Dipropylene Glycol

DPG is a clear, low-odour solvent that fragrance makers use to dilute, carry and blend fragrance oils and essential oils. It helps heavier or more complex oils dissolve evenly, and because it evaporates very slowly it lets scent release gradually. You will find it in reed diffusers, perfume oils, room and linen sprays, and a range of personal care formulations.

It depends on what you are making. In room and linen sprays, 1% to 3% is usually enough, and only if the batch turns cloudy or separates. In perfume bases you can pre-blend up to 10% with the fragrance to help dissolve rich notes such as vanilla or oud. In an eco diffuser base, 10% to 20% helps stabilise thicker oils. Treat these as starting points and trial a small batch first.

Always blend DPG with your fragrance or essential oil first, stir until the mixture is uniform, then add it to your base. Adding it straight into a water-based product on its own does far less to help the oil disperse. Check clarity and stability again after 24 hours, as small adjustments at that point often give the best result.

Not quite. DPG is a solvent: it thins and carries fragrance and helps oils blend smoothly, but it does not emulsify oil into water the way a surfactant does. If a water-based spray needs a lot of fragrance held clear, pair it with a solubiliser such as Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside. Many makers use the two together, DPG to open up the fragrance and the solubiliser to keep it dispersed.

DPG itself is almost odourless, so it does not add a scent of its own. Because it evaporates slowly, higher levels can slow how quickly a diffuser or spray releases fragrance, which can mean a softer throw but a longer life. In diffusers especially, test evaporation and scent throw before settling on a final percentage.