HOW TO MAKE AROMATHERAPY BLENDS

In Aromatherapy 'blending' is the term used for combining essential oils and base oils which results in a 'blend'.  Sometimes a blend is made up of essential oils only and is usually for diffusing fragrance around the home or to add to a bath or some other base such as bath salts, or a cream.

By combining essential oils and base oils you can create any number of products for yourself, your family and your friends.  The possibilities are literally endless.  For the creative people amongst us the lure of making something unique is powerful but it can be as simple as adding one drop of essential oil to some carrier oil to make a brilliant moisturiser with no added nasties that can often cause problems in commercial products. Here are a few ways to get started, including some simple recipes for you to try out.

MASSAGE / MOISTURISING OILS FOR BODY

The rule of thumb here is approximately 3% essential oil to base oil and the way to achieve this is to take 10ml of base oil which is approximately one dessertspoonful and add 5 drops in total of essential oil. So 10ml base to 5 drops essential oil.  To 20ml base of base oil you add 10 drops of essential oil in total.  

For example;

RELAXING BODY OIL

5ml (1 x teaspoon) Peach Kernel Base Oil

5ml (1 x teaspoon) Jojoba Base Oil

2 drops Chamomile Essential Oil

3 drops Lavender Essential Oil

MASSAGE / MOISTURISING OILS FOR FACE

Here we want the dilution to be half that that we use on the body so I use just 1%  To achieve this add just 2 drops of essential oil in total to 10ml of base oil.

For example;

FACE OIL FOR MATURE SKIN

10ml Red Rosehip Base Oil

1 drop Rose Geranium Essential Oil

1 drop Frankincense Essential Oil

MASSAGE / MOISTURISING OILS FOR CHILDREN

For children over 2 years of age the dilution for body oil is the same as for adult face so approximately 1% or 2 drops of essential oil to 10ml of base oil.

For example;

HAPPY MASSAGE BODY OIL

5ml (1 x teaspoon) Calendula Base Oil

5ml (1 x teaspoon) Jojoba Base Oil

2 drops Mandarin Essential Oil

MASSAGE  / MOISTURISING OILS FOR BABIES

For Babies under 2 years of age please see our AROMATHERAPY FOR BABIES leaflet/section.

BATHING

There are many ways to add essential oils to your bath.

NEAT  

Add 6 to 10 drops of essential oil into the bath after the water has run to stop the oils from evaporating.  Swish the water around to prevent sitting on the individual drops of essential oil.  Do not have the water too hot.

For example;

REVITALISING BATH

3 Drops Bergamot Essential Oil

3 Drops Grapefruit Essential Oil

2 drops Mandarin Essential Oil

BATH OIL

This is great for dry sensitive skin as it will nourish and protect the skin from harsh water.  

 Add 6 to 10 drops of essential oil to 10ml of base oil which is approximately one dessertspoonful.  Mix together and add to your bath water after the water has run to limit evaporation of the essential oils.

For example; 

DEEP RELAX BATH 

10ml Borage Base Oil 

3 drops Frankincense Essential Oil

2 drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil

4 drops Lavender Essential Oil 

BATH SALTS 

Add 6 to 10 drops of essential oil per cupful of un-fragranced bath salts such as Magnesium Salts or Dead Sea salts.

For example;

MUSCLE RELAXING BATH SALTS 

1 cupful Dead Sea Salts add to this;

3 drops Myrtle Essential Oil

2 drops Cypress Essential Oil

1 drop Black Pepper Essential Oil

Mix together and pour into bath

SHOWER 

Add 6 to 10 drops of essential oil to the shower tray before you get into your shower.  The steam will diffuse the fragrance. 

For example;

HEAD CLEARING SHOWER

3 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil

1 drop Peppermint Essential Oil

2 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil

DIFFUSING & INHALATION

You can add up to 10 drops of essential oil to a bowl of hot water for inhalation.  Place a towel over your head and breath in the vapours to clear airways or to steam to cleanse your face.

For example;

ROOM FRAGRANCE

Add a few drops of essential oil to an un fragranced candle where the little puddle of wax appears after lighting.  Alternatively add a few drops to a damp cloth or absorbent paper and place on radiators or add to electric or candle vaporisers as instructed by the supplier.  Usually 6 drops in total is the correct amount.

For example;

CUTS, STINGS, SPOTS & BITES 

Even though essential oils are not usually used neat, there are a few instances in which neat essential oils work brilliantly.  Just one or two drops of neat Lavender or Tea Tree essential oil works brilliantly on cuts stings or bites and neat Lavender essential oil on light burns is brilliant.

Lemon and/or Tea Tree essential oils are often used on warts and verrucas with great success. 

RINSES

I love to fill a bowl with warm to cool water and add just a few drops of essential oil to it.  This can be used to refresh and/or clean your face or body.  If you have been in the sun for too long a few drops of lavender in a bowl of cool water, soak a flannel in it and place on over heated skin to cool it.

For example;

SUMMER FOOT COOLER

Fill a bowl with cool water and add 6 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil to it.  Swish around to dissipate the Essential Oils then soak your feet in it for at least 10 minutes - bliss!

SPOTTY SKIN SPLASH

Fill a bowl with warm water.  add 4 drops of Tea Tree essential Oil. Swish the water around to dissipate oils and use to wash face.  

CLEAN SURFACES

As just abut all essential oils are anti bacterial, it’s a great idea to use them to wipe over kitchen and/or bathroom surfaces leaving them not only clean but smelling fabulous.

For example;

ST CLEMMENTS SURFACE FRESHENER

Fill a bowl with warm water and add 5 drops of lemon essential oil and 5 drops of sweet orange essential oil.  Swish the water around to dissipate oils and use a cloth to wipe down surfaces. 

LASTLY 

Aromatherapy is not an exact science so quantities are approximate but with essential oils, less is often more so always bare this in mind.  There are many more ways to use aromatherapy in your day to day life - this is really just the tip of the ice berg but its a very good start.  Have fun!