Professional Essential Oil Blending Techniques

Essential oils are the essence of the plant extracted by steam distillation, solvents (such as alcohol) or cold pressed. This article gives you detailed information to blend essential oils like a professional. The information is based on aromatherapy, with suggested remedies for common problems. You can use this information to create your own unique blends customized to your specific needs.

Blending Essential Oils

Blending essential oils is fun and easy. When you control your own blends, you have the ability to make things based on your health issues as well as your preferences for aromas. For example, when my children catch a cold, I make a bucket of water with a cup of vinegar and a few drops of eucalyptus to wash my floors. This helps quite their cough and kills dust mites, which can irritate their condition. Another example is that 'after dinner' smell. I don't like smelling dinner at ice cream time. After dinner, I wipe the counters with a blend of vinegar, baking soda and a few drops of lemon and lime essential oils for a fresh, clean and uplifting scent. It really is fun to be able to make what you want when you want it without having to purchase three or four different cleaners.

Each essential oil has its own 'note'. Top notes are commonly citrus and floral. Middle notes are usually things like jasmine, geranium or lavender. Bottom notes are the deeper woody plants such as cedar, sandalwood and amyris. To make an excellent blend, you choose a top, a middle and bottom. You can chose those based on aroma such as crispy, exotic or fruity or choose by aroma-therapeutic values. You have total control when you make your own. You can even choose to use all top notes for something cheerful or all middle notes for something neutral or even mostly low and middle notes for something deep and warm.

Using Essential Oils

For body care:

There are not many essential oils that should be used 'neat' or without a carrier oil. Most are so strong they will cause a lot of irritation to your skin on contact. Always use a carrier oil, such as coconut, extra-virgin olive oil, or sunflower, for your body care products. Those three oils were just suggestions; there are a whole lot more to choose from. Your local natural store will have a much better variety than a grocery store. Make sure you start off whatever you are making with only a drop or two of the essential oils you chose. Essential oils are extremely strong, you can burn your skin with many of the oils if you use too much.

For cleaning:

Remember that essential oils are very concentrated. Only a few drops are needed. When you use the products that you made, the scent of the essential oils will seem to 'bloom' in the air, getting stronger for about five minutes. It is always better to add a bit more than to have too much and not be happy with your creation and be overwhelmed with the aroma.

SAFETY

There are safety issues when working with essential oils. These oils are extremely flammable. Make sure to keep them away from any candles. If you want to add a few drops to a candlelit diffuser, add some water to the reservoir, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil then light the candle.

Essential oils are extremely concentrated and these high concentrations are harmful or fatal if swallowed. Make sure to keep your essential oils tightly capped. If you have small children, be sure to keep your oils out of reach until mixed with a base oil, powder or salt.

Please heed all warnings included in the chart! If you are pregnant or nursing, the only essential oils that have been tested as safe for use during pregnancy are lavender and chamomile.

Be sure to store in a cool dark place since light and heat can reduce potency.

Too many different essential oils at one time can lead to headache and/or nausea. Keep your blends to no more than five essential oils.

Aromatherapy Chart

If you don't have access to an aromatherapy chart, and don't feel like putting the same 200 hours in research that I did to put a well-researched list together, I have one available on my web site as a PDF file for only $5. The money goes to help cover server and transfer fees. I would have put that information in this article, but the spreadsheet format of the PDF file is a whole lot easier to read and use. The PDF file gives you details for 36 commonly used essential oils. Tone, aroma description, best for skin conditions, warnings and 38 different aromatherapy properties are provided for each of the 38 essential oils included in the spreadsheet. For all the details, just go to http://www.sunflowernaturals.com/aromatherapy.shtml to learn more and get your copy.