How to Mix Essential Oils: A Simple Guide

Whether you’re brand new to essential oils or have enjoyed ready-made products in the past, starting to experiment with your essential oil mixes is super exciting. Creating aromatherapy blends can be a nuanced process, requiring careful consideration of the essential oils used and their intended effects. There are so many scent combinations to choose from it can be a little overwhelming to get started. Not to mention, essential oils are used for more than just the scent, they also can provide benefits in their own rights too and be used for specific purposes as well.

How do you create essential oil blends? Are there essential oils that you shouldn’t mix? We’ve put together a simple guide to help you begin your journey.

Essential oils are incredibly versatile and have a wide range of uses. All Aromantic essential oils are intended for use in skincare and beauty products, but bear in mind many will need carrier oils added to make them safe to apply to the skin.

Essential oils are highly concentrated products that need diluting to make them safe. Topical application of undiluted essential oils can lead to skin irritation and sensitivity, so you should always mix essential oils with a carrier oil to make them safer. In addition to safety reasons, it is common to blend essential oils for their beneficial properties to tailor your blend for oily skin or sensitive skin etc. Creating your own essential oil blends allows you to tailor the scents and benefits to your personal preferences and needs.

A maximum of 1% essential oil dilution is generally considered safe for direct application, but this will vary depending on your chosen oil and product as well as the safety information detailing where they are safe to use on the body and the type of product. All of our essential oils come with a comprehensive guide on how to use that particular oil, the beneficial properties and suggestions for recipes and blends. This will help you ensure you are making blends that not only smell great but are safe too.

The combining of essential oils with other ingredients is most commonly referred to as blending, though we’ll use both blending and mixing to describe it throughout this guide.

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts that possess unique properties, making them useful for various purposes. Understanding these properties is crucial for effective essential oil blending. Essential oils can be classified into different categories based on their properties:

• Top Notes: These oils have a light, fresh, and uplifting scent, often used for their invigorating and refreshing properties. Examples include citrus oils like lemon and grapefruit. Top notes are the first impression of your blend, providing an instant burst of fragrance.

• Middle Notes: These oils have a warm, rich, and floral scent, often used for their balancing and harmonizing properties. Examples include lavender and geranium. Middle notes form the heart of your blend, adding depth and complexity.

• Base Notes: These oils have a deep, rich, and woody scent, often used for their grounding and calming properties. Examples include sandalwood and cedarwood. Base notes are the foundation of your blend, providing longevity and a lasting impression.

Understanding the properties of essential oils helps you create blends that are tailored to specific needs and preferences. By combining top, middle, and base notes, you can achieve a harmonious and well-rounded essential oil blend.

When considering how to mix essential oils, it's important to know what products experts would advise using. When we think of diluting a product, we generally think of adding water to the substance to “water it down”. To ensure that your blends are truly suitable to apply onto the skin, carrier oils are the safest way to dilute them.

When talking about carrier oils we're referring to an oil which is used in larger quantities than your essential oil and acts as a base for your oil. Examples of carrier oils include:

• Rice bran oil

• Sweet almond oil

• Grape seed oil

• Jojoba oil

• Liquid coconut oil

• Shea butter oil.

The best carrier oils have little to no odour, so won't alter the smell of the essential oils you're working with. For topical use, you may want to consider the absorption properties. 

As carrier oils will make up the basis of many of your homemade oil products, it's worth considering which carrier oil is most appropriate for your end product. Some are more suited to different products like face creams or in massage blends. Certain carrier oils will also target different skin types like dry, mature or greasy skin

Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils and make them safe for topical application. Selecting the right carrier oil is important, as it can affect the overall quality and effectiveness of your essential oil blend. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a carrier oil:

• Skin Type: Different carrier oils are suitable for different skin types. For example, jojoba oil is ideal for sensitive skin due to its gentle and non-irritating properties, while coconut oil is better suited for dry skin because of its rich, moisturizing qualities.

• Absorption Rate: Carrier oils have different absorption rates, which can affect how quickly the essential oil is absorbed into the skin. For instance, sweet almond oil has a fast absorption rate, making it great for quick application, while coconut oil has a slower absorption rate, providing longer-lasting moisture.

• Shelf Life: Carrier oils have different shelf lives, which can affect the overall quality of your essential oil blend. Jojoba oil, for example, has a long shelf life, making it a stable choice for your blends, whereas flaxseed oil has a shorter shelf life and may require more frequent replacement.

Some popular carrier oils include jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, and grapeseed oil. By considering these factors, you can select the best carrier oil to complement your essential oil blend and meet your specific needs.

We have a vast range of cosmetic recipe suggestions to help you get started with homemade blends. In these recipes, you’ll find the instructions use percentages instead of literal measurements. This makes the recipes easy to scale up or down, depending on how much product you want to end up with.

A common question when starting out is how many drops of essential oils to use in your blends, which can vary depending on the desired strength and purpose of the blend.

Use precise weighing scales for accuracy when measuring your ingredients, and when you’re just starting, try simple amounts to make your formulas easier. For example, if you’re making 100g of a product, 1% = 1g.

Accuracy is important when working with essential oils as we recommend you don’t exceed 1% essential oil. For example, in our nail and cuticle oil, the ingredients are:

44% Hemp Seed Oil

17% Pumpkin Seed Oil

16% Sesame Oil

11% Thistle Oil

8% Jojoba Oil

3% Vitamin E

0.5% Myrrh Essential Oil

0.5% Lemon Essential Oil

This blend allows for 1% essential oils, a large enough quantity to add scent but still restricted to a safe amount for topical application.

Blends are typically made up of three components; a top note, a middle note, and a base note. The “notes” are categories based on the strength and longevity of a scent. When you blend oils, it's important to consider the fragrance families and how they complement each other.

Top notes or opening notes are the first scents you smell; they’re often light and sharp. Examples of top notes include bergamot essential oillime essential oil, and most citrus oils. Top notes typically have an instant zing.

Middle or “heart’’ notes have more warmth than a top note and linger more than the instant punch of citrus. Ginger essential oil and cinnamon leaf are good examples of middle notes with a light spice and sweetness. Middle notes are the middle ground between top and base notes and often fall into more than one category. Floral essential oils, such as lavender and geranium, can blend effectively with earthy, spicy, and citrusy oils to create a balanced and pleasing scent.

Bottom or base notes are the richest scents in a blend and have a longer-lasting intensity. They have a grounding effect and are often more savoury than other notes. Examples include cedarwood and sandalwood essential oil

Using a combination of notes will help you to achieve a harmonious blend. For seasonal suggestions check out our room spray blends including suggested scent combinations for Halloween diffusers

When you’re first experimenting with how to blend essential oils, you must note everything you’re adding. If you make a gorgeous blend, you’ll want to remember how to recreate it! Equally, if one of your blends doesn’t turn out as well as you’d hoped, you want to record what you did so you don’t repeat the same thing.

It's fun to experiment with essential oils that blend well and essential oils that complement one another. Because you only need a few drops, there's very little waste if you don't like a combination or your experiment doesn't work out. 

When considering what essential oils should not be mixed, ask yourself how you want to benefit from the blend. For example, if you're going to make a product that has calming and soothing effects, you want to combine ingredients that will work together to achieve that. You wouldn't want to mix peppermint or tea tree oil in a blend intended to aid sleep because these essential oils are associated more with alertness and energising. 

The question of what essential oils should not be mixed comes from personal preference. If there are fragrances you like, try combining them and see what the results are. Tweaking the strengths can help balance the scents, but what one person loves another may find unpleasant, so keep mixing and sniffing until you land on something you like! 

The resulting scent is just one of the things to consider with what essential oils should not be mixed. You may find some combinations are slower absorbing or leave a residue on the skin, so if you prefer a dryer finish, prioritise essential oils like grape seed oil which doesn't leave a greasy feeling when applied. 

Our Ultimate Guide to Essential Oils has some great suggestions for the best essential oils to get you started. For an easy introduction to essential oils, try our aromatherapy kits today. 

Essential oils are highly concentrated and can be potent, so it’s important to take safety precautions when using them. Here are some safety precautions to keep in mind:

• Always Dilute Essential Oils: Before applying essential oils to any part of the skin, always dilute them with a carrier oil to prevent irritation and sensitivity.

• Use High-Quality, Pure Essential Oils: Ensure you are using high-quality, pure essential oils that are free of contaminants and adulterants. This guarantees the safety and effectiveness of your blends.

• Follow Recommended Usage Guidelines: Adhere to the recommended usage guidelines for each essential oil. Overuse can lead to adverse reactions, so it’s crucial to use the correct amount.

• Keep Away from Children and Pets: Essential oils should always be stored out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidental ingestion or exposure.

• Consult Healthcare Professionals: Avoid using essential oils during pregnancy or breastfeeding without consulting a healthcare professional. Some essential oils may not be safe during these times.

By taking these safety precautions, you can enjoy the benefits of essential oils while minimising any risks. Always prioritise safety to ensure a positive and beneficial experience with your essential oil blends.

Proper storage is important to maintain the quality and potency of your blended essential oils. Here are some tips for storing blended essential oils:

• Use Dark Glass Bottles: Store essential oils and their blends in dark glass bottles to protect them from light, which can degrade the oils over time.

• Keep Bottles Tightly Sealed: Ensure the bottles are tightly sealed to prevent oxidation and contamination, which can affect the quality of the oils.

• Store in a Cool, Dark Place: To maintain their potency and extend their shelf life, store the bottles in a cool, dark place, such as a cupboard or drawer.

• Avoid Heat Sources: Keep the bottles away from heat sources, such as radiators or heaters, as heat can accelerate the degradation of the oils.

• Label Bottles with Date and Contents: Label the bottles with the date and contents so you can easily identify them and track their freshness.

By following these storage tips, you can keep your blended essential oils fresh and potent for a longer period. Proper storage ensures that your essential oil blends remain effective and enjoyable to use.