A Rose By Any Other Name, Usually Stinks

Last post I promised to tell about my fragrance crafting journey. When I first started it seemed to me that all homemade natural soaps and salts had Lavender and Chamomile and virtually nothing else to it. Um, ew! Back in 2004 Bath and Body Works (R) had a line where you could go in and purchase Ylang Ylang, Jasmine, Bergamot and Jasmine essential oils from their store. Hot diggity! I was on my way. I came home and promptly stared at my purchases wondering 'What in the world am I going to mix up?' Well, the answer was to test and test and test until my nose was clogged and I couldn't blink without water gushing from my eyes. In the end, I realized that I needed more information on the subject. To the Internet, Robin!! Okay, not really but you understand.

 

I was introduced to Vanilla, a fragrance I still hate to this day, Patchouli (barf!), Honeysuckle (summers running in the grass bare foot), Gardenia (spring and summers at Auntie's house) and Plumeria (strong, but it was the buzz fragrance for 2004). But I wasn't satisfied or excited. So, I dipped further into my wild side, and wallet, and purchased Green Apple, Orange Blossom, Strawberry Kiwi and Orange from Bath and Body Supply; Pink Grapefruit, Spearmint and Tea Tree from Cedar Vale; and Frankincense and Myrrh from Bramble Berry. What I found is that I really have a knack for mixing E.O.s together and blending F. and E. O.s together. I must admit that I was pretty selfish back then and only made fragrances that appealed to me and me only. That is not to say that others didn't care for them, I just didn't care if they did or not because I made my items with myself and daughter in mind. That changed.

 

What I have found is that:

 

Vanilla and Gardenia are great for taking the acrid pungency out of Patchouli (less than 3 years old) and Basil.

Bergamot, Lime and Gardenia make a wonderful starter fragrance to add to any other E. O.

Tea Tree is fine by itself, no really, it is.

English Rose is great to pair with Patchouli and Blood Orange.

Peach is very versatile and can be paired with any pungent fragrance (Basil, Frankincense or Tea Tree) and will make it more palatable.

 

*Patchouli actually smells better the older it is.

 

Again, back during my oh-so-misguided era of thinking that handwritten labels were a good idea. I offered Cool Water for Men body oils and such names as 'Invigoration' and 'Mediation'. Oh, boy! *smacks forehead*

 

I learned to keep my labels closer to what was actually in it like Lemongrass, or Invigoration: Basil and Lime. Anyway, that is it for now. I have been away for so long due to getting my Holiday Orders out. You can receive your order by 12/1/12 if you pay in full by 11/15/11. Until next time.