I had my own test kitchen experiment this week and it was right up my alley. I set out to make my own scent. Hey, if J-Lo and Diddy can do it, why can’t I? Creating my own personal blend a perfect way to use some of the skills I’m learning in my studies. I think this is what I love best about going back to school at this point in my life: I am doing practical, applied experiments that I use in my everyday life.
I decided to create my personal blend by ensuring that I had a top, middle and base note in my fragrance. I chose my four essential oils based on the oils fragrance that I liked best. This was a unique way for me to create my blend. Typically, I have chosen my projects and experiments based on the oil’s therapeutic action. I tended to lean more towards choosing essential oils solely based on how they made me feel. If I was feeling stressed, then a calming Lavender Lavandula augustifolia bath was in order. A few drops of a wonderful citrus oil does wonders in providing a fresh scent to laundry.
This is what I came up with as my final blend:
- Top note – Bergamot Citrus aurantium var bergamia 60 drops
- Middle note – Geranium Pelargonium graveolens 15 drops
- Middle note – Roman Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile 10 drops
- Base note – Sandalwood Santalum album 10 drops
When I first started my blend I started out with 30 drops of Bergamot as the top note of my fragrance, and five drops of both Geranium and Roman Chamomile as the middle notes. At this time, I blended all of these and smelled them together. I liked this and thought that these three blended well together. I then added base note Sandalwood of just five drops. I really liked the way this smelled.
I probably should have stopped at that.
But, hey, it’s a test kitchen right? Gotta play with it. Who would’ve thought I’d nail it right out of the gate? All four of the oils blended really well together. The citrus aroma was definitely the dominant odor, but the Geranium and Chamomile offered a very nice floral/spicy undertone. The Sandalwood seemed subtle enough at this point of the mixing process.
As I said I probably should have stopped here, but I decided to utilize the blending instructions I recently learned. I added more, did more fussing with it and well…
I feel that my final blend lost the citrus aroma that I enjoyed at the beginning. It was too sweet. And, as I write this pondering what might have gone wrong in the blend. I will make some new adjustments. I would adjust the Geranium to ten drops and the Sandalwood to five drops.
In the end, I will use this blend but probably not as a perfume. I envision using this in the bath and definitely as a cleaning product. I also might try using it in my laundry. I won’t waste it that I know for sure (I live with my husband after all).
But my scent? I was closer the first time and will soon double back and try some new ideas. Like my husband’s quest for the perfect dough, I guess I’m still after my perfect scent.
EFFinArtist 