How to Make Perfume in Nigeria


For many Nigerians, perfumes are a must-have in their closets. People have differing reasons for using perfumes. Some use it so as to be fashionable, others so they can build on their self-esteem and confidence and some others, for attraction. Many people wonder if they can make their own perfume at home for themselves and even commercialize it for profits. The answer is yes. Not only can you make your own perfume, but you can also start with just a little capital.

When people visit perfume shops to get themselves a new bottle, they are often faced with the problem of deciding on what fragrance they love best. This is one of the many reasons why people start to think of making their own perfume based on their personal preference. A benefit of making your own perfume is that you can combine different essential oils to suit your taste and form your own unique perfume brand. This article provides you with information on how to make perfume in Nigeria; preparation and the needed ingredients.

How to Make Perfume in Nigeria

How to Make Perfume in Nigeria

Read on below:

Deciding on the aroma and combination

The first step in making your perfume is choosing the aroma of natural essential oils that you like most.

How to choose an Aroma

Take ordinary paper and cut into thin strips

On each piece of paper, write the name of the oil you are applying

Apply one drop of the oil to the paper

Inhale the fragrance of the oil and then read the name

You can bring the different fragrances to your nose by sniffing the papers together and then choose the precise combination that you like.

In simple terms, a perfume is liquid which consists of a mixture of the following substances:



Essential oils


Sterilized water

The profitability of making Perfume in Nigeria

Perfume business is highly profitable in Nigeria. To start a small scale perfume business, you can begin with a minimum of #40,000 as your start-up capital. This amount will also depend on the following factors namely:

  1. Location
  2. Clientele
  3. Vision for the business

Many people report profits ranging from thousands to millions in their perfume business. Your level of profitability is enhanced by the following factors:

Having the right contacts and customers who value quality perfumes

Using perfume products that are unique and of good quality: This way, you can always sell them to customers at good prices. Having perfumes with good products will make for quality and will build a good reputation for your business. This will help you recoup the funds you invested initially in the production of the perfumes.

Perfume production business in Nigeria is very lucrative because:

  1. You can buy the raw materials for extracting oils cheaply.
  2. There is always a demand for perfumes by those who use it often.
  3. You can sell your perfume at higher prices if you can supply quality perfume brands.

Small Scale Perfume Production

Required Material:

  1. Alcohol which could be ethanol or methanol.
  2. Base oil
  3. Essential oil such as Lavender, Patchouli, Jasmine, Rose, Lemongrass, Sandalwood, grapefruit, peppermint, spearmint, sage, tea tree, Wild Orange.
  4. Distilled water
  5. Dark-colored bottles

Step-by-Step Process of Production

  1. Pour base oil into a bottle or container.
  2. Pour the essential oils you have chosen in the proposed proportion into the bottle containing the base oil.
  3. Stir the two ingredients to obtain an even solution.

If the perfume you are making is on an alcohol base, then the concentration of the oil composition can be 20-30%. However, if it is an oil perfume, the essential oils have to be 10%, and a dry one can be prepared from beeswax in the proportion of 50/50.

  1. Add alcohol to the mixture (base oil and essential oil) and mix thoroughly
  2. Allow the mixture to settle for 2days or more to extract the scents
  3. After 2days or more, add distilled water to the resulting solution and shake properly
  4. Leave the perfume for two to three weeks in a dark place. This is to allow the perfume to mature
  5. After maturation, use filter paper to filter any sediment from the solution
  6. Pour the mixture into a bottle that has a cover.

Remember that after mixing perfumes with an alcohol base, you should let it infuse for at least three weeks in a dark dry place. Perfumes with an oil base, on the other hand, have a shorter infusing period – less than a week. Dry ones can be used immediately after preparing.

How to make Perfumes in Nigeria on a Commercial scale

Raw Materials/Ingredients needed for the production of perfumes

  1. Flower
  2. Grasses
  3. Spices
  4. Roots
  5. Resins
  6. Leaves
  7. Alcohol
  8. Fruits
  9. Sodium nitrite
  10. Isopropyl alcohol
  11. Benzene

Collection of the ingredients

You can get the raw ingredients required for making perfumes directly from the manufacturer. If you also have a garden or one near you, you can get the leaves and flowers yourself.


You can extract essential oils to be used for the production of perfumes through the processes of distillation or extraction.

Steam distillation

This involves passing steam through plant materials in order to extract its essential oils. After steam is passed through the plant, the essential oils turn into gas. It is then passed through tubes in its gas form. The essential oil is finally extracted by boiling the plants in water.

Solvent extraction

Solvent extraction involves the process of putting flowers and plants into large rotating containers and adding organic solvents to extract their liquids. Organic solvents include benzene or petroleum ether. This is poured over the flower and plant materials to extract the essential oil.

Creating perfume with your own hands is an interesting process. You have to be willing to experiment and explore. After the first successful experiment, you will be encouraged to repeat your success, and happy to discover even more new and unusual combinations of fragrances.

You can start by gifting your friends and relatives perfumes. This would help you save some money on gifts. From there, you can begin selling them.




One Response

  1. Bernard Florence

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