Alright, so today I’m spilling the beans on my latest fragrance adventure: “moody fig.” It was a wild ride, lemme tell ya.
The Idea Sparked
It all started with a fig. Yeah, a literal fig. I was at the farmer’s market, grabbed a basket, and that smell just hit me. Earthy, sweet, a little bit mysterious. I was like, “I gotta bottle this.”
Gathering the Goods
- Fig fragrance oil (obviously!)
- Sandalwood essential oil (for that woody depth)
- Bergamot essential oil (to brighten it up a touch)
- A tiny bit of black pepper essential oil (for a kick!)
- Perfumer’s alcohol (the base)
- Distilled water
- Bottles, beakers, droppers – the whole shebang
The Mixing Begins (and the Mistakes Were Made)
I started way too strong with the fig. I mean, it smelled like straight-up fig jam. Not what I was going for. So, I scaled back. Way back.
Then I added the sandalwood, thinking it would balance things out. Nope. Smelled like a grandpa’s closet. Too heavy.
Bergamot to the rescue! That citrusy brightness lifted it a bit, but it was still missing something.
The Secret Ingredient (or, How I Almost Ruined Everything)
I remembered reading somewhere that black pepper can add a subtle spiciness to fig fragrances. So I added a single drop. One. Single. Drop.
Big mistake. It smelled like someone dumped pepper spray into a fruit salad. I almost tossed the whole thing.
The Redemption (aka More Bergamot)
Desperate, I added more bergamot. Like, a lot more. It mellowed out the pepper (thankfully) and brought a bit of freshness back into the mix.
The Final Formula (Give or Take a Few Drops)
After a week of tweaking (and a few near-breakdowns), here’s what I ended up with:
- 15% Fig fragrance oil
- 8% Sandalwood essential oil
- 12% Bergamot essential oil
- 0.5% Black pepper essential oil (seriously, just a tiny bit)
- 64.5% Perfumer’s alcohol
I let it sit for about two weeks to mature, and BAM!
The Result: Moody Fig
It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damn good. It’s earthy and sweet, with a subtle warmth and a tiny bit of spice. It’s a bit mysterious, a little dark, but still inviting. I call it “moody fig” ’cause that’s exactly what it is.
Lessons Learned
- Start small. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away (easily).
- Don’t be afraid to experiment, but keep a notebook of what you’re doing.
- Patience is key. Let those scents mingle!
Anyway, that’s the story of “moody fig.” It was a rollercoaster, but I’m happy with how it turned out. Now, what scent should I try next…?
