CHAPTER TEN

BLENDING BEYOND RECIPES

WITH SO MANY RECIPES swirling around the World Wide Web through social media, it can be a bit overwhelming to try to tell which ones will really work for you—and expensive to experiment to find out! The answer to this conundrum: to learn how to create and make your own aromatherapy products, be they for your body or your health and wellness. So, where does one begin?

The first questions to ask are:

1. What do you want to make?

2. What is your goal (or goals)?

Once you know the above, you can begin the formulation process. Before diving into how to select your essential oils, though, it is important to distinguish between formulating a body care product versus formulating a synergy. Let’s do a quick review of the difference.

A body care product is a combination of essential oils and some type of base, such as a carrier oil and/or herbal oil, an unscented cream or lotion, or a gel or salve. Body care products are designed to be applied to the skin either for the skin or other relevant systems of the body.

A synergy is a combination of essential oils without a carrier/herbal oil or other base. Synergies are designed to be used in diffusers (all types), in personal inhalers, or for steam inhalations.

THE SYNERGY STOCK BOTTLE

You can also make up a synergy called a stock bottle. The stock bottle is typically made in 1/2 to 2 fluid ounce (15 to 60 ml) quantities and is designed to be used over a variety of different methods of application. For instance, let’s say it’s winter and the cold and flu are going around. You could make up a batch (e.g., 15 ml) of a respiratory synergy with eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint. This synergy could then be used in a salve, a chest oil, a diffuser, and even a salt scrub. For each product designed to be used with that specific synergy, you simply add in the desired number of drops based upon your chosen dilution rate.

Below is an overview of the steps you will take depending on whether you are creating a body care product or a synergy.

HOW MUCH IS IN A MILLILITER (ML)?

1 ml = approximately 25 to 35 drops total of essential oil.

HOW TO FORMULATE A BODY CARE PRODUCT

To begin formulating a body care product, you should be able to fill in the following information.

1. What product are you making? A body butter, facial oil, or salve, for example.

2. What is the goal of the product? To make a beautiful aromatic product? To make a therapeutic product for the skin? To create a synergy for supporting the respiratory system? Something else?

3. Next, what ingredients make up the product? Body care products contain a few other ingredients you will need to select when making your product. Here is the table of possible ingredients from chapter 6: Expanding Your Apothecary.

4. How much are you making? Decide on the amount.

5. What is the best dilution rate for your product? Refer to chart shown here, Dilution Rate and Indications. Typically, when making a body care product, your dilution will be between 1 and 2.5 percent.

HOW TO FORMULATE A SYNERGY FOR A DIFFUSER OR INHALATION

To begin formulating a synergy for a diffuser or inhalation, you should be able to fill in the following information.

1. What is the goal for the synergy? e.g., “uplifting yet calming to stress synergy” or “citrusy.”

2. Synergy ingredients: Essential oils only.

3. Decide on the amount you will be making: e.g., 5- and 10-ml size bottles are two standard sizes for making a small batch of synergy.

BODY CARE PRODUCTS
	CO	HO	HY	WX
Body and Facial Oils	X	X
Roll-On (aka Roller Balls)	X	X
Body Butters	X	X
Aromatic Gels	X	X	X
Salves	X	X		X
Lip Balm	X	X		X
Salt Scrubs	X	X
Unscented Cleansers			X
Unscented Creams and Lotions	X	X	X

Key to codes:

CO	Carrier oils (includes vegetable oils and specialty seed oils, e.g. rosehip seed, borage, etc.)
HO	Herbal oils (e.g. Calendula, St. John’s wort, Arnica, etc.)
HY	Hydrosol/s
WX	Wax

Here is a great reference chart to guide you with dilutions.

DILUTION RATE AND INDICATIONS
DILUTION IN %	PURPOSE AND INDICATIONS
0	Essential oils should not be used for infants under 6 months of age unless absolutely necessary and only if one is trained to do so. Use hydrosols instead.
0.25% to 0.5%	Infants 6 months or older, frail or elderly individuals, immune compromised individuals.
1%	Children 2 to 5 years old.
1.5%	Subtle aromatherapy, emotional and energetic work, facial creams and lotions, exfoliants. Pregnant, frail, or elderly individuals.
2% to 5%	Action on the nervous system, emotional well-being, and response to daily stress. Holistic aromatherapy, general massage work, general skincare, massage oils, lotions, facial oils, body oils, and body butters.
7%	Treatment massage and localized treatment work, wound healing, body oils, butters, and salves.
10%	Muscular aches and pains, trauma injury, treatment massage, acute physical pain, localized treatment work, and salves.
Undiluted	Acute trauma. Use non-aggressive essential oils only.

And once you have your dilution rate chosen, you can figure out your drops using this chart.

ESSENTIAL OIL DILUTION
Carrier oil	0.5%	1%	2.5%
1/2 ounce (15 ml)	1–3 drops	3–5 drops	8–11 drops
1 ounce (30 ml)	3–5 drops	6–9 drops	15–23 drops
2 ounces (60 ml)	6–10 drops	12–18 drops	30–46 drops
4 ounces (118 ml)	12–20 drops	24–36 drops	60–92 drops

ESSENTIAL OIL DILUTION
Carrier oil	3%	5%	10%
1/2 ounce (15 ml)	9–13 drops	15–23 drops	30–46 drops
1 ounce (30 ml)	18–27 drops	30–45 drops	60–90 drops
2 ounces (60 ml)	36–54 drops	60–90 drops	120–180 drops
4 ounces (118 ml)	72–108 drops	120–180 drops	240–360 drops

Formulating Example

1. Product making: Facial oil

2. Goal of product: To have a beautiful aroma while nourishing the skin and supporting healthy cellular rejuvenation.

3. Ingredients needed: Facial oil = carrier/herbal oil(s) + essential oils

4. Quantity to be made: 2 fluid ounces (60 ml)

5. Dilution rate for facial oil: 1.5 percent, which equals a total of 18 to 27 drops. This is divided among the essential oils you choose to put into the formulation.

Based upon the table above, a 1.5 percent dilution in 2 fluid ounces (60 ml) of carrier would total 48 to 72 drops of essential oil. That’s a pretty big range in the number of drops, right? The drops are technically based upon the average number of drops that come out of a typical orifice reducer (the top that allows drops to come out). However, the drop size can vary not only with the same dropper cap but also the different types of orifice reducers used by the variety of essential oil companies. So where does one begin with the number of drops?

At this stage of your learning, it depends on the strength and character, so to speak, of the essential oils you are selecting. If you are blending with heavier essential oils such as rose or vetiver, you could begin on the lower side. If you are blending with lighter or medium strength essential oils, you can move into the higher side. Always leave room to add additional drops. It is far easier to add more essential oil than it is to take them away once they are in the product.

HOW TO SELECT ESSENTIAL OILS

Choosing three to five essential oils to work with requires a bit of practice. Once you have chosen how you are going to approach selecting them, you can then refer to the appropriate charts provided in this chapter to begin narrowing down your selection.

In our blending method, each essential oil we select serves a purpose toward the whole. We select our essential oils with the following approach:

• The core essential oil. This is the first essential oil selected. The core essential oil is chosen based upon your primary purpose or goal and is considered the heart of the synergy.

• The enhancer essential oil. The enhancer essential oil strengthens the core essential oil in its purpose and therapeutic action.

• The harmonizer essential oil. The harmonizing essential oil supports and enhances the vitality and purpose of the overall synergy. The harmonizing essential oil often has a decisive impact on the overall aroma and is chosen for both its aroma and its ability to enhance the goals of the synergy.

• Additional essential oils. Optionally, you can decide to add one or two additional essential oils. This addition could be a core, enhancer, and/or harmonizer essential oil or essential oils. You decide!

Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty of selecting your essential oils. There are a few ways to begin this process. On the next few pages are three reference charts that have been designed to assist you in your selection.

These charts consist of:

1. The Aromatic Palette: The tables provided in this palette are based upon different aromatic qualities, such as citrusy or forest. The aromatic palette provides a path of selecting essential oils based upon the aromatics desired. Let’s say you would like to make an inhaler that is reminiscent of the forest; you could select fir, pine, and cypress from the forest palette. Or you could change the forest-only aroma to one that has a bit of citrus in it. Choose two essential oils from the forest palette and one from the citrus palette.

2. The Therapeutics Chart: The therapeutics chart categorizes essential oils based upon their affinities to different systems of the body. If you are seeking to make a respiratory remedy or a remedy that reduces menstrual cramps, this is the chart you will want to use.

3. Morphology (Plant Part) Chart: The morphology chart is based upon the energetic messages of the essential oil based upon the part of the plant it is derived from.

If approaching your product with emotions in mind, you may begin your search by using the aromatic palette or the morphology approach. If you are formulating a product or synergy for a health imbalance (e.g., respiratory congestion or sluggish digestion) then you can utilize the therapeutics chart.

Once you have selected the essential oils you would like to use in your product formulation, the next question before blending them together is:

Do they smell good together?

This is always done before blending them together. Remove the caps from all three to five bottles, place them together in your hands to ensure that all the bottle neck openings are the same height, and then waft the bottles under your nose.

What you want to notice is if the essential oils smell good together and if they appear to merge into one aroma as a group. If one essential oil seems to not merge very well with the others, you may decide to replace that one with another of similar aroma or therapeutic action. Whether blending for emotional/mental/spiritual or physical benefits, the essential oils should be complementary and supportive to one another in action and aroma.

AROMATIC PALETTES

FOREST AROMAS
Essential Oil	Latin name
Cedarwood	Cedrus deodara
Cedarwood, Virginia	Juniperus virginiana
Cypress	Cupressus sempervirens
Fir, Balsam	Abies balsamea
Juniper Berry	Juniperus communis
Pine, Scots	Pinus sylvestris
Pinyon Pine	Pinus edulis
Spruce, Hemlock	Tsuga canadensis

CITRUS AROMAS
Essential Oil	Latin name
Bergamot	Citrus bergamia
Grapefruit	Citrus × paradisi
Lemon	Citrus limon
Lime	Citrus × aurantifolia
Sweet Orange	Citrus sinensis
Mandarin	Citrus reticulata

SPICY AROMAS
Essential Oil	Latin name
Black Pepper	Piper nigrum
Cardamom	Elettaria cardamomum
Cinnamon Leaf	Cinnamomum verum (syn. Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
Clove Bud	Syzygium aromaticum
Ginger	Zingiber officinale
Turmeric	Curcuma longa

FLORAL AROMAS
Common Name	Latin name
Geranium	Pelargonium × asperum
Jasmine	Jasminum grandiflorum (or Jasminum officinale)
Lavender	Lavandula angustifolia
Neroli	Citrus aurantium var. amara
Petitgrain	Citrus aurantium var. amara
Rose	Rosa × damascena or Rosa alba
Ylang Ylang	Cananga odorata

RESIN AROMAS
Essential Oil	Latin name
Frankincense	Boswellia sacra (syn. Boswellia carteri)
Myrrh	Commiphora myrrha

THERAPEUTICS

SYSTEM AFFINITY	THERAPEUTICS
Circulatory (cardiovascular) system	To support healthy circulation: Black Pepper, Celery Seed, Juniper Berry, Lemon, Rosemary ct. cineole Varicose veins, to improve appearance of or prevent them from getting worse: Cypress, Lemon, Patchouli, Rose
Digestive system	Relieve nausea: Ginger, Peppermint Relieve excess gas: Anise, Cardamom, Cilantro, Coriander Seed, Sweet Fennel, Ginger, Peppermint To support and enhance the digestive system (stimulating): Anise, Black Pepper, Carrot Seed, Celery Seed, Sweet Fennel, Fingerroot, Ginger, Peppermint
Musculoskeletal system	To relieve pain: Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Coriander Seed, Ginger, Laurel, Lemongrass, Sweet Marjoram, Peppermint, Plai, Rosemary ct. camphor, Vetiver, Wintergreen To relieve muscle spasms: Bergamot Mint, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, Coriander Seed, Lavender, Sweet Marjoram To relieve muscular tension: Basil ct. linalool, Bergamot Mint, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, Coriander Seed, Katafray, Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Pinyon Pine, Hemlock Spruce, Vetiver To support recovery from sprains, strains, and repetitive injuries, herbal oils such as Arnica and St. John’s wort can play a central role with essential oils.
Respiratory system	Allergies: to prevent or relieve allergies, use a personal inhaler: Blue Tansy, German Chamomile, Goldenrod Decongesting and helpful for eliminating excess mucus in the nasal cavity: Cardamom, Blue Gum Eucalyptus, Fingerroot, Laurel, Green Myrtle, Niaouli, Peppermint, Rosemary ct. cineole, Saro Immune Supportive Essential Oils: Frankincense, Laurel, Niaouli, Hemlock Spruce, Lemon, Thyme ct. thymol Relieve spasmodic cough: Cardamom, Cypress, Laurel, Saro Help to clear congestion in lungs: Anise, Cardamom, Blue Gum Eucalyptus, Fingerroot, Inula, Laurel, Green Myrtle, Rosemary ct. cineole, Saro
Reproductive system	For painful menstrual cramps or menstrual periods: Clary Sage, Sweet Fennel, Lavender, Sweet Marjoram, Plai To uplift during challenging times, mood swings, or mild depression: Bergamot, Clary Sage, Neroli, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Mandarin, Rose, Ylang Ylang To increase sexual desire/aphrodisiacs: Cardamom, Cinnamon Leaf, Clary Sage, Ginger, Jasmine Absolute, Patchouli, Rose, Ylang Ylang To support hormonal balance: Clary Sage, Geranium, Lavender

EMOTIONS

In this emotion-based blending method, we are using the information contained in the plant part to send an energetic message via its aroma. Also called Morphology, this method was developed by Jade Shutes early on in her aromatherapy career and was first published in her Blending Manual in 1992. Other aromatherapy educators and books have since shared this approach to blending and selecting essential oils.

Blending by Morphology approaches the client and the essential oils based upon the unique message that each individual oil contains, based upon the part of the plant which they are obtained from. In the following pages you will uncover the messages that seeds, roots, woods, resins, leaves, needles, fruits, and flowers have to impart.

SEEDS

Seeds represent the beginning of life for a plant, its potential to become and to manifest. Seed essential oils naturally have an affinity for the reproductive system. They can support growth and manifestation, new beginnings, embarking upon a journey, and restorative work on the self.

ROOTS

One of the functions of a root is to anchor the plant into a substrate (such as the soil). Root essential oils contain messages to ground, provide stability, nourish and support, and maintain homeostasis (a balance in the body). They provide strength and stability.

WOOD

The wood (trunk) is the center and strength of a tree. Therefore on an emotional level, essential oils that come from the wood can provide strength and centeredness. They encourage the individual to go inward and inspire self-reflection. For example, if things are scattered or overwhelming, wood essential oils help facilitate going within our center and reflecting on what is happening.

RESINS

If you cut into certain trees, they release a resinous substance that helps to protect and heal the tree. Resin essential oils therefore contain the inherent energy to protect and to heal. Resin energy is about healing and is particularly indicated for emotional wounding such as trauma, heartbreak, grieving, and separation. It is powerful when used during meditation practice to reconnect with the divine or one’s spirituality.

LEAVES AND NEEDLES

Leaves and needles have a natural affinity for the respiratory system and hence are connected to the breath and breathing. They inspire deep, expansive breathing that can lend itself to feelings of empowerment and vitality.

Leaves and needles function within plants for photosynthesis. If we consider photosynthesis for a moment, we can see that this is connected to the power of transformation. Leaf and needle essential oils allow for shifting in perceptions or states of being that may not be productive to an individual’s life.

FLOWERS

Flowers have a strong affinity with the emotional realm and offer a more feminine energy. Since antiquity, they have represented something of beauty, relating to love and a gift of friendship, hence their ability to soothe the heart and mind. Flowers therefore have a relationship with the reproductive system, our ability to attract, and our ability to survive difficulties. The flower inspires another generation of growth and gives forth life, potential, and movement forward.

Essential oils made from flowers are encoded with messages representing love, compassion, forgiveness, emotional nourishment, attraction, creation, manifestation, and beauty.

FRUIT

Citrus fruits have a naturally uplifting and cleansing effect. Fruits contain the message of purification—cleansing and releasing that which binds or prevents one from moving forward. They are incredibly beneficial for those who feel “heavy” energetically, that is, stuck or unable to release certain thoughts and/or feelings. Citrus oils can also relieve anxiety. When used with roots and resins, they can be quite stabilizing while clarifying difficult situations or allowing for movement of challenging emotions.

Now that we understand the potential message an essential oil may impart based upon the part of the plant it is extracted from, the chart below provides indications and examples of essential oils covered in this book for each category.

PART OF PLANT	INDICATED FOR	ESSENTIAL OILS
Seeds	Inability to manifest, frustration, lack of communication between two people, inability to digest one’s food and/or to gain nourishment, exhaustion, having difficulty conceiving ideas, boredom or inability to be in the present moment, imbalances of the second chakra or the solar plexus chakra, frigidity, hopelessness, cynicism, lack of self-esteem, frustration	Angelica Seed, Cardamom, Carrot Seed, Coriander Seed, Sweet Fennel
Roots	Flightiness, instability, anxiety, feelings of being overwhelmed, scattered, sensitive constitution, nervousness, feelings of being disconnected to life, frazzled nerves, envy, compulsiveness, panic attacks, irritability, worry	Angelica Root, Ginger, Vetiver
Wood	Insecurity, lack of self-esteem, a need to go inward, self-reflection, need to conduct energy either upwards or downwards, weak constitution, envy	Himalayan Cedarwood
Resins	Post-traumatic stress, emotional wounds, anxiety, feelings of frustration, irritability, poor or lack of self-esteem, spiritual void or challenges, recovery from addictions or abuse, psychic wounding, lack of self-love and/or nourishment, impatience, tension, worry, despondency, bitterness, anger, anxiety	Copaiba, Frankincense, Myrrh
Leaves and Needles	Lack of confidence and/or self-esteem issues, shallow breathing, feelings of being hemmed in by life, contracted unable to expand, difficulty expressing emotions, stagnation, unable to shift or change/grow, lack of vitality, lack of courage, irritability, tension	Cypress, Basil ct. linalool, Blue Gum Eucalyptus, Balsam Fir, Laurel, Green Myrtle, Niaouli, Petitgrain, Peppermint, Pinyon Pine, Hemlock Spruce
Flowers	Anger, anxiety, burnout, lack of confidence, being critical of others, depression, despondency, lack of empathy, emptiness, frigidity, grief, grumpiness, guilt feelings, hopelessness, hostility, jealousy, insecurity, instability, resentment, resignation, sadness, self-criticism (to bring back into body, inner awareness), self-esteem issues, shyness, stress, tension, inability to forgive	Roman Chamomile, German Chamomile, Clary Sage, Geranium, Helichrysum, Jasmine, Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Yarrow, Ylang Ylang
Fruits	Toxic thinking that turns in on the self, anger, self-criticism, cynicism, mild depression, despondency, frigidity, grief, grumpiness, guilt feelings, hopelessness, hostility, inability to forgive or let go, indecision (when decision is creating anxiety), insecurity, resentment, resignation, sadness, stress, tension	Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Mandarin, Sweet Orange

Inspire and Warm

For someone who is feeling depressed due to low energy, feels cold, and lacks vitality.

Fruit: 10 drops Sweet Orange to uplift, inspire, and support vitality

Root: 7 drops Ginger for warmth

Flower: 5 drops Neroli for acceptance and kindness to self, inspires

Leaves and Needles: 2 drops Pinyon Pine to support vitality, 1 ounce (30 ml) Sesame oil

Grief Inhaler

Flower: 5 drops Rose for nourishing the heart and compassion

Fruit: 10 drops Tangerine to warm and comfort while also gently uplifting; a beam of sunshine

Root: 3 drops Vetiver to connect with and ground the grieving process

Resin: 5 drops Frankincense for healing and protection

SYSTEM AFFINITY REVIEW

BODY SYSTEM AND ESSENTIAL OILS
Circulatory Black Pepper Celery Seed Cypress Juniper Berry Lemon Rose Rosemary ct. cineole	Reproductive Basil ct. linalool Clary Sage Sweet Fennel Geranium Jasmine Absolute Lavender Mandarin Sweet Marjoram Neroli Petitgrain Plai Rose
Digestive Angelica Root Anise Basil ct. linalool Bergamot Black Pepper Cardamom Carrot Seed Celery Seed German Chamomile Roman Chamomile Cilantro Cinnamon Leaf Coriander Seed Sweet Fennel Fingerroot Ginger Grapefruit Lemon Mandarin Sweet Orange Peppermint Thyme ct. thymol Thyme ct. linalool	Musculoskeletal Basil ct. linalool Bergamot Mint Black Pepper Himalayan Cedarwood Roman Chamomile Clary Sage Clove Bud Coriander Seed Ginger Juniper Berry Katafray Laurel Lavender Lemongrass Sweet Marjoram Peppermint Plai Pinyon Pine Rosemary ct. cineole or Rosemary ct. camphor Hemlock Spruce Vetiver Wintergreen
Respiratory Anise Blue Tansy Cardamom Cinnamon Leaf Cypress Eucalyptus Globulus Fingerroot Balsam Fir Goldenrod Inula Laurel Sweet Marjoram Green Myrtle Niaouli Peppermint Scots Pine Pinyon Pine Plai Rosemary ct. cineole Rosemary ct. camphor Saro Hemlock Spruce Thyme ct. thymol	Skin Calendula CO2 Cape Chamomile Carrot Seed Himalayan Cedarwood German Chamomile Roman Chamomile Cistus Copaiba Cypress Frankincense Geranium Helichrysum Lavender Melissa Neroli Niaouli Palmarosa Patchouli Petitgrain Rose Rosemary ct. verbenone Blue Tansy Thyme ct. linalool Yarrow