Creating blends

[Bryant]

Hi all

When you are making up your own blends, how many oils do you generally stick to? In my course, we are told to have a maximum of 3 or four yet some products that are for sale have lots of eo's. For instance, I noticed one from Avon that has about 8 different oils in it. Also, say I was to make up a bath oil blend, can this be stored in a plastic bottle or does it have to be a glass bottle (bit unsure here, if glass bottles just apply to neat oil blends).

Which leads me to another question, going back to the 'overuse' of essential oils. Trhoughout training for aromatherapy, we are told to be careful of using oils, especially the stronger ones and not to use for indefinite periods of time. However, when crams/lotions/oils are bought from say Boots, then the consumer just applies them as normal and for many months. What is the big difference? Is it because as an Aromatherapist, the blends are stronger and the chain store products have other things in them? Very curious to know.

Thanks
Tracey

 

[webjunkiee]

Tracey

I think you've got it in one! Most 'over the counter' products have very small amounts of eo's, compared to the other products in them. That is why you rarely see a warning about contra-indications, i.e. not using the products when pregnant, etc, as the effects are so minimal.

Again this is the reason that many different oils are used in a product. Personally, I prefer to use two or three - four as a maximum, but half the fun is experimenting with different blends.

As far as plastic bottles are concerned. If you are going to use the product fairly quickly, it's not really a problem, although some plastics are damaged by the oils, but those purpose made (i.e. sold by aromatherapy companies) are OK to use for a short period. If you are not going to use the product within two or three weeks, I think I would prefer to use (tinted) glass bottles.

Lesley

 

[KeiraJasmin]

Hi again, oooo lots of questions!

Firstly re plastic bottles. No doubt the purists would insist on glass, but I can't see a problem. In fact, glass can be a pain, imagine dropping it in the shower or on a tiled floor.[]

I think you will find that pre-blended products actually contain very little essential oil. Yes, some do have other ingredients and some even do not contain essential oils but chemical copies. YUK![:'(]

I might have said this to you before but when you first train you are cautious about amounts of EOs and this is fine. Experience will lead you to use more. For instance I use large amounts of peppermint oil on people with pain, neat at times. Not taught on my course but totally effective.

There is nothing wrong with using more than three oils, but one thought....if you are using the oils for a particular condition ie eczema, then you need to ascertain which oils are helping the condition and it is simpler to keep them uncomplicated. Time will tell what works and if you have success or create a wonderful blend using 8 oils then such is life!

I think you will find that the education regarding essential oils is somewhat over cautious. In France Aromatherapists are medically qualified I believe and oils are taken internally. This is discouraged here but on what grounds? There is so little research being done or been done and it is incredibly hard to set up a good study.

I suggest you try them all out on yourself and experiment and when making blends for others err on the side of caution and build up slowly.

 

[ntisme]

I have also noticed that creams potions and lotions from places like Boots claiming to be aromatherapy often just contain perfumes and no essential oils at all! you can always check for the botanical names on the labels!

peace & love

emma.xXx.