Fragrance Bases: What they are & how to use them
What are fragrance bases?
Fragrance bases are pre-blended aromatic building blocks made from a combination of aroma molecules and natural materials. They’re designed to be balanced, stable, and long-lasting, making them easier to work with than single raw materials.
Bases are not finished fragrances, but tools that help you build scent quickly, confidently, and consistently.
How to use fragrance bases
Fragrance bases are extremely versatile and can be used across many applications:
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Perfumery:
Use as a foundation, heart, or base layer, alone or combined with other bases and aroma molecules. -
Soaps & candles:
Many bases perform well in functional fragrance applications due to their stability and longer odour life. Always test in your specific formula. -
Diffusers & home fragrance:
Suitable for mist diffusers and other home fragrance formats when properly diluted. Start low and adjust as needed. -
Body & cosmetic products:
Some bases may be suitable at low levels depending on the product type (rinse-off vs leave-on). Always use appropriate dilution and testing.
Why work with bases?
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Faster formulation
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Built-in balance and structure
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Longer-lasting scent
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Easy to combine with each other
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Ideal for beginners and experienced makers alike
Because bases are already internally balanced, they can generally be combined more freely than individual raw materials, making experimentation simpler and more intuitive.
Tip: If you’re new to fragrance making, bases are one of the easiest places to start.
How much fragrance base should I use?
The amount of fragrance base to use depends on the product type, the base itself, and your desired strength. Always start low and adjust.
Soapmaking (cold or hot process)
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Typical range: 2–5% of total oil weight
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Start at: ~3%
Soap is a harsh environment (heat + high pH), so scent may fade during cure. Some bases perform better than others — testing is essential.
Candles
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Typical range: 6–10% of wax weight
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Start at: 6–8%
Performance depends on wax type and burn conditions. Test for both cold throw and hot throw.
Body & Cosmetic Products
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Rinse-off (soaps, cleansers): 0.5–2%
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Leave-on (creams, oils, balms): 0.2–1%
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Start at: the lowest end of the range
Always consider skin sensitivity and dilution. More fragrance does not equal better performance.
Diffusers & Home Fragrance
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Mist / ultrasonic diffusers:
A few drops per use (not percentage-based) -
Reed / liquid diffusers:
15–25% fragrance in a suitable carrier (application-specific)
Important notes
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These are general starting guidelines, not fixed rules
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Different bases vary in strength and composition
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Always test your final product before scaling
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Finished products must be assessed as a whole for suitability and compliance
Tip: If you can smell it clearly, you’re probably already using enough.