How to Blend Essential Oils

There are two main reasons for creating a blend of essential oils. The first is for its therapeutic effect and the second is for the way it smells. A mix of both could also be important. By following the tips listed here, you can start creating your own blends today.

When you begin to create a blend there are a number of things that you may want to consider. You will need to think about the purpose you are creating the blend for, any therapeutic benefits that you are after, and how you want the blend to smell. The first step in this process is to gain an understanding of the oils to use. You need to learn how they smell and what benefits they are known for. Firstly, have a good whiff of the oils you have at your disposal. You can base your descriptions of how they smell on those provided by others or make up your own. Write down how the oil smells and how it makes you feel. After smelling a few oils it may be necessary to clear your nasal passages with a good whiff of some coffee. This helps your nose to continue to distinguish scents.

When you begin to create a blend there are a number of things that you may want to consider. You will need to think about the purpose you are creating the blend for, any therapeutic benefits that you are after, and how you want the blend to smell. The first step in this process is to gain an understanding of the oils to use. You need to learn how they smell and what benefits they are known for. Firstly, have a good whiff of the oils you have at your disposal. You can base your descriptions of how they smell on those provided by others or make up your own. Write down how the oil smells and how it makes you feel. After smelling a few oils it may be necessary to clear your nasal passages with a good whiff of some coffee. This helps your nose to continue to distinguish scents.

To make the perfect blend you will need a clean glass bottle to mix the oils in and a separate dropper for each oil. Mix the oils in the bottle rather than a bowl or cup as it will reduce evaporation. Add the oils to the bottle and shake it to mix them. Test the fragrance as you go until you get what you want. If the blend is for direct contact with the skin don't forget to add carrier oil (this is done last).

THERAPEUTIC BLENDING

A therapeutic blend is one created for its ability to help with certain physical or emotional conditions. Whilst you are focussing on the effect of the blend rather than how it smells it is still a good idea to try and create something that smells good. If you are blending to create a therapeutic benefit, first decide which oils could be used and list them in order of priority if you are after a few effects. The order you put them in can help you decide how many drops of each oil to use. Check each of the oils to make sure that they are safe for all aspects of your health. For example, some oils should be avoided if you are pregnant. Also, make sure that the oils you use won't clash with other goals you have for the mix. For example, if you are planning on using it before going to bed, make sure the oils you use don't have an energising effect. Mix a small amount of the oils together in the ratios you decide on and test how it smells. While it is common for therapeutic blends to only have three or four oils in them, there is no rule as to how many you can use.

AROMATIC BLENDING

If you are blending to create a certain smell then the volatility of the oils is important. Often described as top, middle or base note, these tell of how volatile the oil is. Top notes evaporate rapidly and are usually the first smell that hits you in a blend. Middle notes evaporate slower and tend to be the body of the fragrance. Base notes have a deep, rich fragrance that tends to evaporate last and lingers longer than the other notes. By mixing at least one oil from each category you reduce the chance of having a blend that smells great but only lasts for an hour or so. A middle note added to a top note will actually help the top note to last longer, and adding a base note will set the scent even more. An easy ration to begin a blend with is 3 drops of a top note, 2 drops of a middle note, and 1 drop of a base note. Whether an oil is a top, middle or base note is often up to the individual's perception as well as variations in the oil itself. It is commonly believed that you need to have at least one oil in each category to create a balanced blend, but as usual- the choice is yours. Once you have a blend to test, take notes on the blend, how it smells, and how it makes you feel. But before you decide whether or not you like it, put it away for a few days and then document how the smell changed over time. You may decide to make some alterations to the blend or you may like it just the way it is.

Another way to create blends is to focus on the aroma category of an essential oil. Essential oils can be grouped into the following categories based on their smell:

Floral -Lavender, Neroli, Jasmine
Woodsy - Pine, Cedar
Earthy- Vetiver, Patchouli
Herbaceous- Marjoram, Rosemary, Basil
Minty - Peppermint, Spearmint
Medicinal/Camphorous- Eucalyptus, Cajuput, Tea Tree
Spicy- Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon
Oriental- Ginger, Patchouli
Citrus- Orange, Lemon, Lime

Oils in the same category generally blend well together. Florals tend to blend well with spicy, citrusy and woodsy oils. Woodsy oils generally blend well with all categories. Spicy and oriental oils blend well with florals, oriental and citrus oils. And minty oils blend well with citrus, woodsy, herbaceous and earthy oils.