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A great natural fragrance begins with essential oils. Wouldn't it be great to have the nose of a perfumer? To be able to pick out the different scents in a blend without being told what they were.
Alas, I do not have that nose and must settle for simpler fragrance blends using only 3 or 4 essential oils. Sometimes I become daring and throw in one or two more.
Toothpicks are a good tool to use to create scents without using too much of those expensive oils. I just dip the toothpick into the oil and call that one drop. After I have a few toothpicks scented, I put them together to see if I like that blend. Very little essential oil is wasted and if I put the toothpicks in a container, I can come back later to see if I still like the blend or if it needs more work.
My best advice is to follow your nose. Everyone has a different idea of what smells good so you might as well make one that you like. If you need some ideas to get you started, try visiting Rainbow Meadow's Blend Recipe Search. This unique search tool gives suggestions and recipes for essential oil scent blends.
Historically, essential oils were put into catagories based on the musical scale system. This classification process, invented by a Frenchman by the name of Piesse, is still followed today though to a lesser degree. The oils are classified as being a top, middle or base note.
Top notes are fleeting. Their scent is highly volitile but provide that first flush of scent.
Middle notes take longer to notice and provide body to the scent blend.
Base notes are rich, heavy scents that are long lasting. They are slow to evaporate and act as a fixative in the blend.
Below is a table with the oils listed under their corresponding note. Some essential oils can belong to more than one catagory and there are many different opinions as to where each belongs, so treat this table as a guideline only.
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Sometimes we want our soap to serve a dual purpose. We want it to not only cleanse our skin but to benefit a particular ailment or have certain qualities.
The list below contains essential oils catagorized by the ailment the oils are reported to benefit or qualities they are said to contain. By carefully selecting your essential oils, you could create an aromatherapy soap that helps to repel insects while also acting as an aphrodisiac....not a bad idea for a camping soap!
- Acne - Bergamot, Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Palmarosa, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Benzoin, Cedarwood, Clove Bud, Frankincense, Grapefruit, Lemongrass, Lime, Mandarin, Patchouli, Pepermint, Petitgrain, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Spearmint, Tangerine, Thyme and Ylang Ylang.
- Anti-Bacterial - Peru Balsam, Black Pepper, Chamomile, Citronella, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Sweet Marjoram, Neroli, Nutmeg, Sweet Orange, Oregano, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Pine, Rose, Sandalwood, Tea Tree and Thyme.
- Anti-Septic - Anise, Peru Balsam, Basil, Bay, Benzoin, Bergamot, Black Pepper, Cedarwood, Cinnamon Leaf, Citronella, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Eucalyptus, Fennel, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Mandarin, Sweet Marjoram, Myrrh, Neroli, Nutmeg, Oakmoss, Sweet Orange, Oregano, Patchouli, Peppermint, Petitgrain, Pine, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Spearmint, Tangerine, Tea Tree, Thyme, Vetiver and Ylang Ylang.
- Aphrodisiac - Black Pepper, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Clove Bud, Ginger, Jasmine, Neroli, Nutmeg, Patchouli, Rose, Rosemary, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Thyme and Ylang Ylang.
- Astringent - Bay, Benzoin, Bergamot, Catnip, Cinnamon Leaf, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lemongrass, Lime, Myrrh, Patchouli, Peppermint, Rose, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Spearmint and Thyme.
- Athletes Foot - Lavender, Myrrh, Tea Tree, Clove Bud, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lemongrass and Patchouli.
- Chapped/Cracked Skin - Benzoin, Myrrh, Patchouli, Peru Balsam and Sandalwood.
- Dandruff - Bay, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Lavender, Patchouli, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus and Lemon.
- Deodorizing - Benzoin, Bergamot, Citronella, Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Lemongrass, Lime, Neroli, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Pine and Rosewood.
- Depression - Bergamot, Jasmine, Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Basil, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lemongrass, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Peppermint, Petitgrain, Rosemary and Rosewood.
- Dry Skin - Chamomile, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Peru Balsam, Frankincense, Lavender and Rosewood.
- Eczema - Bergamot, Chamomile, Lavender, Rose, Patchouli, Benzoin, Peru Balsam, Cedarwood, Geranium, Myrrh, Palmarosa, Peppermint, Rosemary and Thyme.
- Hair Growth (promoting) - Bay, Basil, Grapefruit and Ylang Ylang.
- Insect Bites - Chamomile, Lavender, Tea Tree, Bergamot, Basil, Cinnamon Leaf, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Thyme and Ylang Ylang.
- Insect Repellant - Cedarwood, Citronella, Lavender, Bergamot, Basil, Catnip, Cinnamon Leaf, Clove Bud, Geranium, Lemon, Lemongrass, Patchouli, Pine, Rosemary and Sandalwood.
- Insomnia - Lemon Balm, Lavender, Chamomile, Neroli, Basil, Catnip, Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Mandarin, Sweet Marjoram, Petitgrain, Rose, Sandalwood, Tangerine, Thyme, Vetiver and Ylang Ylang.
- Mature Skin/Wrinkles - Frankicense, Neroli, Rose, Carrot Seed, Clary Sage, Fennel, Myrrh, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Rosewood, Rosemary, Jasmine, Manderin, Lavender, Geranium and Ylang Ylang.
- Oily Skin - Bergamot, Geranium, Lavender, Sandalwood, Tea Tree, Bay, Carrot Seed, Citronella, Sweet Fennel, Jasmine, Juniper Berry, Lemon, Lemongrass, mandarin, Palmarosa, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Rosemary, Rosewood, Clary Sage, Thyme, Vetiver and Ylang Ylang.
- Psoriasis - Bergamot, Lavender, Benzoin and Carrot Seed.
- Rashes - Chamomile, Lavender, Peru Balsam, Carrot Seed, Sandalwood and Tea Tree.
This information is provided for reference use only and is not meant to substitute the advise of a licensed health-care professional.
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