"It may be useful…to warn the (beginning perfumer) against the promiscuous mingling of different scents in a single preparation, under the idea that, by bringing an increased number of agreeable perfumes together, the odoor of the resulting compound will be richer. Some odors, like musical sounds, harmonize when blended, producing a compound …(that is) fuller and richer, or more chaste and delicate, than either of them separately; while others appear mutually antagonistic or incompatible to, and produce a contrary effect."
--Arnold J. Cooley

You're About to Become an Aroma Artiste!

As you start to work with your constitutional oils, you are actually beginning to create your own aroma or perfumer's palette. As I watch my intimate paint a portrait I've come to appreciate how the two arts are very similar. The most important difference between her paintings is her specific choice for her color palette and how she applies it. She does mostly commissioned pieces and some clients want realism, others want it to be more impressionistic, and others yet have a specific artist in mind. The same principle applies to a perfumer's palette and style. You will find your own path by practicing. There is no other way.

In training your scent pallete and developing your skill as a natural perfumer, we have 'five' suggestions. We could have offered less or more but now that we're into the Five Phase Theory we figure we might as well go with the flow.

2. You'll need to develop your "nose." You can educate your sense of smell just as you may have done with fine wines, teas, and even coffees. The best way to do this is buying using single oils and developing a feel what you respond to. The ideal situation is to take your time over a few weeks and continue to introduce new oils each day. The best way I have found is to use a different single note in a bath at the end of each day. Some us had to change our life styles to improve our sense of smell. I had to give up smoking (anything). I began taking a multiple mineral with Zinc in it. Zinc has been shown in studies to ___I also used a tea blend recommended by Jeanne Rose in the Aromatherapy book: _____

I still like the blend and to save time I use commercial blends of Chai and then after a meal have peppermint tea, with a little orange peel and a drop of anise oil. But it was when I eliminated all the synthetic fragrances in my environments that my sense of smell really expanded. I also live in the woods and go out an hour a day with Oz to exercise my lungs and sense of smell. I found myself watching him wondering what he is sniffing at and now have a sense when we come upon a dear trail and I'm beginning to recognize different native plants by smell.

3. It is critical to practice restraint in both the selection of the essential oils and the amount you blend up each time. All the elements must work together to create a whole and in the beginning that is more easily accomplished by simplicity. So when your combining your precious oils remember "stronger is not better." Often as a blend settles in the strongest notes get even stronger. Too much of anything is probably not a good idea but this is especially true of essential oils because they are concentrated essences.

In the next section you will discover what other oils you like are compatible with your constitutional oils. Then Daisy, our database, will respond with her selections. These are based on years of experience of the best perfumers. Once you develop your own style you can certainly expand what scents you want to add. In the alchemical world of perfumery if you can imagine it and love it you can create it.

4. Whenever you're blending you have to keep in mind that smell adapts quicker than any other sense. Odors that you're surrounded with drop out of consciousness faster or from your immediate memory than what you hear or see, or feel. In perfumery we call this olfactory fatigue. When odors weaken you need to take a break and take a whiff of some fresh coffee grounds to revitalize your sense of smell. As it is critical to practice restraint in the number of oils you blend in the beginning it's smart to take your time and practice patience. Like the artist who paints for a living you can't expect every blend you do to be a masterpiece but you know if you rush a painting it will show in the finale work.

5. As in beginning to cook it is often helpful to begin tried and true recipes before launching your career as a gourmet cook. With perfumery it is the same way.

If you have gotten this far feel free to roam the site or send us a note. For the next step in developing your personal blend click on Refine Your Blend.