Using Virgin Coconut Oil as a Substitute for Grain Alcohol as Base Ingredient in Making Essential Oil Perfume

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Science Investigatory Project                                                                                                                    Research Paper

“Using Virgin Coconut Oil as a Substitute for Grain Alcohol as Base Ingredient in Making Essential Oil Perfume”

Proponents-Group #5

Ged Daniel R. Gido

Jelyde Denmark C. Oller

Vinz Angelo M. Carriaga

Naeef S. AlShobaiki

Grade 9-Pious

Subject Teacher:

 Mr. Gerardo L. Barrot

Date: November 27,2017

Phase I. The Proposal

I. Problem  

Most commercially produced perfumes are proved to be expensive. Perfume you can make yourself is free from synthetic chemicals and is fully customized to your personal taste. We had learned to make our own homemade perfumes, but most of the ingredients that are used are needed to be bought and its cost is almost the same as buying a regular one from a supermarket. So, how could we make our own perfume by utilizing the available resources in our environment and by replacing the expensive ingredients usually found in perfumes? The main question for this study is;

- Will the fragrance last as the commercially produced perfumes?

- How can it be economy wise?

II. Title: “Using Virgin Coconut Oil as a Substitute for Grain Alcohol as Base Ingredient in Making Essential Oil Perfume”

Grain Alcohol is an ingredient usually used as the base in making perfumes. It is not commercially available throughout the Philippines and here in Saudi Arabia. Although it is available, it is hard to find. An average man would not bother finding Grain Alcohol to make his own perfume. For this reason, we are embarking on this project of finding a commercially available substitute for Grain Alcohol and in this case we used Virgin Coconut Oil. Virgin Coconut Oils have a mild coconut scent and aroma, unlike grain alcohol that has completely no color, odor or smell. Virgin Coconut Oil can efficiently substitute Grain Alcohol because of its ability to enhance the smell of the essential oils. Its effects indicate that using Virgin Coconut Oil as base ingredient can save money.

III. Rationale

Perfumes were made to capture one's emotion. It builds a wonderful ambiance and if we were to make a perfume we would consider the price of making it. Creating a more affordable perfume is the main concern of the project. Before covering up unpleasant odors with homemade colognes, you need to consider the price and the effectiveness of the ingredients you are using. When talking about fragrance the difference of using Grain Alcohol and Virgin Coconut Oil. We consider the fact that Grain Alcohol has a loophole that allows "fragrance" to be a mix of potentially up to hundreds of chemicals to achieve the right smell. On the other hand, Virgin Coconut Oil has much smaller molecules than other carrier oils, almost as small as the molecules of essential oil, so coconut oil penetrates very easily into the skin, allowing the essential oil to be readily absorbed. Even though, Grain Alcohol involves a series of chemicals to be mixed with it to produce the fragrant smell, it is proven to last longer than using Virgin Coconut Oil as base product, but, using Virgin Coconut Oil have a lot of benefits. Using Virgin Coconut Oil can help one improving the texture of your skin, hair, and nails due to its moisturizing and smoothing effects that also promote elasticity. When we consider the price of using Grain Alcohol and Virgin Coconut Oil the gap is large. A 750 mL bottle of 190 proof Grain Alcohol costs 71.25 SR while a 750 mL bottle of Virgin Coconut Oil costs ranges about 30.00-40.00 SR. In this Investigatory Project we considered making our own Virgin Coconut Oil. In order to produce ¼ cup of Virgin Coconut Oil, you need 3 coconut which in all cost 7.50 SR and 1 bottle of water which cost 0.50 SR.

Making your homemade perfume needs patience because it is time consuming. When you use Grain Alcohol the whole procedure takes only about 2-3 days. The process were you let the solution mix with the base ingredient is the reason why making it takes days, but, when you use Virgin Coconut Oil it takes about 1-2 weeks as the fragrance would not easily be diluted with the liquid mixture. Patience really is the key to achieve such a success!

We are embarking on a project in lessening the expenses of making your own perfume to be economy wise. Making your own perfume really requires time and effort but it does not require us to expend too much money. We can create our own fragrant smell by utilizing the natural products around us. A homemade perfume can have a lasting scent as long as we know what products are to use and how to make them. Perfumes do really capture one’s emotion and builds a wonderful ambiance. We can start making perfumes by saving money and at the same time achieving the right quality.

IV. Materials

        The best ingredients for making your own homemade perfume that are used in this product are natural. These are as follows:

• Fruit Peels: Orange, Lemon, Citrus
• (Optional) Flower Petals: Rose, Sampaguita, Chrysanthemum
• 2tbsp. Distilled Water
• 1tbsp. Virgin Coconut Oil
• 1 Spray bottle
• 2 Glass Jar with cover
• 1 Knife or Peeler
• 1 Cheese Cloth
• 2 Bowls
• 1 Funnel
• 1 Tablespoon
• 1 Teaspoon
• 3 Coconuts for ¼ cup Virgin Coconut Oil
• 2tbsp jojoba, almond or grape seed Oil.
• 6tbsp 100- to 190-proof alcohol
• 2.5tbsp bottled (not tap) water

The independent variables, the variable that is changed or controlled in the scientific experiment to test the effects on the dependent variables are: The Rose petals and the Lemon peels. The dependent variable being tested and measured in the scientific experiment are: Amount of Virgin Coconut Oil and Grain Alcohol.

V. Procedure

        There will be two setups in making the perfume. These are as follows:

The first procedure to be undertaken is for the making of the perfume with Grain Alcohol.

• The following steps are undertaken to make the Alcohol based perfume. The instructions are to be followed carefully.

1. To make the essential oil, strip the available fruit peels. The peels should be removed in small sizes and you should only remove the zest not the white.

2. Put the fruit peels in your glass jar along with Virgin Coconut Oil.

3. (Optional) Pound the flower petals along with Virgin Coconut Oil.

4. Put in a glass jar along with the oil.

5. Leave the covered glass jars in your cabinet for 2-3 weeks. If the color had already fused to its max you could take the jar out

6. After 2-3 weeks, get your bowl and place the cheese cloth on the mouth of the jar and pour the contents of your glass jars to separate the oil from solid parts into the bowls.

7. Transfer the solid parts into the cheese cloth and squeeze tightly into a separate container.

8. Pour 2tbsp carrier oil into a separate container.

9. Add your essential oils. The ideal ratio is 20% base, 50% middle, and 30% top.

10. Add the alcohol.

11. Allow the perfume to sit for at least 48 hours. Shut the lid and allow the perfume to cure for at least 48 hours. You can leave it for up to 6 weeks, which is when its scent will be at its strongest.

12. Add 2tbsp bottled water and shake the bottle vigorously for 1 minute.

• The following steps are undertaken to prepare the coconut extract. The instructions are to be followed carefully.

1. Crack open the coconuts and separate the coconut water.

2. Scrape the coconuts and place the shredded parts in another container.

3. Place 3 cups of water in the shredded coconut.

4. Separate the liquid parts to the shredded coconut.

5. After doing so, transfer the coconut extract to a pan and heat it until the residue and water had separated.

6. Turn down the flame before the residue becomes brown in color.

7. Separate the residue from the oil and transfer the extract to a container.