Blending for Scent/Perfumery

[Guest guest]

 

Blending Matrix

Blending for Scent/Perfumery

Essential oils have been used throughout history for their wonderful aromas. Combining them to create perfumes was considered an art and those who had this talent were much sought after. Today, perfumery is a multi-million dollar industry that continues to grow daily – but the caveat is that essential oils are no longer the main constituent as synthetics have proven to be cheaper, which helps companies increase their profit margins.

Blending essential oils for scent is something that can be learned through practice, knowledge and careful note taking. Experimenting with your oils and getting to know their distinctive aromas is one of the most effective ways to grasp which ones blend well together, how many drops to use, etc.

Before we get into experimenting, it is important to identify the blending characteristics of each oil. In perfumery, an aroma is characterized by how quickly it evaporates and is described as a ‘note’, very much like those found in music.

Top Notes are lighter aromas that evaporate readily. They are usually thin, runny oils and are the first scent to hit your nose. Their scent usually lingers for about 30 minutes or sometimes less. Theses notes should make up about 5-20% of the blend.

Middle Notes are also referred to as the “heart notes” and so are considered the body of the blend. They should make up at least 50- 80% of the blend and usually last 3 hours after application. These are oils that bring balance to the blend.

Base Notes are usually very thick, viscous oils that can make up anywhere from 5-20% of the total blend. They are considered fixatives, which means they help slow down the evaporation rates of the lighter notes, giving the fragrance holding power.

It is also important to note each oil's odor intensity. This pertains to the strength of its aroma relative to other oils. The lower the number, the greater the odor intensity and the less drops you will need in the blend and vice versa. By knowing the odor intensity, you will be able to determine the proportion of drops that will render a nice mix.