I love to have my hair smelling really good, yet I avoid synthetic fragrance like the plague. Synthetic fragrance has extremely toxic components and many undisclosed/trade-secret ingredients. You can read a bit about fragrance in this article on The Environmental Working Group. Avoiding synthetic fragrance is very important, yet having your hair smell nice is really great too!
When making your own simple hair care products, you can use pure essential oils to add a beautiful scent. Here’s what I do to have naturally fragrant curls.
I usually add a bit of natural oil which contains an essential oil blend to my hair every night before putting my hair into four braids or four twists before going to sleep. I first spritz my hair lightly with water and/or aloe vera for moisture, then apply a quarter sized amount of a natural oil to each section before braiding or twisting each section. I apply oil at night so that it is absorbed into my hair by morning and not oily. In the morning I add five drops of that same oil with three drops of essential oil in my hand and lightly coat my hair for a stronger beautiful fragrance.
Two of my favorite essential oils to combine are sweet orange and vanilla absolute. I use two drops of sweet orange and one drop of vanilla with five drops of a carrier oil.
If your not big on DIY products, another easy way to have naturally fragrant hair is to use a product like 100% Pure. 100% Pure uses only essential oils and essential oil absolutes to create some of the most amazing scents for their products. I LOVE using their body cream as a hair lotion because it moisturizes hair like no other and smells so good! Their Vanilla Bean Nourishing Body Cream is one of my all time favorites. I’ve enjoyed this body lotion for my hair because it only has moisturizing properties with no synthetic ingredients which can coats the hair and prohibit moisture from entering the hair strands properly. I think vanilla will always be one of my favorite scents. If you’re interested in learning how to make your own natural perfume using the alcohol based method, check out this article.
What’s your favorite scent in hair care?
(Image by orlandomx.com)
Lana says
I am totally with you on synthetic fragrances. The perfume I used to use, made by Jo Malone, has an EWG toxicity rating of 8! Yikes! Fortunately, I’ve found a perfumer on Etsy who is awesome and sweet and makes a ton of different perfumes, all from natural extracts and essential oils (she makes solid perfumes and perfume oils). Her shop is called Pixxxie Pie and Posie. I don’t work for her or anything, I’m just a super happy customer and Etsy lover! Lol.
Also, I totally agree about the 100 percent pure body cream, it’s the best hair styler I’ve used! And aloe is the best hair refresher I’ve used too (water just makes my hair frizzy). Sadly, though, the French Lavender scent has Limonene and Linalool in it, which are on your beauty no-no’s list. The Vanilla scent, however, doesn’t have those things.
Thank you for this post, this seems like an easy way to make a hair fragrance or add some nice fragrance to the new wonderful
oils and things I’m already using on my hair 🙂 For some reason my herbal shampoo left my hair smelling a bit like curry…lol!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Lana,
Thanks for sharing the natural perfume from the Etsy seller! I’m looking forward to looking her shop up. You had me laughing about your hair cleanser smelling like curry though. I think you had mentioned in another comment that you had used fenugreek as your mucilage herb and that herb would give it that spicey smell. Maybe next time use marshmallow root. It won’t have that smell. Thanks for your comment and I look forward to our next convo!
Best,
Dawn Michelle
ThePixie says
Vanilla is such a wonderful smell! And combined with orange – yes I can definitely see the appeal there.
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks for your comment The Pixie! Vanilla and orange are incredible together. Have a beautiful day!
Sarah says
Hi Dawn!
Have you tried any of 100% Pure’s new conditioners? I have been using their Honey & Virgin Coconut Restorative conditioner (http://www.100percentpure.com/Honey-Virgin-Coconut-Restorative-Conditioner-p/1hcchvcr8oz.htm) as a leave-in/styler for a few months now, and I find it super moisturizing with beautifully safe and natural ingredients! The scent of their coconut conditioner is also divine.
Thanks for all of your articles!
-Sarah
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sarah,
I LOVE 100% Pure but haven’t tried their shampoo or conditioner. I’m currently only using the skin and hair care that I am formulating for my product line. I’m glad that you’ve found something that works so well for you and thanks so much for sharing!
Enjoy your weekend!
miwa says
I’m thinking of infusing evoo or coconut oil with Vanilla. Would the Vanilla scent cover the scent of evoo? Would it smell great with coconut oil? could Vanilla be used in drawers to give clothes a nice scent?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Miwa,
Vanilla infused in coconut oil would be divine! You can learn how to infuse oils here. I’ve never tried putting vanilla in drawers before yet it sounds really nice.
Enjoy your weekend!
rachael says
when you say “natural oil” what does that mean? I have olive oil and coconut oil on hand but they kind of weigh down my hair
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Rachael, I refer to “natural oils” and carrier oils interchangeably. If coconut and olive oil are extremely heavy on your hair maybe try a lighter oil such as jojoba oil. With this tip you are simply adding a few drops of a carrier oil with the essential oil to add fragrance to all of your hair. Hope this helps <3
Honeytreebee says
I like cinnamon and sandlewood. I also like patchouli or sweet basil alone.
Dawn Michelle says
I enjoy those combinations as well Honeytreebee! I also like patchouli and sweet orange.
TRINA says
vanilla and ginger are nice too. I also like sandlewood and orange blossom.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Trina, Both of those essential oil mixes sound incredible!
Koiled Expressions says
I love Jasmine essential oil! I have others like lavender and peppermint but I find myself using Jasmine the most.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Koiled Expressions,
Jasmine essential oil sounds divine!!! Thanks for sharing this!
Meghan says
You are very beautiful
Dawn Michelle says
Thank you so much Meghan! I hope that you are having a beautiful day!
Bridget Perrin says
Herbivore hair perfumes are natural and incredible. I’m addicted to the Apricot and also the Coconut/Vanilla texturizing Spray. https://www.herbivorebotanicals.com
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Bridget,
Thanks for sharing! I hope you’re having a great weekend!
Ann says
Hey, how did find Jo Malone fragrance’s EWG score? I didn’t find it on the EWG official website, and when I googled it, I stumbled on your comment. Really trying not to have to let go of using it…
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Ann,
This article is much older and I’ve noticed that the EWG has updated their site many times over the years. In general perfume fragrances have many toxic chemicals which they do not disclose. You can do research on fragrance alone and find why it is a toxic ingredient.