Basic Principles of Blending While there are no hard and fast rules in blending essential oils for Aromatherapy, the following hints may be helpful. You should adopt the following basic principles as a general rule Until you gain considerable experience stick to no more than three or four oils at a time Ensure the odour of the blend will be pleasing for the person(s) you will be using it on Ensure that the person(s) you will be using the blend on are not allergic to any of the ingredients – ask them Selecting essential oils Many Aromatherapists’ use a traditional concept of top, middle and base notes when preparing aromatherapy blends. Essential oils can be grouped into one of these three categories. The following table details a number of essential oils and whether they can be identified as top, middle or base notes. Top Notes Middle Notes Base Notes Bergamot German Chamomile Carrot Seed Cinnamon Cardamom Cedarwood Clove Geranium Cistus Grapefruit Ginger Clary sage Lemon Lavender Frankincense Lemongrass Sweet Marjoram Myrrh Lime Palmarosa Patchouli Mandarin Pine Peru Balsam Neroli Rosemary Sandalwood Petitgrain Rosewood Spikenard Sweet Orange Ylang Ylang Vetiver Peppermint Thyme Top notes are usually fresh, citrus and light. These form the blend’s initial impression, giving brightness and clarity to it. They usually have refreshing and uplifting therapeutic properties. Middle notes (or heart notes) last longer, imparting the warmth and fullness of the blend. They give body to a blend and are mostly found in essential oils distilled from leaves and herbs. Base notes are the heavy smelling, deeply resonating and have a profound influence on the blend. These essential oils have a long lasting scent and act as fixtures. Base notes have a strong influence on our mental, emotional and spiritual plane. Ratio of top, middle and base notes in a blend As a rule of thumb the following ratio is recommended. Top notes 20 – 30 % Middle notes 40 – 80 % Base notes 10 – 25 % Making a Massage Oil Blend Selecting carrier oils: There are many carrier oils to choose from. Each has their own therapeutic benefits and varying degrees of application for massage (i.e. grapeseed oil is a thin carrier oil which glides well during massage and can be particularly useful for deep tissue massage, whereas olive oil is a heavier product and is best blended with another carrier oil) Suggestion: Use a 75% grapeseed to 25% olive oil mix. Selecting essential oils: Bearing in mind the concept of top, middle and base notes as a guide only, choose essential oils based on the required ‘outcome’ of the massage, i.e. for relaxation, upliftment, sensual etc. The following are suggestions: Aches and pains - Bergamot, Sweet Marjoram and Frankincense Sensual - Mandarin, Ylang Ylang and Patchouli Dry skin conditions - Orange, Chamomile (Roman/German) and Patchouli For more information on the therapeutic benefits of essential oils take a look at the product descriptions for essential oils in the Oils4life Range or we would recommend a good book such as ‘The Aromatherapy Lexicon‘, which has more than 80 blend suggestions for the majority of today’s ailments and the essential oils for use in each. Ratio of essential oil to carrier oil: As a general rule, for every 100ml of carrier oil you can add up to 50 drops of essential oil. Our experience has shown that 30 drops per 100ml is more than sufficient. The following table provides a conversion ratio between drops, mls, oz and table or teaspoons. Measurements/conversions (volume) 30 ml 1 fl oz 600 drops 2 table spoons 15 ml 1/2 oz 300 drops 1 table spoon 5 ml 1/6 oz 100 drops 1 teaspoon 1 ml 1/30th oz 20 drops 1/5 teaspoon Using the percentages above as a guide, add your selected essential oils to a suitable storage container or bottle and then top up with your selected carrier oil. Replace the lid and shake well to mix the essential oils and carrier oil together. Be sure to label your blend. Making a Moisturising Cream Blend Selecting a moisturising base cream: Choose a moisturising cream that will meet your requirements (i.e. not too greasy, fresh smelling). You are likely to find a suitable moisturising base cream at the local supermarket. Most Aromatherapy suppliers will also stock moisturising base creams. We are very pleased with the moisturising base cream we use in all our hand, foot, body and face moisturisers and this product be purchased in 60ml plus sizes. Add the moisturising cream to a suitable container. Make a small well in the centre of the cream in which to add your essential oils. Bearing in mind the principles of top, middle and base notes (discussed above) add the essential oils into the well and then stir them in thoroughly. For every 60ml of Moisturising Cream add 30 drops of essential oils. Safety: it is important to ensure that the essential oil has thoroughly blended with the moisturising base cream so as to prevent high concentrations being applied to the skin. Storing you Blends To preserve the life of your blends keep them in a dark and cool place. Try to use dark storage containers and bottles, as this will reduce the amount of light, which can penetrate into the oil. References Lavabre M. Aromatherapy Workbook, Healing Art Press, USA, 1997 .