What essential oils can you mix together?
There are 3 factors to take into consideration when selecting oils for a blend.
The first is which essential oils work well together. If you are making a blend specifically for diffusion, then this will be the most important factor.
Begin by grouping your essential oils into scent categories: florals, spices, herbs, roots, leaves, woods, resins and citrus scents. Generally, essential oils from the same category blend together well. However you can also get a little more creative and see which combinations from different categories you enjoy the most.
For example, floral oils often work well with woody oils and citrus scents. Herbal oils tend to work best with woody oils or other herbal scents.
The second factor to consider is the desired outcome of the essential oil blend. Are you trying to create a refreshing, calming, detoxifying, or an uplifting blend? Think about which oils produce the desired outcome for your senses, and then compare this to which scents would blend well together to strike the right balance.
Finally, for the perfect essential oil blend, you should look at scent notes. Essential oils evaporate at different rates. So the fragrance of your blend will change over time.
Essential oils that evaporate quickly (in 1-2 hours) are called top notes. Middle notes take around 2-4 hours to evaporate, whilst base notes evaporate the slowest.
Using essential oils with the same notes is good for consistency. However using 30% top notes (3 drops), 50% middle notes (5 drops), and 20% base notes is generally recommended. Some examples of top notes are Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Lavender, and Lemon. Chamomile, Cinnamon, Geranium, Jasmine, Rose and tea tree are middle notes. Base notes include Cedarwood, Frankincense, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and Vetiver.
How to blend essential oils
Pure essential oil blends generally include 2-5 oils, as this creates the best synergy between the oils. If you are experimenting with a new essential oils blend for the first time, it is best to just make a small amount so that the oils don’t go to waste if it doesn’t work out.
Aim for around 10 drops in total – 3 top note, 5 middle note, and 2 base note. It may be best to begin by blending pure essential oils into a diffuser.
When you have created some pure essential oil blends that you like, you can look into purchasing some empty amber glass bottles to store them or create DIY products with a carrier oil for topical application. Amber glass bottles are a good option as they keep the oil protected from direct sunlight. If you are bottling your blend, leave space at the top of the bottle to allow the oils to breathe and remain fresh.
Once you have made your pure essential oil blend, let it rest for 24-48 hours before use to allow the scent to develop and the oils to harmonise. Also make sure you label it clearly.
