How to blend Essential oils

All essential oils are referred to as "top notes", "middle notes" or "base notes" depending on their aromatic qualities. Top note oils are the lightest, most stimulating and energizing oils. They have a fresh, immediately apparent quality that is intense. There aroma, however, does not last long because they evaporate very quickly.



Examples of top note oils are:
• Basil
• Bergamot
• Cajuput
• Cinnamon
• Eucalyptus
• Lemongrass
• Neroli
• Orange
• Peppermint
• Pine
• Petitgrain
• Grapefruit
• Lime
• Sage
• Spearmint
• Tagetes
• Lemon
• Tangerine
• Verbena
• Hyssop

Middle note oils usually form the main part of aromatherapy blends. They are strong, lasting and potent - not as stimulating or light and the top notes, nor as solid as the base notes. Their scent can be detected immediately after you get the impression of the top note.

Examples of middle note oils are:
• Chamomile
• Cyprus
• Fennel
• Melissa
• Black pepper
• Cardomom
• Geranium
• Bay
• Juniper
• Lavender
• Linden Blossom
• Marjoram
• Palma Rosa
• Rosemary
• Nutmeg
• Spikenard
• Tea Tree
• Yarrow

Base notes linger longest because they are the last to evaporate. All their scents are full bodied, rich, and heavy and they emerge slowly, after the top and middle notes. They form the base of any blend.

Examples of base note oils are:
• Clove
• Balsam Peru
• Cassia
• Jasmin
• Cedarwood
• Ginger
• Frankincense
• Patchouli
• Sandalwood
• Rosewood
• Valerian
• Vanilla
• Rose
• Vetiver
• Ylang ylang

Source: http://www.safealternativemedicine.co.uk/BlendingEssentialOils.html

Ideally, start of by blending oils which are of the same 'Family' group. Floral oils will almost always create a harmonious blend, i.e. Rose with Jasmine, Lavender with Geranium and so on. For the beginner, floral essentials oils are the best for learning to blend. There is really no way of creating a bad blend with florals. The trickiness comes with the addition of other groups such as spicy (i.e. ginger, black pepper, etc.), Citrus (i.e. orange, grapefruit, etc.) and so on. To help with this, most all essential oils fall into a scent/extraction group... which are:

* Citrus
* Spicy
* Floral
* Green (also referred to as green)
* Woody
* Resinous


A perfume blend to try:
20 drops of sandalwood essential oil
10 drops rose essential / fragrance oil
5 drops musk fragrance oil
10 drops jasmine essential oil
1 teaspoon jojoba or sweet almond oil
1/4 teaspoon honey
Combine all ingredients well and store in a glass bottle that is dark in color. It is a perfume that actually gets deeper and better with time. (Taken from "Secret Potions, Elixirs & Concoctions" Marie Anakee Miczak, Lotus Press 1999)