HOW TO BLEND ESSENTIAL OILS

H0W TO BLEND ESSENTIAL OILS

There are many types of products that you can use to dilute your essential oils, depending on your needs. The most common option would be carrier oils, but you can also use body butter, lotions, creams, and soaps. If you want to add essential oil to your hair, you can add them to your shampoos and conditioners as well.

Important things to consider when making an essential oil blend include the type and quality of the essential oils used, as well as the blend's application and duration of use. In addition, it is important to consider the age of the user and whether they have any underlying health conditions, or if they are taking any medications that might interact with the oils.

Some essential oils - particularly citrus oils - may contain phototoxic properties, they should be avoided if the user will be exposed to the sun after use. Some essential oils such as Camphor, Wintergreen, Wormwood, and Tarragon among others should be avoided during pregnancy. Other essential oils such as Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Rosemary to name a few, may present a higher risk of irritation or toxicity to children or pets. It is therefore important to do some solid background research on the oils you are interested in before using them in a blend. Regardless of the type of oil you choose to use, 100% pure plant-derived essential oils are preferable for a high-quality blend.

As the skin of infants and children is often more sensitive than the skin of adults, do use essential oils sparingly when blending them. It is recommended to add just 1 to 3 drops of essential oil to every ounce (approximately 30 ml) of the diluting agent, for a maximum concentration of 0.5%. For adults, depending on your skin condition and the frequency that you want to use essential oils, you can add the following amount of essential oil to every ounce of the diluting agent:

• 10 to 20 drops of essential oil (a maximum concentration of about 3%) for long-term regular use.

• 30 to 60 drops of essential oil (a maximum concentration of about 10%) for use of no longer than 2 weeks.

The concentrations mentioned above are general recommendations, however, there are some essential oils that have special dilution needs that you should be aware of. For instance, due to the potential for phototoxicity, it is recommended to dilute Lemon essential oil to a concentration of no more than 2% before use and to dilute Grapefruit essential oil to a concentration of no more than 4% before use. Similarly, to minimize the risk of an allergic reaction, it is recommended to dilute Clove Bud essential oil to a concentration of no more than 0.5% before use. These are only a few special cases but there may be many more to consider when selecting essential oils for a specific purpose. For this reason, you should always do thorough research on any essential oil you are interested in before using it in a blend.

QUICK REFERENCE BLENDING CHART

The following chart is intended as a quick reference for the ratios required to make light essential oil blends. Units are provided in common measuring tools for convenience. Note that 1 metric teaspoon is equal to approximately 5 ml and 1 metric tablespoon is equal to approximately 20 ml.

Essential Oil Blend Percentage	Essential Oil Amount	Carrier Oil Amount
0.5%	1 drop	2 teaspoons
	2 drops	1 tablespoon
	10 drops	100 ml
1%	2 drops	2 teaspoons
	4 drops	1 tablespoon
	20 drops	100 ml
2%	4 drops	2 teaspoons
	8 drops	1 tablespoon
	40 drops	100 ml
3%	6 drops	2 teaspoons
	12 drops	1 tablespoon
	60 drops	100 ml

Regardless of the blend you use, if there are any signs of skin irritation, such as redness or a burning feeling, stop applying the blend immediately and remove it by washing with a gentle soap.

It is also important to use your own olfactory preferences and sensitivity as a gauge of a good blend. Some people have especially sensitive sniffers and may prefer lighter concentrations of some blends than others. Remember, if a blend doesn't smell right to you, it's probably not the right blend for you!