Aromatherapy

Lesson 3: Blending, Recipes and More!

Welcome to lesson number 3!

Successful blending is the key to the art of Aromatherapy. We’ll learn a few more secrets and we will apply what we learned in a series of recipes that will help us take care of our health, beauty and well-being.

We’ll also learn what essential oils are NOT good for everyday use. Let’s get started!

Easy Blending II

A well balanced blend should balance top notes, middle notes, and base notes. This is how essential oils are classified for blending purposes. Let’s see what exactly they are:

Top Notes

They are the first ones to hit your nose, leaving the first impression of the blend. Among the most typical top notes we have all citrus fruits, lemongrass, peppermint, thyme, cinnamon, and clove. They usually make up for 20-40 percent of your blend.

Middle Notes

Middle notes are the "feminine" part of the blend. They are warm, round, smooth. Typical middle notes are lavender, chamomile, geranium, rosewood, and marjoram. They usually constitute 40-80 percent of the blend.

Base Notes

Base notes are warm and rich; they enhance the lasting effect of your blend. Their long-lasting power affects the chakras and affects our emotional and mental balance. Among them, we find frankincense, clary sage, vanilla, cedarwood, benzoin, and spruce. Diffuser blends do not need base notes; however, they are mandatory in any massage blend. They form 10-25 percent of a blend.

If you want to be ready to make your own blends, there is a further set of classifications you need to learn about:

Modifiers

Modifiers give personality to your blend. They will be your signature. They are the most intense fragrances such as clove, cinnamon, peppermint, cistus, thyme, patchouli, and blue chamomile. Always use modifiers sparingly! (2-3 percent max.)

Equalizers

These are oils that allow your blend to flow smoothly, without any rough edges. Some of these equalizers are identified with specific blends, others work well with any kind of blend. Rosewood and wild Spanish marjoram are among the universal equalizers, while orange and tangerine blend well with other citrus fruits, spices (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg), and floral fragrances (jasmine, rose, geranium, ylang-ylang). They can constitute up to 50 percent of the blend, and can be used with the most precious, and expensive, essential oils (jasmine, neroli, melissa, and rose).

Enhancers

Blend enhancers can give a very personal touch to your blend, without overpowering it. These are oils with personality, but good team workers as well. This category includes cedarwood, bergamot, lavender, lemon, lime, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, spruce, palmarosa, jasmine, rose, neroli, myhrr, and, to a certain extent, oils like eucalyptus and rosemary (even if these last two are best used in inhalation blends). Although each individual oil rarely accounts for more than 15 percent of the blend, enhancers may be utilized in up to 50 percent of your blend.

Extenders

Natural extenders are those oils used in combination with the most precious essential oils to make affordable, and yet intense blends. They are, among others, the citruses, geranium, ylang-ylang, benzoin, spruce, cedarwood, and rosewood.

Further Fragrance Classification

In addition to top, middle, and base notes, you will also find essential oils classified as floral, fruity, green, balsamic, woody, etc. Many oils are a combination of several different notes. Practice and experience will help you understand the subtle nuances of every oil you’re working with, together with the compatibility with other essential oils. As always, "practice makes perfect"...so, don’t stop trying!

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