Mixing Instructions – Synesthesia Perfumery

Mixing Instructions, Storage & General tips

Measuring and mixing materials to make a perfume

Line up the materials you are going to use from left to right - to the right side of the mixing pot. (or vice versa if you are left handed).
Keep the materials you are not using immediately, well away from the mixing area so that no cross contamination is likely to be caused.
Keep the formula so that you can read it clearly and have a pencil handy to make notes.
Select the first material and move it closer to the mixing pot.
Verify the name, unscrew the cap and smell the contents. Are they correct?
Lift the tube clear of the liquid, squeeze the rubber bulb to eject air from the tube.Dip the tube back into the liquid and release the bulb gently allowing the material to be sucked up.
Holding the cap and rubber bulb move the end of the tube over the mixing pot. Keep the tube upright as the drop sizes will be smaller and more consistent in size. Try not to drop the material in the centre of the mixing pot to reduce splashing. Allowing the drop to run onto a cocktail stickand drop of the end will give smaller drops.
MAKE SURE THAT THE END OF THE GLASS TUBE NEVER COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE POT AND THAT SPLASHES DO NOT CONTAMINATE IT.
Gently squeezing the rubber bulb allow the first drop to form and wait for it to fall into the pot - first drop. Maintaining gentle pressure on the bulb allow the second , third drops, etc. to fall until the required number have been added. To add very small proportions you can upscale ie. making 1000 drops instead of 100. Alternatively use solutions by mixing 1 drop + 9 or even 99 of Zolvent before using).
Maintaining or slightly releasing pressure without allowing more drops to fall move the tube back to the bottle. Smell the bottle again and verify the name to make sure you have the right bottle.
If the bottle neck or cap thread is wet, wipe it clean with a new piece of tissue paper.
NEVER USE THE SAME PIECE OF TISSUE FOR MORE THAN ONE MATERIAL -THINK HARD BEFORE USING IT TWICE.
Screw the cap back in place so that it is airtight without overtightening.
Move the used bottle away from the mixing area to the back of the materials not yet used.
Place a tick against the quantity you have added - If you have added too much or adjusted the amount - write it NOW on the formula - so you can reproduce the same smell later.
Try to place the used bottles in order of use so that if you ever forget where you have got to then you can retrace your steps easily.
When all the materials have been added then then using a toothpick stir them until your are sure they are thoroughly mixed. Then stir for another 30 seconds to be sure for safety.
Ideally a sample you have made should be kept overnight before smelling. (I bet you don't though!) If you decide to keep this sample pour into a bottle and screw the lid on airtight and write a label.
On the label include: Name of the perfume/base. Code Number you have given it. (when you have made 100's how are you going to find just one sample named "Rose"?).

Who made it or batch/sample number if you really want to be professional Quantity made. The date.
Like so:

Rose Perfume
Ros00012-99
(Batch/Sample AB-123)
25 drops 4.4.2020

Please watch these 2 videos if you are ordering for the first time.

Unpacking kits and opening glass bottles.

Opening Aluminium Bottles

Storage and General Tips.

Please note that the rubber teats on our dropper bottles are designed for active use and on long term storage will decay. Keep in a cool room below 20C. If kept above 25C the decay may be very rapid especially with citrus, aldehyde, terpene and woody oils. Tips:

1. Visually check the rubber teats each month and swap out if there any signs of discoloration, hardening, softening or swelling.
2. Ideally replace the inner caps supplied while not in use.
3. If storing away between uses, use polypropylene boxes (PP “05” like Tupperware).
4. Keep only similar smells together in the same box eg. Citrus with Citrus, Spice with Spice etc, to help lessen the effects of contamination.
5. Why we use weight for ordering? Perfumer’s World Arabia uses weight, not volume (ml, cc, litres), as volume changes with temperature. We ship all over the world from Dubai where it can be +50C to even places like Canada where it can be -40C, a 90 degree Celcius difference, so volume changes a lot but the weight remains the same.
6. Counting drops is a very quick and easy way to experiment, test and prototype ideas and only uses tiny amounts of material. 1 drop from our glass droppers in the 5 and 12ml bottles is around 0.02 grams meaning that you get around 500 drops from 10 grams. However, when you upscale and make perfume commercially we urge you use only weight to measure your materials. 1ml or 1cc = 1 gram* 10 grams = about 1/3 oz, 10ml* 1 oz. = 28.4 grams 1 lb. = 454 grams
Note: Actually 1 gram of most oils and materials is slightly more than 1ml that’s why they float on water. There are a few exceptions like heavy solvents such as BB, BA, DPG, DEP. The exact calculation is determined by the density/specific gravity. (Specific Gravity = Weight / Volume at 25*C)