Three main classes of essential oils in blending: an overview

Dinh xuan Ba

Borrowing the language of music, each essential oil is considered as a note, so the blend of
essential oils is considered as the creation of a piece of music, a harmony in scents. Based on the
evaporation rate, essential oils are
classified into three classes: Top notes,
Middle notes, Base notes in descending
order of evaporation rate. For example
shown in fig 1, peppermint evaporates
faster than jasmine, so peppermint is
classified as Top notes and jasmine is
classified as Middle notes. The final
product of aromatic blending is a new
and creative scent, or in musical
language, a concert of aromas. As the
oils in this new scent evaporate, the
aroma of final product will change to reflect the aroma of remaining oils, so a proper proportion
between three above-mentioned notes in a final product is a delicate and essential requirement.
Professional blenders suggest that the content of these three notes should be 15%-30% for Top
notes, 40%-50% for Middle notes and 20%-35% for Base notes.

Essential oils that are classified as Top notes normally evaporate the quickest, usually 1-2
hours. Top notes are generally highly volatile, fast acting, give the first impression of the blend
and are not very long lasting.

The bulk of essential oils are classified as Middle notes that evaporate 2-4 hours. The smells of
middle notes are not always immediately evident and may take a couple of minutes to come
into their own right scents.

Essential oils that are classified as Base notes that have the longest time to evaporate, some base
notes can take several days to evaporate. Base notes are normally "heavy" oils and being present
for a long time. Base note can slow down the evaporation process of the other oils.

Notes: Below-mentioned classification of Notes and Blending notations is for reference only.

List of eseential oils in the class Top notes (15%-30%)

The word in italics indicates such note that can be placed in both class Top notes and Middle
notes.

1
 Name It blends well with the following oils (guideline only):
Cardamom, caraway, cedarwood, coriander, dill, fennel, mandarin, petitgrain,
Aniseed
rosewood
Bergamot, Black
Basil Pepper, Cedarwood, Fennel, Ginger, Geranium,Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon,
Marjoram, Neroli, Verbena.
Bergamot, Cedarwood, cinnamon, cistus, clary sage, clove, coriander, cypress,
Bay laurel eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, ginger, juniper, labdanum, lavender,
lemon, marjoram, orange, pine, rose, rosemary, thyme, ylang-ylang.
Boronia Agarwood
Cajuput angelica,bergamot, cloves, geranium, lavender, thyme
Caraway Basil, chamomile, coriander, frankincense, ginger, lavender, orange
benzoin, cloves, coriander, cardamom, frankincense, ginger,grapefru
Cinnamon
it, lavender, rosemary, thyme.
Citronella Bergamot, geranium, lemon, orange, lavender, pine
Cumin Angelica, caraway, chamomile
Eucalyptus benzoin, thyme, lavender, lemongrass, lemon, pine
Fennel Cedarwood, clary sage, geranium, pine, nutmeg, all the citrus oil
Galbanum Agarwood, Cedarwood, bergamot, geranium, lavender
Grapefruit bergamot, lavender, geranium, palma rosa, frankincense
Hyssop Angelica, Clary sage, Geranium, Orange, Tangerine, Melissa, Rosemary.
Bergamot, citronella, cinnamon, clary sage, jasmine, pine, thyme, patchouli,
Lavandin
rosemary
Lavender cedarwood, clary sage, geranium, pine, nutmeg, all the citrus oils
lavender, rose, sandalwood, benzoin, eucalyptus, geranium,fennel, juniper,
Lemon
neroli, elemi.
Lemongrass Basil, cedarwood, coriander, geranium, jasmine, lavender, tea tree
Lime neroli, lavender, clary sage, ylang-ylang
Mandarin bergamot, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, frankincense, lavender, nutmeg, neroli.
Melissa basil, Roman chamomile, rose, geranium, frankincense, lavender, ylang-ylang.
Musk Rose Jasmine, bay laurel, bay leaf, amber, rose
Niaouli coriander, fennel, juniper, lavender, lime, pine, peppermint
Orange black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, frankincense, sandalwood, vetiver.
Peppermint benzoin, eucalyptus, lavender, marjoram, lemon, rosemary
Petitgrain bergamot, lavender, palmarosa, geranium, rosewood, sandalwood.
Ravensara Bergamot, black pepper, cardamom, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage,
cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, gimger, grapefruit, bay laurel
leaf, lavender, lemon, mandarin, majoram, palmarosa, pine, rosemary,
sandalwood, tea tree, thyme.
Basil, bergamot, geranium, ginger, hyssop, laurel leaf, lavandin,
Sage
lavender, lemon, Melissa, oregano, rosemary, thyme.
Spearmint Basil, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Rosemary, Jasmine
Tagetes clary sage, jasmine, lavender, lemon, myrrh, tangerine
Tangerine bergamot, cinnamon, clary sage, clove, frankincense, lavender, nutmeg, neroli.
Tuberose Is not normally used in aromatherapy, has narcotic properties
Verbena lemon, elemi, neroli, palmarosa.
2
 List of eseential oils in the class Middle Notes (40% - 55%)
The word in italics indicates such note that can be placed in both class Top notes and Middle
notes. The word in bold letters indicates such note that can be placed in both class Middle notes
and Base notes.

Name It blends well with the following oils (guideline only):

cedarwood, coriander, eucalyptus,geranium, ginger, juniper, lavender, lemon,
Bay leaf
orange, rose, rosemary, thyme, ylang-ylang.
black pepper, clary,
Bergamot sage, cypress, frankincense,geranium, jasmine, mandarin, nutmeg, orange, ros
emary, sandalwood, vetiver, ylang-ylang
Agarwood, bergamot, clary
Black Pepper sage, clove,coriander, fennel, frankincense, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, lave
nder, juniper,lemon, lime, mandarin, sage, sandalwood, ylang-ylang.
Cajeput Angelica, bergamot, cloves, geranium, lavender, thyme
Cardamom Agarwood, rose, orange, bergamot, cinnamon, cloves, caraway, cedarwood.
Balsam Peru, beeswax, benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, carrot seed, cassie,
cedarwood, cinnamon, cistus, clary sage, clove, frankincense, geranium,
Carnation helichrysum immortelle, jasmine, labdanum, lavender, liquidambar, lemon,
neroli, nutmeg, orrange, orange blossom, orris, patchouli, petitgrain, rose,
tonka bean, tuberose, vanilla, vetiver, ylang-ylang
Bergamot, juniper, lavender, lemon, lime, cedarwood, geranium, all citrus
Carrot seed
oils, all spicy oils
Cassia Should not be used on the skin & in massage therapy
bergamot, clary sage, lavender, geranium,jasmine, tea
Chamomile
tree, grapefruit, rose, lemon, ylang-ylang.
Agarwood, ambrette, amyris, bergamot, black pepper, cardamom, carnation,
cedarwood, cinnamon, cistus, clove bud, coriander, davana, frankincense,
galbanum, hay, helichrysum immortelle, jasmine, labdanum, lemon, lime,
Champaca
liquidambar, mandarin, myrrh, neroli, opopanax, orange, orange blossom,
orris, osmanthus, patchouli, petitgrain, rose, sandalwood, tonka bean, vanilla,
vetiver, violet leaf, ylang-ylang.
Benzoin, cloves, coriander, cardamom, frankincense, ginger, grapefruit,
Cinnamon
lavender, rosemary, thyme
Amyris, basil, bergamot, cardamom, cedarwood, cinnamon, cistus, citronella,
coriander, cypress, grapefruit, hay, labdanum, rose, tobacco, ylang-ylang,
Clary sage
juniper, lavender, pine, geranium, sandalwood, jasmine, frankincense, and all
citrus oils.
Clove bud Basil, benzoin, cinnamon, lavender, ginger, sandalwood, clary sage
Coriander bergamot, cinnamon, ginger, grapefruit, lemon, neroli, orange.
bergamot, clary
Cypress sage, lavender, juniper, pine, marjoram, sandalwood, Rosemary,Frankincense,
and all the citrus oils.
Dill Bergamot, caraway, nutmeg, all citrus oils
Elemi Agarwood, Frankincense, lavender, rosemary, myrrh, sage
3
 Fennel Geranium, lavender, rose, sandalwood
Basil, balsam Peru, bergamot, caraway, cedarwood, cistus, cypress,
Fir needle frankincense, juniper, lavandin, lavender, myrtle, niaouli, oakmoss, patchouli,
pine, rosemary, tonka bean.
Agarwood, angelica, basil, bergamot, carrot seed,cedarwood, citronella, clary
Geranium
sage, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, lime, neroli, orange, rosemary.
Hyssop Angelica, clary sage, geranium, orange, tangerine, Melissa, rosemary
Jasmine Bergamot, rose, sandalwood, all citrus oils
Agarwood,
Juniper cedarwood, cypress, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lavandin, bergamot, lime,
vetiver, clary sage, lemongrass.
Kanuka
Linden blossom
Lemongrasse basil, cedarwood, coriander, geranium, jasmine, lavender, tea tree
Ambrette, amyris, bergamot, black pepper, cardamom, carrot seed,
cinnamon, cistus, cocao, coconut, cognac, clove, coriander, fenugreek, fir
(balsam), frankincense, galbanum, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, hay,
Lotus
helichrysum, jasmine Labdanum, lime, liquidambar, neroli, nutmeg, orange
blossom, osmanthus, patchouli, sandalwood, spikenard, tobacco, tonka bean,
tuberose, vanilla.
Majoram lavender, cypress, cedarwood, chamomile, bergamot, eucalyptus, tea tree.
Manuka
May Chang
Melissa Basil, Roman chamomile, rose, geranium, frankincense, lavender, ylang-ylang
Bergamot, clary sage, clove, hyssop, eucalyptus, ginger, lavender,
Myrtle
peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, thyme, tea tree
benzoin, geranium, jasmine, lavender, all the citrus
Neroli
oils, sandalwood, rosemary,ylang-ylang.
Nutmeg black pepper, cypress, geranium, clary sage, rosemary, orange.
a dermal toxin, skin irritant, mucus membrane irritant, should be avoided in
Oregano
pregnancy
Palma Rosa geranium, bergamot, rosemary, lime, ylang-ylang.
Parsley
Pine needle cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, niaouli, rosemary, sage.
Rose Agarwood, Blends well with most oils, particularly well with geranium,
Damascena jasmine, clove, palmarosa
Rose Agarwood, Angelica, basil, bergamot, carrot seed, cedarwood, citronella,
Geranium clary sage, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, lime, neroli, orange, rosemary
Agarwood, Cedarwood, Citronella, Geranium, Lavender, Lemongrass,
Rosemary
Peppermint.
Rosewood all citrus and floral oils.
Spikenard Lavender, Lemon, Clary sage, Neroli, Patchouli, Vetiver.
Bergamot, bl;ack currant bud, black pepper, cedarwood, chamomile, cypress,
fir, galbanum, geranium, grapefruit, lavandin, lemon, lime, niaouli, oakmoss,
Spruce
orange, Pink peppercorn, peppermint, pine, rosemary, spearmint, tea tree,
thyme, wintergreen, yarrow.
Tea tree cinnamon, clary
4
 sage, clove, geranium, lavender, lemon, myrrh, nutmeg,rosewood, rosemary,
thyme.
Thyme Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lavender, Rosemary, Pine
Turpentine
Violet leaf
Basil, cedarwood, chamomile, clary sage, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium,
Wintergreen juniper, lavandin, lavender, lemon, marjoram, oregano, peppermint, Rosalina,
rosemary, spearmint, thyme, vanilla, ylang-ylang.
Yarrow angelica, cedarwood, oak moss, verbena.
Ylang Ylang Agarwood, bergamot, grapefruit, lavender, sandalwood.

List of eseential oils in the class Base Notes (20%-35%)

The word in bold letters indicates such note that can be placed in both class Middle notes and
Base notes.

Name It blends well with the following oils (guideline only):

Ambrette, amyris, black pepper, boronia, cardamom, carnation, cassie,
cedarwood, champaca, cistus, elemi, fir needle, frankincense, galbanum,
Agarwood geranium, jasmine, juniper, labdanum, lotus, myrrh, oakmoss, orange blossom,
orris root, patchouli, pink, peppercorn, rose, rosemary, sandalwood, spikenard,
tobacco, tuberose, vanilla, vetiver, ylang-ylang
Agarwood, Bergamot, black spruce, Carrot, cedarwood, champaca, cistus,
clary sage, coriander, cypress, frankincense, geranium, labdanum, lavandin,
Ambrette seed
lavender, neroli, oakmoss, orange blossom, orris root, patchouli, rose,
rosemary, sandalwood, vanilla, vetiver
Bergamot, cardamom, carnation, cedarwood, citronella, frankincense,
geranium, graoefruit, lavandin, lavender, lemon, lime, liquidambar,
Amyris nagarmotha, nutmeg, oakmoss, orange (sweet), palmarosa, patchouli,
petitgrain, rose, sandalwood, spikenard, tangerine, tuberose, vetiver, ylang-
ylang
Angelica root Basil, chamomile, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, mandarin, patchouli
Balsam Peru
Bergamot, coriander, frankincense, juniper, lavender, lemon, myrrh, orange,
Benzoin
petitgrain, rose, sandalwood
Agarwood,
Cedarwood benzoin, bergamot, cinnamon, cypress, frankincense, jasmine,juniper, lavender
, lemon, neroli, rose, rosemary.
Bergamot, cinnamon, clary sage, cypress, frankincense, jasmine, Juniper berry,
Cistus lavandin, lavender, liquidambar (styrax), oakmoss, opopanax, patchouli, pine,
rose, vanilla, vetiver.
Clove basil, benzoin, cinnamon, lavender, ginger, sandalwood, clary sage.
Agarwood, benzoin, sandalwood, lavender, myrrh, pine,orange, bergamot,
Frankincense
lemon.
bergamot, frankincense, neroli, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang and all the
Ginger
citrus oils & spice oils
Helichrysum Bergamot, chamomile, clary sage, lavender, mandarin, rosewood
5
 immortelle
Bergamot, citrus oils, cinnamon, clary sage, cypress, frankincense, jasmine,
Labdanum juniper berry, lavandin, lavender, liquidambar, oakmoss, opopanax, patchouli,
pine, rose, vanilla, vetiver.
Myrrh Agarwood, benzoin, frankincense, lavender, sandalwood, clove.
Ambrette seed, angelica, bergamot, carnation, cedarwood, cinnamon, cistus,
clary sage, clove bud, frankincense, geranium, galbanum, hay, helichrysum,
Oakmoss jasmine, juniper, labdanum, laurel leaf, lavender, lemon, mandarin, orris root,
osmanthus, patchouli, petitgrain, rose, rosemary, sandalwood, tobacco, tonka
bean, vanilla, vetiver, ylang-ylang.
Olibanum
Patchouli Agarwood, bergamot, clary sage, geranium, lavender, myrrh.
Damask Rose geranium, jasmine, clove, palmarosa.
Agarwood, Bergamot, Black
Sandalwood
pepper, Geranium, Lavender, Myrrh, Rose,Vetivert , Ylang-Ylang.
Spikenard Agarwood, Lavender, lemon, clary sage, neroli, patchouli, vetiver
Amber, ambrette seed, angelica, balsam peru, beeswax, bergamot, cedarwood,
chamomile (blue), champaca, cistus, cinnamon, clary sage, clove bud, coffee,
Tobacco frangipani, frankincense, galbanum, hay, helichrysum, jasmine, labdanum,
lavender, lemon, lime, mandarin, oakmoss, orris root, osmanthus, patchouli,
rose, sandalwood, thyme, tonka bean, tuberose, vanilla, vetiver, ylang-ylang.
Valerian
Ambrette, agarwood, amyris, balsam peru, beeswax, benzoin, bergamot,
caraway, cardamom, cedarwood, celery, chamomile (roman), cinnamon, clove,
cocao, coffee, coriander, fir balsam, frankincense, geranium, ginger, hay,
Vanilla helichrysum, jasmine, lavandin, lavender, lemon, lime, mandarin, nagarmotha,
neroli, nutmeg, opopanax, orange, orange blossom, orris, osmanthus,
patchouli, rose, sandalwood, tangerine, tonka bean, tuberose, vetiver, vilolet
leaf, ylang-ylang.
Vetiver Agarwood, benzoin, grapefruit, jasmine, lavender, ylang-ylang.

REFERENCES:
1. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Complete_Guide_to_Essential_Oils/A_to_Z_of_essential_oils
2. https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/aromaticbleding.asp
3. http://www.pauboizot.co.uk/evap_rates.htm
4. http://www.essentialoils.co.za/blending_fragrances.htm
5. https://www.edenbotanicals.com/

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