The Basics of Essential Oil Blending

Blending essential oils from scratch can be challenging. Since it is considered part art and part science, it may be difficult to know which oils compliment one another, what kind of effect the blend will have, or how much of each oil to use. However, with a little bit of knowledge, you can create beautiful essential oil diffuser blends that suit your needs and reflect your favorite aromas. Continue reading for guidance on making your own essential oil combinations based on scent type, desired effect, and essential oil notes.

Benefits of Blending and Diffusing Essential Oils

Diffusing essential oils throughout your space is one of the most common ways to enjoy the healing benefits of aromatherapy. Choosing your favorite oils based on scent is an effective way to customize your experience to suite your aromatic preferences, making your space unique to you. Diffusing essential oil blends to achieve a specific result can also be beneficial for supporting your overall health. Due to their dynamic chemical compounds, essential oil combinations work synergistically when blended to enhance the healing properties of each oil. Whether you are looking to relax prior to bedtime, ground yourself during your meditation practice, or are trying to increase focus during your workday, essential oils work better when complementary oils are blended together.

Tips for Blending Essential Oils

There are a few different approaches you can take to creating essential oil diffuser blends. Taking a moment to categorize your oils of choice can help you to get organized and to control the result of your unique essential oil combinations. You can blend and diffuse essential oils based on effect (calming, relaxing, energizing, etc.), by scent (woody, spicy, citrus, floral), or by their notes (the chemical make-up of how fast each oil evaporates).

“Blending essential oils is part art and part science—requiring both creativity and a bit of knowledge.”

Blending by Effect

Due to their chemical compounds, each essential oil exhibits a specific effect on the mind, body, and spirit. Some oils awaken the senses and supply a natural energy boost, while other oils are associated with gentle, calming energy. You can choose more than one oil from any of these categories, and some oils may overlap in effect, such as an energizing oil that is simultaneously relaxing.

Essential Oils Based on Effect

Energizing Essential Oils

Calming Essential Oils

Detoxifying Essential Oils

Grounding Essential Oils

Blending By Scent Profile

Floral oils are believed to exhibit a relaxing, nurturing, and uplifting atmosphere that can set the tone for winding down at the end of the day. Floral oils are also associated with sensuality and romance and are used in numerous aphrodisiac blends, and their soft aromas infuse seamlessly with any other scent profile. Examples of floral oils include Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Palmarosa, Rose, and Ylang Ylang.

Citrus oils produce a reviving yet calming atmosphere. Their bright and uplifting aromas are often associated with summery or tropical blends but can also add warmth to a holiday blend. The sweet nature of citrus oils integrates nicely with floral, minty, spicy, and woody oils. Some of the most commonly used citrus oils include Bergamot, Citronella, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Melissa, Neroli, Sweet Orange, Petitgrain, and Tangerine oils.

Spice oils are invigorating and warming, providing a comfort that can evoke a feeling of nostalgia. Certain spice oils can also awaken the senses and exhibit a motivational quality. Spice oils infuse best with floral and citrus scents and should be used marginally in a blend since they can easily overpower the other aromas. Some of the most popular spice oils include Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Nutmeg, and Pepper Black oils.

Woody oils are believed to possess a centering and grounding quality. They are stabilizing and calming while also inspiring strength and empowerment. Woody oils include Cedarwood, Coriander, Cypress, Fir Needle, Frankincense, Helichrysum, Juniperberry, Myrrh, Patchouli, Sandalwood, and Vetiver.

Herbaceous are believed to be clarifying and balancing and can add a spring clean feel to your space. They are also believed to be balancing oils, which help to stabilize mental and emotional health. Some well-known herbaceous oils include Basil, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Marjoram, Oregano, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Sage, Tea Tree, and Thyme.

Blending by Essential Oil Note

Essential oil prices depend on crop and growing conditions and both the suppliers’ and each company’s resources, and their process and production practices, which give insight into their quality and control standards. A buyer should be cautious about avoiding buying only the cheapest oils, as they may not necessarily have the same therapeutic properties as more expensive oils. One company’s high prices might be due to the care given to their distillation, shipment, and storage of their oils. Certified organic oils are also more expensive than non-organic or “conventional” oils. The prices for fragrance oils tend to remain steadily reasonable. Though there are some essential oils with lower prices than their synthetic versions, they are also more volatile. These oils include Lemon, Orange, Pine, and some varieties of Lavender.

Creating Your Own Essential Oil Diffuser Blends

If you are new to blending essential oils, begin by choosing the oils that align with your scent preferences. Opting for oils that you are already familiar with makes it easier to get comfortable with blending oils and eventually experimenting with different aromas. You can also choose 2 to 5 oils that generate a specific effect, such as choosing oils that are relaxing or energizing. Be sure to choose oils that share similar traits to achieve the best results.

Prior to applying drops of your chosen essential oils into your diffuser, you can conduct a test to see how your essential oil combination interact with one another. You can do this by smelling the bottles together with the caps off or, for a more accurate scent, apply a few drops of each oil onto a cotton swab and hold the swabs together when taking a whiff.

If you choose to create your essential oil diffuser blend based on the note categories, ensure you have one top note, one middle note, and one base note oil. For a balanced aromatic blend, start by creating a 20% dilution to ensure the diffuser blend is not overpowering. Creating a small batch in sample bottles is recommended to start. Apply 1drop of the base note, 3 drops of the middle note, and 1 drop of the top note. Follow with 20 drops of your carrier oil of choice, achieving a ratio of 1-part essential oils to 4 parts carrier oil. Label your new diffuser blend to keep track of the essential oils you used and pay attention to how the blend changes as you diffuse it throughout your space.