Fragrance Favors

tataylo2

I want to create a really unique wedding favor so I came up with the idea of concocting a personalized unisex fragrance for our guests using essential oils and a fragrance making kit. No swiping!

I am torn between that idea and the idea to give a miniature homemade duplication of our favorite designer fragrances. Me and my better half always gift fragrances no matter the occasion and of course we have our favorites. I would like to dress my perfume in a glass bottle with white top and embellished with ribbon, lace, and rhinestones; the groom's cologne would be in a glass bottle with black top and embellished with a mini bow tie. 

I've found numerous websites with kits, fragrance oils, and bottles that are very affordable. 

Is this project too ambitious for a DIY project? (time is not a factor. no ring yet...but soon!)

ivyrose13

This is a cute idea; however, I'm not sure if it is appropriate for a wedding favor. There are a lot of people that are very sensitive to fragrances, especially people with asthma and certain allergies. What if a bottle of fragrance is spilled? Or if several dozen people want to try it on at once? Also, it is my understanding that fragrances work by interacting with a person's body chemistry. A scent that smells fantastic on one person may not work so well on another. 

As I said before, it is a cute idea, but maybe more fitting for a girl's weekend or bridesmaid's tea? In terms of wedding favors, edible really is your best option. 

 

tataylo2

I really wanted to shy away from edible favors because my extended family hoards wedding favors! Lol. My cousin had personalized M&Ms in a decorative tin for her favors and no one ate them. They just added it to their collection. I really don't want to spend money on favors that will not be eaten and just left in storage to decompose. 

Mrs.B6302007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_fragrance-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:27Discussion:bf0ab643-c732-44c7-85d4-e5a2d9caf071Post:b8406acf-dc96-4c66-b283-2b34c27dfd83">Re: Fragrance Favors</a>:
[QUOTE]I really wanted to shy away from edible favors because my extended family hoards wedding favors! Lol. My cousin had personalized M&Ms in a decorative tin for her favors and no one ate them. They just added it to their collection. I really don't want to spend money on favors that will not be eaten and just left in storage to decompose. 
Posted by tataylo2[/QUOTE]

Well if they don't eat their chocolate that's their own loss.   I know I would never let chocolate go to waste. ;-)  No matter what favor you do, you can't control whether or not the guest uses it so I don't see why you should put your energy into worrying about that or letting it influence your decision.  You're not going to please everyone; I, for one, am one of those who would not appreciate scented favors because of allergies.  Your other option is just to skip the favors and save money. 

tataylo2

Well get this...I'm allergic to chocolate so if I chose an edible favor it wouldn't be chocolate. Why not? Because it doesn't represent me. Maybe I'll come up with another favor idea that reflects our personalities. 

frogurt814

I'm also not a fan of having a fragrance as your favor.  I can only imagine how terrible the room would end up smelling if everyone was spraying their fragrance all over.  It might smell good in small doses, but would probably be way too overwhelming once everyone started spraying it.

Ditto PPs about people with allergies, asthma, or other breathing problems.  And like they said, what smells great on one person can smell terrible on someone else.

I really think you should find a better way to spend your time/money. Sorry.

Mrs.B6302007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_fragrance-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:27Discussion:bf0ab643-c732-44c7-85d4-e5a2d9caf071Post:e503644f-56a5-49ac-8175-b62a01472b2d">Re: Fragrance Favors</a>:
[QUOTE]Well get this...I'm allergic to chocolate so if I chose an edible favor it wouldn't be chocolate. Why not? Because it doesn't represent me. Maybe I'll come up with another favor idea that reflects our personalities. 
Posted by tataylo2[/QUOTE]


Okay?
Maybe it's just the way I'm reading it but that sounded snippy.

frogurt814

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_fragrance-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:27Discussion:bf0ab643-c732-44c7-85d4-e5a2d9caf071Post:e503644f-56a5-49ac-8175-b62a01472b2d">Re: Fragrance Favors</a>:
[QUOTE]Well get this...I'm allergic to chocolate so if I chose an edible favor it wouldn't be chocolate. Why not? Because it doesn't represent me. Maybe I'll come up with another favor idea that reflects our personalities. 
Posted by tataylo2[/QUOTE]
There are plenty of foods that exist that are not chocolate.

I think people put way too much thought into favors and how they "represent us."  H and I gave chocolate covered pretzel sticks as favors.  We gave those because we thought they would be easy/cheap to make and it would be something our guests would enjoy.  We didn't sit around and agonize over a favor that would "represent" us because no one really cares.

tataylo2

[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Fragrance Favors : Okay? Maybe it's just the way I'm reading it but that sounded snippy.
Posted by Mrs.B6302007[/QUOTE]

<div>No, not snippy at all. </div>

kira&jake

I am very allergic to frangrances. I would probably be very uphappy at a wedding where a ton of guests were spritzing the favor into the air to test it out. I imagine it could turn into the frangrance counters at departments stores, with many people already wearing a frangrance to your wedding then adding the favor fragrance to the air. Not my cup of tea.

You could a number of other edible favors, it doesn't need to be chocolate. You could go with your favorite candy, or wine.

Mrs.B6302007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_fragrance-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:27Discussion:bf0ab643-c732-44c7-85d4-e5a2d9caf071Post:e1a98321-edaa-4358-9142-64a7d5391905">Re: Fragrance Favors</a>:
[QUOTE]No, not snippy at all. 
Posted by tataylo2[/QUOTE]

Sorry. =-)  The tone in "why not" could be taken either way since you had already said you were allergic so it was self-explanatory that you wouldn't use chocolate.  Got to love the lack of tone on the internet, right?  =-)

colstj

I think making your own fragrance would be fun, but not for a wedding favor. I lot of people have really bad allergies or reactions to perfumes and what not.  I would try to choose something that represents you and your FI without risking people breaking out with rashes or something.

tataylo2

Thanks all! I will take allergies and other issues into consideration and I'll likely try this on a smaller scale.

trix1223

I'll chime in on the issue of being sensitive to the number of people who have allergies/asthma and for whom a liberal amount of "fragrance" would send them on their way home.

But I want to address a different issue:  fragrance choices are very, very personal choices. What appeals to you and your FI, and "represents" you may not at all appeal to many of your guests.  I have one perfume that I wear.  One. 

So while you think that m&ms might go to waste (never in our house, but then again, my DH works for m&m/mars) I can promise you that much of your carefully made fragrances would be left behind and/or tossed at home.

I suggest that you rethink your favor.  But as frogurt said:  don't overthink it. Favors are probably the least important thing that need to "represent" you in a wedding.

geekybridetobe

How about, depending on what they like, giving fragrances to your bridesmaid as gifts?
Though, I would probably also give them something else with it, incase they personally don't like the scent.

mkrupar

My cousin's husband used to work for Hershey. mmmmmm

OP - I would maybe not even think about favors before you're even engaged. That's like the tiniest most unimportant detail. But edible favors are always delicious. I have a tricky nose and don't wear perfume most of the time so I would leave your special bottle behind.

Mrs.B6302007

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_fragrance-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:27Discussion:bf0ab643-c732-44c7-85d4-e5a2d9caf071Post:4cc5f35c-0b6b-4c52-9f6c-7f924f72a802">Re: Fragrance Favors</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Fragrance Favors : Okay, seriously, will you adopt me?
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]


Back off!  M&M lady is MINE!

kira&jake

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_fragrance-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:27Discussion:bf0ab643-c732-44c7-85d4-e5a2d9caf071Post:0b220c43-8f1c-448d-b074-8a5c594c2988">Re: Fragrance Favors</a>:
[QUOTE]My cousin's husband used to work for Hershey. mmmmmm <strong>OP - I would maybe not even think about favors before you're even engaged.</strong> That's like the tiniest most unimportant detail. But edible favors are always delicious. I have a tricky nose and don't wear perfume most of the time so I would leave your special bottle behind.
Posted by mkrupar[/QUOTE]
I totally missed this line the first time I read the post. OP, I would definitely hold off on the favors until you have most of the other aspects of the wedding figured out.

trix1223

Mrs.B and stage:  one of the incredible benefits to DH working for Mars is abundance of chocolaty goodness in our house.  We have a very large basket of products in the kitchen, and all of our friends know they can just dive in.

When our kids were school age, and teen age, our kitchen basket was a very popular perk for their friends. 

tldh

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_favors_fragrance-favors?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:27Discussion:bf0ab643-c732-44c7-85d4-e5a2d9caf071Post:1d429674-1e3c-4018-8cb1-76933633575c">Re: Fragrance Favors</a>:
[QUOTE]Mrs.B and stage:  one of the incredible benefits to DH working for Mars is abundance of chocolaty goodness in our house.  We have a very large basket of products in the kitchen, and all of our friends know they can just dive in. When our kids were school age, and teen age, our kitchen basket was a very popular perk for their friends.  =)
Posted by trix1223[/QUOTE]

You can imagine how popular my brothers and I were in highschool and dad was working at a distillery.

[Deleted User]

I'm also going to suggest this sounds like a tremendous amount of work, and time will be a factor.  If these favors are made too far in advance the scent will deteriorate so you will be doing this closer to your actual wedding date.  I'm a big believer in either favors the guests will enjoy or forget them altogether. 

It was fairly late in my wedding planning that I decided to check with my favorite confectioner to see if they had wedding favor truffles.  Of course they did.  I did use these and my guests are still OMGing over these favors and not one was left behind, but they were fairly expensive, which is why I had a very small wedding so I could do over the edge things like that.  If I'd had a guest list of 100 people, there is no way I would have spent that kind of money on favors and probably wouldn't have had any, but the bottom line is favors are a gift for the guests and do not need to represent you.