Blending Essential Oils (part 5 of 5)

Combining Essential Oils is a lot of fun and it is even more fun when you know a little bit about blending. When I started blending Essential Oils, I wanted a flowery scent and ended up with a scent that evaporated very quickly because I only used top notes yet neglected to include middle and base notes.

TOP NOTES are what you immediately smell when you open up a bottle of essential oil, perfume, or cream. A top note evaporates very quickly. The aroma is light, fresh, often citrusy, airy, sharp and penetrating. Top notes are uplifting and can be found in e.g. Bergamot, Citronella, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Orange, or Peppermint.

MIDDLE NOTES are harmonizing and balancing any blend. They provide energetic and physical balance. They give the blend a sense of fullness, are the "heart" of the blend, and soften the sharpness of the top notes. They can be found in Chamomile, Cinnamon, Clary Sage, Cypress, Elemi, Geranium, Helichrysum, Neroli, Pine, Rosemary, Spruce, or Ylang Ylang.

BASE NOTES have a grounding quality. They are the base, are deep and warm and often have an earthy aroma. The base notes are lingering. They are soothing and calming and can be found in Cedarwood, Frankincense, Ginger, Helichrysum, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vanilla, or Vetiver.

Note: When using Beeswax in body products, beeswax is also considered a base note.

An easy way to remember the different notes is by envisioning a tree: the roots and the trunk are your base notes, the stem and the branches make up the middle notes, and the leaves and fruits are the top notes. In the fall, the leaves are falling only to return in the spring. The top notes are evaporating just as the seasons change the tree. The branches are stabilizing the tree and the roots are grounding. 

When starting the blending process, start out with 1 drop of each note. Then add 1 drop of the desired scent… go drop by drop and always make note and write down of what you used and how many drops you put into your blend. That way, if you create a scent that you really like, you can always replicate it.

Here is a guideline I found on the internet: 30% top notes, 50% middle notes, 20% base notes.

Storing the blend is best in a dark bottle, e.g. an amber 5 ml bottle.

Have a scentsational day!