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An essential oil blend can be created for therapeutic effect, the beauty of a fragrance - or both. A synergistic effect is possible when the essential oils work together harmoniously. You do not need to be an expert in the use of essential oils to create blends. We have outlined below some basic information that may be useful to you as you journey into the creativity of blending.
When creating a blend you will want to consider:
The purpose of the blend
You will want to familiarize yourself with the fragrance and effect of essential oils.
Breathe the aroma and:
- Note how it makes you feel - calm, uplifted, focused, sensual, other feelings.
- Note the scent - is it light, fresh, strong, sweet, green, other scents.
To test the aroma of the an individual essential oil you can:
- Breathe directly from the bottle - swirl the essential oil in the bottle to stir up the molecules first.
- Or place a drop on an unscented tissue, blotter paper or other porous type paper and breathe.
You may experience olfactory overload if you are testing the aroma of different essential oils. You will no longer be able to smell them! This is common. You can restore your sense of smell by smelling coffee beans, or the simplest - your armpit. It's true - it works and it is always with you!
When blending for therapeutic effect:
- Determine essential oils that may be useful - see the aromatherapy chart for details.
- List essential oils in priority order when several effects are desired (this can be used to determine the number of drops of each essential oil you will use).
- Test the fragrance as described above.
Some pointers for creating a balanced blend:
There is no limit on how many essential oils you can use in your blend. Many blends for therapeutic effect contain only 3 to 4 essential oils - yet Shalimar contains 13 and Aramis contains 14!
Essential oils blend harmoniously with essential oils in the same family. Here are some family classifications:
- LABIATAE: basil, clary sage, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary
- RUTACEA: bergamot, lemon, orange
- CONIFERAE: cedarwood, juniper
Essential oils have different rates of volatility and evaporation and perfumiers have placed essential oils into these categories:
- TOP NOTE: fresh, light, fast evaporation - first scent you are aware of in a blend.
- MIDDLE NOTE: evaporates slower - it is considered the body of the fragrance.
- BASE NOTE: the fragrance is rich, emerges slowly and lingers.
You can balance the fragrance of your blend by including top, middle and base notes. You may have experienced this layering effect in wearing a perfume or cologne - where the scent changed over time.
A table of essential oils that blend well together is provided for reference. In this table we have also listed the traditional note types. Whether an essential oil is top, middle or base can be subjective and is influenced by person, growing season, distilling method and more.
You may want to use essential oils with a strong fragrance sparingly - such as peppermint or basil. Lavender may be useful for toning down strong scented oils. You can add just a drop or two of any essential oil to create an appealing fragrance in your blend.
Blended essential oils will merge over time and the fragrance may change. You can leave the blend for a day, then return and test the fragrance ... it may be perfect!
As you experiment with your blend creations keep a log of:
- The number of drops you use of each essential oil in the blend.
- The fragrance - both your initial experience and the fragrance after time has passed.
- The therapeutic effect.
You may be surprised to find that you have created a masterpiece - and you will be able to duplicate it!
To blend with a carrier oil or not to blend with a carrier oil ... some thoughts:
Determine how you want to use your blend. See the page on ways to use essential oils for ideas.
Anytime you want to apply the blend directly to your skin - you will want to add a carrier oil. Due to the high concentration of pure essential oils you only need a few drops and a few drops won't cover much territory when applying it to your skin.
It is also helpful to add essential oils to a carrier oil for use in a bath. Essential oils are not water soluble and some essential oils can irritate the skin in an undiluted form.
Nebulizer type diffusers may clog with carrier oils. This is a case for not using carrier oil.
The amount of carrier oil you add to the essential oils will be determined by how you will use the blend. See our page on ways to use essential oils for some dilution ratios.
There are a variety of oils suitable for use as carrier oils. These listed below contain vitamins, minerals and protein and are good for all skin types.
Useful supplies for creating a blend include:
- A clean glass bottle - essential oils are volatile and evaporate on contact with air - it is best to mix them in a closed container rather than a cup or bowl.
- A separate dropper for each essential oil - and one for the blend (most droppers can be taken apart for cleaning if you would like to re-use them later).
- Carrier oil - if that is desired.
Now that you have got some basic information - you are ready to create a blend:
- Add the desired number of drops of each essential oil to the bottle.
- Start with equal amounts and increase them 1 at a time if you are unsure about quantity.
- Shake the bottle to mix the oils and test the fragrance and effect.
- Carrier oil is added last - when you are ready to use your blend.
Have fun and remember - there is no bad blend!
Aromatherapy - Essential Oil Information
For More Information:
Information & Supplies Obtained From:
Ancient Healing Art - 8302 361st Ave. NE - Carnation, WA 98014
Toll Free USA/Canada: 800.537.1300
Worldwide Phone: 425.333.6696
Worldwide FAX: 425.333.6685
Website: Ancient Healing Arts Email: kway@halcyon.com
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