FREEBIE! Be a Classroom Chemist: The Art of Perfume Making Just in Time for Valentines Day

FREE STEM: Be a Famous Perfume Maker (aka Chemist)

Teacher Supplies:

• Jars for students who don't bring in their own
• Paper and glue for labels
• Paper for advertising
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Supplies such as rose pedals, lavender, spices, fruits, for students who don't bring in their own

Things you need to know:

Alcohol (the rubbing kind) makes a great solvent for dissolving fragrant oils found in flowers, herbs, fruit and the like.

1. Get a clear glass or plastic container with a lid - the prettier the better - or one of those small mason jars that are oh so popular. You'll need one per student.
2. Have students go on a gathering field trip at home. Tell them they are going to make perfume and they get to pick the scent.
3. Brainstorm ideas:
1. cloves
2. lemon peel (explain zest)
3. orange peel
4. flowers
5. herbs
6. cinnamon
7. roses
8. Any flower pedels
9. ANYTHING  - who knows - they may create the next Obsession.
4. Have students put their ingredients into their containers and cover with about 4 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol.
5. Shake twice a day for one week.
6. At the end of the week it is ready - dab a little on and see what they think.

EXTENSION: 

1. Have students create a label for their perfume and a brand
2. Have students make commercials or print ads
3. Have a contest to decide who likes which scent.

Then tell them: It takes about 8,000 to 10,000 crushes roses to make one dab (barely an oz) of rose oil for perfume, but that chemists have found a way to capture the flowers

fragrance. They analyze the rose molecules and make the scent by artificially reproducing the natural oils.

Next Generation Science Standards

• PK – grade 3 students
  • K-LS1, 1-LS1, 2-LS1, 3-LS1, 2-PS1
• Grade 4 – 6 students
  • 4-LS1, 5-PSI, 5-LS1
  • MS-PS1, MS-LS1
• Middle school students
  • MS-PS1, MS-LS1
• High school students
  • HS-PS1, HS-LS1

PS1- Structure and properties of matter: LS1-Structure and Function;

FULL LESSON AVAILABLE AT PERFUME SCIENTIST

If you like this lesson and would like more FREE STEM, social studies and ELA lessons - please visit:

• FREE Science and Social Studies Lessons
• FREE English Language Arts Lessons

For the marketing aspect of this lesson please look to Great Lesson Plans on Marketing.

Chapin-Pinotti, Elizabeth Chapin-Pinotti, lessons, freebies, freelessons, freebielessons, STEM lessons, FREESTEM lessons