APPENDIX AESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS
The following Essential Oil Blends were created to scent an 8-ounce
batch of body oil or body butter. Follow any specific instructions for the
recipe you are making, as some of the recipes ask you to halve or double
these blends. The Essential Oil Blends are designed, for your
convenience, to be dropped directly into the recipe when called for, rather
than having to pre-mix them ahead of time. If you want to mix a larger
quantity to have on hand, do so in a dark-colored glass bottle with a
dropper top for safe and accurate dispensing.
Most health food stores have a section of essential oils and they can easily be
found online. Essential oils have varying shelf lives depending on the plant
material. Generally essential oils have a shelf life of about a year, and citrus
essential oils have a shorter, 6-month shelf life. Patchouli and sandalwood
essential oils actually improve with age. Essential oils can be stored in the
refrigerator to extend the shelf life, but warm to room temperature before using
them in a blend or recipe.
Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic compounds extracted from
seeds, bark, stems, roots, flowers, and other parts of plants. These
phytochemicals are extracted by steam distilling or cold-pressing large amounts
of plant material to extract its aromatic essence. Less is more with essential oils,
as it can take up to several pounds to create just one ounce of essential oil, so
even a single drop is quite potent. As highly concentrated substances, they
should be handled with care. Keep their lids on tightly or they will evaporate
quickly and lose potency. Follow any usage and safety guidelines on the label.
Do not use them undiluted on your skin, keep away from mucus membranes, and