Re: Sort of a duhh insight

July 3, 2003

> I have been mixing my scents full strength with mediocre results.

> Recently I went so far as posting what do with failed blends.

> I took direction and have started to dilute the EO's w/ perfumer's

> alcohol a great deal more.

> Do others dilute their stock fragrances prior blending?

> Since the blends improved w/ dilution perhaps this is true for

stock oils making it easier to appreciate and blend them. Lastly,

what % do you dilute your blends, including carrier oils vs.

Hi Al,

This is an excellent question. I am no expert (on the contrary I am

just beginning to experiment) but I'll tell you what I do.

I have asked an expert about this and she told me that it's best not

to dilute oils except right before using them. The reason given for

this is that the oils will age differently in a carrier oil or

alcohol and their fragrance will be altered over time. This may

well be true, but since I am working with very small quantities (I

need to experiment so I risk wasting a lot of oils) I have found that

diluting thick or high intensity oils and keeping them on hand in

diluted form is very helpful. The oils are easier to work with and I

don't risk ruining a blend by adding a drop of a high intensity oil

and overwhelming everything else by accident. Also, I can put my

small sample bottles in larger bottles once they are diluted, which

makes them easier to find and less likly to fall over when I reach

for them. I dilute with 99% alcohol and I find many thick oils and

resins dissolve more easily in alcohol and in general, alcohol in my

experience is easier to work with. Whatever disadvantages there may

be in this way of working is, for the time being, worth it to me in

terms of ease of work, the ability to work with smaller quantities of

expensive oils (because they are diluted) and the savings when I ruin

a blend and have to discard it. I am interested in what more

experienced perfumers might have to add however. Dorian

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