Can you make perfume from vanilla in the kitchen cupboard? † Life and style

the hack
Can you make perfume from the kind of vanilla you keep in your kitchen? A bottle of extract, or even a simple vanilla pod?

The promise
Designer fragrances can be precious. So is it genius to make your own scent with vanilla essence or fresh vanilla pods?

The test
The first method requires a small little patience. Take a vanilla pod, chop it finely and add it to a jar with four tablespoons of a light carrier oil (such as sunflower or grapeseed oil). Leave it in a dark place to infuse for two weeks and then strain out the pieces. You should be left with a sweet-smelling oil to which you can add other essential oils, such as bergamot and cedarwood.

I kept mine single-noteed and opted for a glass rollerball instead of the recommended spray bottle. It smelled great, but the scent didn’t last long. On the next try, I went all in to see if pure vanilla extract—straight from the pantry—would work better. I applied that directly to my skin, but it smelled a bit bitter and evaporated quickly.

The verdict
As a perfume, it’s a no, simply because it doesn’t last long. Still, I used the rest of the oil blend as a scented bath oil – a nice win.