How to Blend Essential Oils

Co-authored by Renee Hughes

Last Updated: August 22, 2024 Approved

Essential oils can be mixed or used separately to scent skin scrubs, body butters, perfumes, and many other substances. Mixing these oils can be a fun activity as you get to try different scents and mixtures. To begin, you should combine your essential oils to create a pleasing and therapeutic scent. Essential oils must then be diluted with a carrier oil, dispersing agent, or alcohol for use on the skin. After you mix these together, you should safely store your oil, especially if you’re planning on aging the blend.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Formulating a Blend

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1
Determine what type of scent you want. Different types of scents are often used to alleviate different issues. Think about what type of scent you want. There are general categories of essential oil scent, and oils in any one category tend to mix well with their own kind. That said, you can mix scents from different categories. Try experimenting with different types of scents. ^{[1]
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- Floral: Lavender, neroli, jasmine, ylang ylang, rose
- Earthy : Oakmoss, patchouli, pine, cedar
- Herbal: Marjoram, rosemary, basil, thyme
- Minty: Peppermint, spearmint, sage
- Spicy: Nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, black pepper
- Citrus: Orange, lemon, lime, bergamot
- It's always best to consult with a licensed aromatherapist when working with essential oils. They can guide you through the best practices for aromatherapy and warn you of any medical risks. ^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Renee Hughes
  Certified Professional Aromatherapist
  
  Expert Interview. 14 April 2022.}
2
Choose top, middle, and base notes. The note of an oil refers to the length of time that it takes to evaporate. Top notes evaporate the quickest while base notes linger for a long time. If you want your oils to hold their aroma for a certain time, choose a good base note that pairs well with top and middle notes.
- Top notes evaporate within one or two hours. They include anise, basil, citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, spearmint, orange, and lemongrass.
- Middle notes evaporate within two to four hours. They include fennel, nutmeg, tea tree, jasmine, and chamomile.
- Base notes last for up to a few days. They include balsam, cedarwood, ginger, patchouli, and oakmoss. ^{[4]
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3
Test your blend. Dip one cotton swab into each bottle of oil. You should use one swab per bottle. Hold these about a foot away from your nose, and swirl them in circles in the air. ^{[5]
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- You can also use cotton balls or fragrance testing strips to try out your scents.
4
Mix the oils. Once you have determined your essential oil blend, you can start adding them together. Using a pipette or dropper, drop the measured amounts of your top, middle, and base notes into a clean mixing bowl or into a glass vial. Drop the correct amount of drops as stated per the recipe you are using. If you are unsure how much to use, you can follow a few different guidelines:
- The 30-50-20 rule: your mixture is 30% of your top note, 50% of your middle note, and 20% of your base note. ^{[7]
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- The 1-2-3 Rule: For every one drop of your base note, you have two drops of your middle note and three drops of your top note. ^{[8]
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- You should mix your essential oils together first before adding any carriers or diluting agents. ^{[9]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Diluting Your Oils

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1
Find a carrier oil if you want to apply it to the skin. If you are applying essential oils to the skin, you will need to dilute them with a carrier oil first. ^{[10]
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Expert Source

Renee Hughes
Certified Professional Aromatherapist

Expert Interview. 14 April 2022.} Essential oils are highly concentrated, and by applying them directly to your skin without a carrier oil, you risk permanent damage to your skin. ^{[11]
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Research source} Carrier oils are typically vegetable oils. Good carrier oils include:
- Almond Oil ^{[12]
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  Renee Hughes
  Certified Professional Aromatherapist
  
  Expert Interview. 14 April 2022.}
- Rosehip Oil
- Avocado Oil
- Sesame Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Hemp Seed Oil
- Olive Oil ^{[13]
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  Renee Hughes
  Certified Professional Aromatherapist
  
  Expert Interview. 14 April 2022.}
- Coconut Oil
- Sunflower Oil
- Grape Seed Oil ^{[14]
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- There are very few times when you will not need a carrier oil when working with essential oils. In some cases, you can get a really significant burn if you apply undiluted essential oils to your skin. ^{[15]
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  Expert Source
  
  Renee Hughes
  Certified Professional Aromatherapist
  
  Expert Interview. 14 April 2022.}
2
Add a dispersing agent if you want to use it in the bath. If you are not planning to rub it directly on the skin but do want to use it in the bath, you should use a dispersing agent. A dispersing agent will help the oil spread through the bath safely. While some vegetable oils can be used as a dispersing agent, others, like coconut oil, are too thick for use in the bath. Try using an oil with a lighter, more liquid viscosity. ^{[16]
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Research source} Some good agents include:
- Honey
- Milk
- Jojoba Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
Perfumes are used in smaller applications. While you can use jojoba oil for a perfume, alcohol is typically the preferred diluting agent. Use between ten and fifteen drops of essential oil blend per half ounce (15 ml) of alcohol or jojoba oil. ^{[17]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Completing Your Blend

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1
Determine your proportion of ingredients. Once you have mixed your essential oils, you can add them to a carrier oil or dispersing agent, depending on your use of the oil. How much of each ingredient you mix together depends on how you are planning on using your essential oil.
- For massages, use between fifteen and twenty drops of essential oil blend per ounce of carrier oil.
- For lotions or skin oils, use between three and fifteen drops per ounce of carrier oil.
- For use on children, use three to six drops per ounce of carrier oil.
- For baths, use between two and twelve drops of oil per ounce of dispersing agent. ^{[18]
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- If you are using essential oils for smelling or inhaling only, you do not need a carrier oil.
You can combine your ingredients in a bowl or in a bottle. If you are mixing your oils in a bowl, you should mix the oil by stirring the oil with a spoon. Wooden stir sticks may also help. If you are mixing your oils in a bottle, you can gently swirl the bottle in your hand to mix the oils. ^{[19]
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3
Store in a bottle. Glass vials, bottles, and sprayers are a good way to store your essential oil blends. Amber bottles with a volume of two to four millimeters are often recommended to store essential oils. ^{[20]
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Research source} Carefully pour the blended oil inside the container; you may use a funnel if it helps. Keep the blend in a cool, dark area.
- Carrier oils may expire more quickly than essential oils. Blends with rosehip, sesame, or sweet almond oil can be stored for 6-12 months. Jojoba oil and coconut oil are very stable and may last indefinitely.
- You may also store the blended oil in the refrigerator. The exception to this is any blend containing avocado oil, which should not be stored in the fridge.
- Do not use if your oils smell bitter or rancid. ^{[21]
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- Do not store the oils in direct sunlight or near a stove. ^{[22]
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The scent of an essential oil blend can change as the oils settle. ^{[23]
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Research source} Let the essential oil sit for three or four days before you try smelling it again. Note if the scent has changed significantly. This will tell you how a blend ages. By aging some of your blends, you might find more satisfying scents.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do you blend essential oils for a diffuser?

Renee Hughes
Certified Professional Aromatherapist
Renee Hughes is a Certified Professional Aromatherapist and the CEO of The Aromaspecialists. With more than seven years of experience, she specializes in teaching others how to use aromatherapy and become certified aromatherapists. Renee received her training from The New Eden School of Natural Health and Herbal Studies. She is also a Level 2 National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) Certified Professional Aromatherapist and a NAHA Approved School Educator.

Renee Hughes

Certified Professional Aromatherapist

Expert Answer

Stick with thinner oils, since oils like vetiver or patchouli are often too thick for a diffuser. Once you're finished, be sure to clean your diffuser out before using it again.

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Question

How many drops of essential oil do you put in diffuser?

Renee Hughes
Certified Professional Aromatherapist
Renee Hughes is a Certified Professional Aromatherapist and the CEO of The Aromaspecialists. With more than seven years of experience, she specializes in teaching others how to use aromatherapy and become certified aromatherapists. Renee received her training from The New Eden School of Natural Health and Herbal Studies. She is also a Level 2 National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) Certified Professional Aromatherapist and a NAHA Approved School Educator.

Renee Hughes

Certified Professional Aromatherapist

Expert Answer

Add between 3 and 8 drops of essential oil to your diffuser—don't use any more than that, or else it could be overkill.

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Question

What are the benefits of aromatherapy?

Ritu Thakur, MA
Natural Health Care Professional
Dr. Ritu Thakur is a healthcare consultant based in Delhi, India. She has over 14 years of experience in Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga, and Holistic Care. Dr. Ritu also works as a business consultant in the life sciences domain. She has successfully executed 150+ small to large-scale custom consulting projects for both established and development-stage companies. She received her Bachelor Degree in Medicine (BAMS) in 2009 from BU University, Bhopal followed by her Master's in Health Care in 2011 from Apollo Institute of Health Care Management, Hyderabad.

Ritu Thakur, MA

Natural Health Care Professional

Expert Answer

Aromatherapy is a natural, holistic approach which uses natural plant extracts to treat and relieve the mind and body. There many benefits of aromatherapy depending on the oils you're using. There are aromas that can make it easier to sleep, reduce pain, or even soothe sore muscles!

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Tips

Start with small batches at first so that you do not waste oils on blends that don’t work.

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Write down your recipes as you try them so that you remember the proportions of each blend.

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Don’t be afraid to experiment with scents and blends. You will start to find mixtures that work for you.

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Warnings

Never take essential oils by mouth.

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Undiluted essential oils can cause permanent damage in some cases. Do not let them touch broken or cut skin.

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Be careful when touching some types of essential oils. Their acidity can eat through your skin and burn you.

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How to Blend Essential Oils

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Formulating a Blend

Diluting Your Oils

Completing Your Blend

Expert Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

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