that the alcohol used is cosmetics grade and not diluted. Whether the alcohol is derived from fermented grains or organically grown source material does not affect its suitability for perfumery.

    Denatured alcohol is considered unfit for human consumption due to the addition of poison or bad tasting chemicals. There are various denaturants used, so it is not recommended to use something labeled solely as 'denatured alcohol' as it may contain toxic substances. However, cosmetic grade Trade Specific Denatured Alcohol (TSDA), specifically SD-40b, is widely used and recommended for perfumery.