Beginning Tips on Blending Essential Oils for Aromatherapy

When starting to blend it is important to remember that there are different types of smells and that scents in the same catergory blend with each other the best. The basic types are:

Floral (i.e. Lavender, Neroli, Jasmine)
Woodsy (i.e. Pine, Cedar)
Earthy (i.e. Oakmoss, Vetiver, Patchouli)
Herbaceous (i.e. Marjoram, Rosemary, Basil)
Minty (i.e. Peppermint, Spearmint)
Medicinal/Camphorous (i.e. Eucalyptus, Cajuput, Tea Tree)
Spicy (i.e. Nutmeg, Clove, Cinnamon)
Oriental (i.e. Ginger, Patchouli)
Citrus (i.e. Orange, Lemon, Lime)

In general, but not limited to these, the following categories blend well together:

Florals blend well with spicy, citrusy and woodsy oils.
Woodsy oils generally blend well with all categories.
Spicy and oriental oils blend well with florals, oriental and citrus oils. Be careful not to overpower the blend with the spicy or oriental oils.
Minty oils blend well with citrus, woodsy, herbaceous and earthy oils.

Oils evaporate at different rates, so most blenders use oils that blend different evaporation rates, as one oil evaporates the effect and scent of the blend will change. There are three evaporation groupings, as follows:

Top Notes: (these have the fastest evaporation rates)

Anise
Basil
Bay Laurel
Bergamot
Citronella
Eucalyptus
Grapefruit
Lavender
Lemon
Lemon grass
Lime
Orange
Peppermint
Spearmint
Tangerine

Middle Notes:

Chamomile
Cinnamon
Clary Sage
Cypress
Geranium
Hyssop
Jasmine
Juniper Berry
Neroli
Nutmeg
Rose
Rosemary
Rosewood
Spruce
Tea Tree
Thyme
Ylang Ylang

Base Notes:

Angelica
Balsam, Peru
Cedarwood
Frankincense
Ginger
Myrrh
Patchouli
Sandalwood
Vanilla

None of these lists of evaporation rates are complete, they are just a starting point.

Some Tips for starting to blend:

Start out small, use the least number of drops, so you waste less while experimenting
Keep an accurate notebooks of the experiments you try, with notes on your thoughts and feeling of each blend as you make them. You have ahigher chance of duplicating a scent with accurate records.
When storing your blends be sure to label it clearly. If there isn’t sufficient room on the bottle, then assign it a code that is matched in your notebook to that particular blend.
After creating a blend allow it to sit for a few days to a week. Smell it again, the scent may change as the oils blend. Now decide if you like it or not.