West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy - Your Own Special Blend

Your Own Special Blend

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There are times when one might want to create a very special blend to highlight qualities that we would like to have in our lives. Each of us is unique and our wishes, wants and needs may also be very different, add to that the fact that aromas affect each of us differently and you start to have an idea of just how impossible it is to create one blend to suit everyone.

Using the information on these tables you can create an essential oil blend which can then be used in many different ways. This special blend can become the base for so many different things such as personal perfume, body creams or lotions, aroma lamps, potpourris, scenting linens or paper etc. etc. Once you have made your final choice do check for any contraindications of use, particularly if you are using the blend in a product on the skin.

When first starting to blend keep it simple. I would suggest that you stick to three or four oil. For a beginner to intermediate blender these are more than enough and you will be able to create some beautiful blends with a little practice.

To choose your essential oils look through the charts and decide on what aspects/qualities you want to highlight. Look at the essential oils listed under those headings. Before you make your final selection of essential oils, sniff each essential oil and please discard any that you find aromatically unpleasant or any that bring up any unpleasant memories for you. Make your final choice of 3 or 4 oils.

Start by adding your essential oils to a dark glass bottle drop by drop. As you add each drop write down what it is you have added. Once you have added your oils close the bottle and let it sit for a week or so (or at least a couple of days if you can't wait). Smell it again. The aromas have now had a chance to marry. Is this your aroma? If not now you can play with it adding a drop or two more of one or other of the oils in your blend and see if this makes a difference (remember to add this to your previous notes on the blend). Give it another week and smell again. If you like it use it. Don't be discouraged if you don't love all your blends. Essential oils don't always marry quite the way we expect them too. Sometimes one just needs to start again, perhaps changing one of the oils in the blend, or starting from the beginning again.

Some oils have a stronger odour intensity than others and in order not to have them overpower the blend you would perhaps add less of that oil. The charts will indicate the odour intensity of each oil from 1 - 9. Oils also evaporate at different rates and in order to keep it simple we have stuck to the classification of Top, Middle and Base notes. Top notes will evaporate most quickly, Middle notes produce the heart of the blend and Base notes are the longest lasting. You do not need to have a top, middle and base note in your blend but when creating or adjusting your blend it may help to remember that a top note will lighten the blend - this is what hits your nose first, the middle notes are the heart of the blend and the base notes will provide the fixative in the blend - helping it to last longer. One other thing the classification into Top, Middle or Base notes and the Odour Intensity is my classification. As this is rather subjective other sources may classify the oils differently.

Aspect/Quality	Essential Oils	Odour Intensity	Note
Courage	Black Pepper Fennel Frankincense Geranium Ginger	7 6 7 6 6	Middle Top Base Middle Top
Concentration	Basil Clove Cypress Eucalyptus Ginger Orange Peppermint Rose Rosemary	7 8 4 8 6 4 7 7 6	Top Base Middle Top Top Top Top Base Middle
Creativity	Clary Sage Helichrysum Neroli Rose Rosewood	5 7 5 7 5	Top Base Base Base Middle
Happiness	Basil Bergamot Lavender Neroli Orange Rose	7 4 4 5 4 7	Top Top Middle Base Top Base
Harmony	Basil Geranium Lavender Orange Vetiver Ylang Ylang	7 6 4 4 9 6	Top Middle Middle Top Base Base
Health	Cedarwood Cinnamon Cypress Eucalyptus Juniper Myrrh Palmarosa Rosemary Sandalwood	4 7 4 8 5 7 5 6 5	Middle Base Middle Top Middle Base Middle Middle Base
Love	Bergamot Clove Ginger Jasmine Juniper Lavender Neroli Palmarosa Rose Rosemary Ylang Ylang	4 8 6 7 5 4 5 5 7 6 6	Top Base Top Base Middle Middle Base Middle Base Middle Base
Luck	Cypress Orange Rose Vetivert	4 7 9	Middle Top Base Base
Peace	Benzoin Frankincense Jasmine Lavender Roman Chamomile Rose Ylang Ylang	4 7 7 4 9 7 6	Base Base Base Middle Middle Base Base
Self-Confidence	Geranium Jasmine Marjoram Roman Chamomile Rose Ylang Ylang	6 7 5 9 7 6	Middle Base Middle Middle Base Base
Self-esteem	Grapefruit Jasmine Marjoram Patchouli Ylang Ylang	4 7 5 5 6	Top Base Middle Base Base
Serenity	Clary Sage Jasmine Lavender Neroli Roman Chamomile Rosewood Sandalwood	5 7 4 5 9 5 5	Top Base Middle Base Middle Middle Base
Transition	Black Pepper Clary Sage Cypress Frankincense Myrrh	7 5 4 7 7	Middle Top Middle Base Base
Wealth	Basil Clove Ginger Patchouli Vetivert	7 8 6 5 9	Top Base Top Base Base

Contraindications to the oils used in the blends:
Keep all essential oils away from Children, Eyes and Pets. Do not ingest or use any oil undiluted on the skin unless advised otherwise by a qualified Aromatherapist.

Basil - Use in low concentrations and avoid on sensitive skins. Do not use in pregnancy.
Benzoin - Generally considered non-toxic and non-irritating however this oil can be a strong skin sensitizer so do not use on the skin.
Bergamot - Expressed bergamot is phototoxic when applied to the skin and may irritate sensitive skin. If applied to the skin avoid sunlight or UV rays (including sun beds) for 12 hours. Some suppliers carry a rectified bergamot known as FCF grade which is safe to use on the skin.
Black Pepper - Use in low concentrations on the skin as this oil can irritate the skin.
Cedarwood - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing however it is best to avoid its use in early pregnancy. Do not use this oil prior to sunbathing.
Chamomile, Roman - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing however it is best to avoid its use in early pregnancy.
Cinnamon Leaf - Use in low concentrations on the skin as this oil can be a skin irritant. Do not use during pregnancy.
Clary Sage - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing. Do not use during pregnancy. Do not use while drinking or driving.
Clove - Use in low concentrations on the skin as this oil can cause skin irritations.
Cypress - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing. Avoid during pregnancy.
Eucalyptus - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing, however, when taken internally this oil is toxic.
Fennel - Do not use during pregnancy. Use with extreme caution if suffering from epilepsy. Use with caution on sensitive skins as this oil may cause mild skin sensitisation.
Frankincense - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing. Avoid during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Geranium - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing however it is best to avoid its use in early pregnancy.
Ginger- Use in low concentrations as this oil can cause skin irritation.
Grapefruit - Do not use before exposure to sun or UV rays.
Helichrysum - Also know as Everlasting and Immortelle is generally considered to be non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Jasmine - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing. Do no use in pregnancy and use with caution on people who are hypersensitive or allergic to perfumes, cosmetics or spicy foods.
Juniper - Avoid in pregnancy. Prolonged use can damage kidneys. On skin non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing.
Lavender - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Marjoram, Sweet - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing. Avoid during pregnancy.
Myrrh - Avoid if allergic to cosmetics and perfume. Avoid during pregnancy.
Neroli - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Orange - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing however as with most expressed oils it can be phototoxic and if used on the skin do not expose skin to sun or UV rays for 12 hours after use.
Patchouli - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing and non-phototoxic. It may curb the appetite. Do not use on anyone allergic to spicy foods and use cautiously on anyone with known allergies to perfumes and cosmetics.
Palmarosa - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing, however care should be taken with anyone known to be sensitive to cosmetics.
Peppermint - Generally considered non-toxic. Avoid in pregnancy. Keep away from children.
Rose - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing and non-phototoxic.
Rosemary - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing. Avoid during pregnancy and use with extreme caution if suffering from epilepsy.
Rosewood - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing and non-phototoxic.
Sandalwood - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing and non-phototoxic.
Vetivert - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating non-sensitizing and non-phototoxic.
Ylang Ylang - Generally considered non-toxic, non-irritating, non-sensitizing and non-phototoxic. However do use in low concentrations as excess use may lead to feelings of nausea and headaches.

West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy Inc.
Beverley Hawkins
Phone: 604-943-7476 Fax: 604-943-7307
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