Re: Formula Writing & Amounts

[Guest guest]

<snip>

Sounds very similar to the way I work. How many ingredients do you

generally use in formula? I have made some with over 30, though I now

look at those as over complex, and find I'm using about half that for

most projects.

Tisserand

This was another question that has been floating around in my head

since I began reading here! Thank You for bringing it up.

Being Natural Perfumery, simplicity comes to mind for me. Not too

complex as it seems to defeat the purpose on a whole.

The blend I'm working on is solely Australian. Having lived here all

my life, I know the scents of our plants well so feel comfortable

working with them.

What amount of ingredients would you recommend a beginner to aim for

in their first blend?

--<snip>--

my work really runs the gamut, though i have noticed i have shifted

over the years, and being an astrologer as well, i tend to look at

time periods as matrixes and blends that were created during those

times end up having some vibrational frequency that harkens back to

that time frame for me....thus, i ALWAYS need to eb creating the next

matrix.

Hi Libby!

Your style in preparing the blends is very similar to a woman I know

who makes blends. She lines everything up in front of her and goes

from there working mostly on intuition. She also works by the

seasons, astrological influences etc. It is very interesting.

Thanks everyone for your input so far! It's a great way to learn.

Trudi

[Guest guest]

--- organikmum <organikmum@...> wrote:

>

> What amount of ingredients would you recommend a

> beginner to aim for

> in their first blend?

> Trudi

Hi Trudi,

When I first started, I took Mandy Aftel's advice and

made simple blends using about six and not more than

nine different aromatics. When I tried to get more

complex than this, I usually had to flush my blends

down the toilet. If I had it to do over, I might

start by creating lots and lots of simple accords

rather than whole (expensive) stinky blends. That

said, I did accidentally come up with a few that I

still love!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> Sounds very similar to the way I work. How many ingredients do you

> generally use in formula? I have made some with over 30, though I now

> look at those as over complex, and find I'm using about half that for

> most projects.

>

> Tisserand

>

> This was another question that has been floating around in my head

> since I began reading here! Thank You for bringing it up.

> Being Natural Perfumery, simplicity comes to mind for me. Not too

> complex as it seems to defeat the purpose on a whole.

>

> The blend I'm working on is solely Australian. Having lived here all

> my life, I know the scents of our plants well so feel comfortable

> working with them.

>

> What amount of ingredients would you recommend a beginner to aim for

> in their first blend?

>

Trudi

When I first started blending (1970) I found it difficult to mix more than about

6 oils

without the blend *breaking down*. Then I realized how important it was to get

precise

ratios, but I didn't really know how to do this. It was many more years before I

managed to

restrain myself from often adding more and more oils to try and rectify a blend

which was

actually flawed to begin with - a classic mistake as I now know.

As says, keep it simple, and think in terms of basic chords that you might

then, once

you have them right, mix together. After you have spent some months/years

getting to

know the materials, your chords might become more complex, but to try and make a

very

complex blend from scratch is generally asking for trouble.

There's lots of good advice in the archives, and Anya is very strong on

comparing and

contrasting - trying different relative amounts - to get your basic ratios

right. It also helps

to have a clear vision of what you are trying to acheive.

One thing I have found very useful is *blind* testing. When I compare 2 or more

single or

blended materials on smelling strips, I make sure that I don't know which is

which. I turn

them so I can't see the writing. It's been a revelation to me to find out how

much my

decision making was - for decades - often based on expectation, rather than

fragrance. If

I expect a particular mix to smell better, chances are it will, if I can see

what I'm smelling. I

don't know if anyone else does this - probably been written about many times!

Fragrance *expectation* was illustrated to me many years ago by a perfumer who

told me

that he would show a fruity fragrance to someone and say " do you like my new

cherry

fragrance? " And they would say yes (or whatever) then he would say " Actually

it's not

cherry it's apricot " and they would go " Oh yes, of course! " then he would say

" Actually I

was kidding - it's cherry " Well, you get the idea. I have seen products labelled

as " mango

body lotion " for example, which quite clearly have a peach fragrance.

Tisserand

[Guest guest]

<snip>

When I first started, I took Mandy Aftel's advice and

made simple blends using about six and not more than

nine different aromatics. When I tried to get more

complex than this, I usually had to flush my blends

down the toilet. If I had it to do over, I might

start by creating lots and lots of simple accords

rather than whole (expensive) stinky blends. That

said, I did accidentally come up with a few that I

still love!

Thank You !

One thing I hope I won't have to do is flush them down the toilet!

LOL I'm guessing some will end up there though until I develop more

in blending. I will aim for the simple accords.

--<snip>--

When I first started blending (1970) I found it difficult to mix more

than about 6 oils without the blend *breaking down*. Then I realized

how important it was to get precise ratios, but I didn't really know

how to do this. It was many more years before I managed to restrain

myself from often adding more and more oils to try and rectify a blend

which was actually flawed to begin with - a classic mistake as I now

know.

As says, keep it simple, and think in terms of basic chords

that you might then, once you have them right, mix together. After

you have spent some months/years getting to know the materials, your

chords might become more complex, but to try and make a very complex

blend from scratch is generally asking for trouble.

There's lots of good advice in the archives, and Anya is very strong

on comparing and contrasting - trying different relative amounts - to

get your basic ratios right. It also helps to have a clear vision of

what you are trying to acheive.

This is what I was afraid I may end up doing - adding more to

compensate for a bad beginning. Keeping it simple is something I hope

to do, so aiming for 6-8 oils will be a nice start. I like the idea

of comparing and contrasting with the same oils, this is great

advice. Many thanks to ( & Anya!).

--<snip>--

One thing I have found very useful is *blind* testing. When I compare

2 or more single or blended materials on smelling strips, I make sure

that I don't know which is which. I turn them so I can't see the

writing. It's been a revelation to me to find out how much my

decision making was - for decades - often based on expectation,

rather than fragrance. If I expect a particular mix to smell better,

chances are it will, if I can see what I'm smelling. I don't know if

anyone else does this - probably been written about many times!

Fragrance *expectation* was illustrated to me many years ago by a

perfumer who told me that he would show a fruity fragrance to someone

and say " do you like my new cherry fragrance. And they would say yes

(or whatever) then he would say " Actually it's not cherry it's

apricot " and they would go " Oh yes, of course! " then he would say

" Actually I was kidding - it's cherry " Well, you get the idea. I have

seen products labelled as " mango body lotion " for example, which

quite clearly have a peach fragrance.

The 'expectation' is one also that I was worried about. There are

many native blends around here that are all classed as 'bush scents'

and they are all very overpowering scents. This seems to be what is

expected of Australian natives. Blind smelling of the scents would be

ideal for this. Even though my expectations are to not have that

typical bush scent that is very medicinal smelling!

The fruity fragrance test sounds very familiar. Our sons do this,

only they use food and other 'things'! Horrible game they play on one

another.. LOL

Thank You both once more. I appreciate your posts.

Trudi

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've been reading what others wrote and decided to add my two cents

worth. I am not long blending compared to , Anya and others, so

I'm just developing a style of writing formulas. What seems to be

happening is I start with an inspiration, often it's a person which

sparks my imagination. For example I am working on a scent at the

moment which was sparked by my son, who talks incessantly and who's

favourite colour is yellow...yellow is the colour for mental

stimulation and this kid is all brains...so I work on a colour design

for my scent first, then think about what main notes I would use (I

have this worked out for weeks before I actually start

blending)...thinking about what goes with what and fits into the

idea...I keep it really simple, like said, 'cos I am a

beginner. Restraint is Key! I really feel like I'm holding back a lot

of the time. Like I'd love to add a drop of something to see if it

would improve the blend but instead if it's not going where I want it

too I will often bin it after the first two notes are mixed rather

than carry on and waste time, oils and energy. Each step of the way it

has to be going where I want it to go, thats why it's so important to

have a vision or an idea of what you want it to be like when it's

finished.

So I start with the base, like Mandy Aftel says, and work from there.

But the base has to be right before I move on to the next step. I used

to think that if the base isn't perfect maybe if I add the middle

notes it might pick up, but I soon discovered that things would just

get worse.

So here I am today blending for the first time in a couple of weeks.

I love it, I'm in my element!

Oh Happy Days!

Ruth

[Guest guest]

On Oct 5, 2006, at 9:51 AM, Ruth Ruane wrote:

> Hi,

>

> I've been reading what others wrote and decided to add my two cents

> worth. I am not long blending compared to , Anya and others, so

> I'm just developing a style of writing formulas. What seems to be

> happening is I start with an inspiration, often it's a person which

> sparks my imagination. For example I am working on a scent at the

> moment which was sparked by my son, who talks incessantly and who's

> favourite colour is yellow...yellow is the colour for mental

> stimulation and this kid is all brains...so I work on a colour design

> for my scent first, then think about what main notes I would use (I

> have this worked out for weeks before I actually start

> blending)...thinking about what goes with what and fits into the

> idea...I keep it really simple, like said, 'cos I am a

> beginner. Restraint is Key! I really feel like I'm holding back a lot

> of the time. Like I'd love to add a drop of something to see if it

> would improve the blend but instead if it's not going where I want it

> too I will often bin it after the first two notes are mixed rather

> than carry on and waste time, oils and energy. Each step of the way it

> has to be going where I want it to go, thats why it's so important to

> have a vision or an idea of what you want it to be like when it's

> finished.

> So I start with the base, like Mandy Aftel says, and work from there.

> But the base has to be right before I move on to the next step. I used

> to think that if the base isn't perfect maybe if I add the middle

> notes it might pick up, but I soon discovered that things would just

> get worse.

> So here I am today blending for the first time in a couple of weeks.

> I love it, I'm in my element!

>

> Oh Happy Days!

>

> Ruth

>

>

>

>

>

>

well, it is full moon tomorrow and MY 49th bday!!!! whooo hooo, and

i am planning on being in my studio all day working on some new

designs..always like to blend to the matrix of the moment.

xoxoxo

L

i would love to visit you in ireland, your set up looks wonderful.

[Guest guest]

> I've been reading what others wrote and decided to add my two cents

> worth. I am not long blending compared to , Anya and others,

so

> I'm just developing a style of writing formulas. What seems to be

> happening is I start with an inspiration, often it's a person which

> sparks my imagination. For example I am working on a scent at the

> moment which was sparked by my son, who talks incessantly and who's

> favourite colour is yellow...yellow is the colour for mental

> stimulation and this kid is all brains...so I work on a colour

design

> for my scent first, then think about what main notes I would use (I

> have this worked out for weeks before I actually start

> blending)...thinking about what goes with what and fits into the

> idea...I keep it really simple, like said, 'cos I am a

> beginner. Restraint is Key! I really feel like I'm holding back a

lot

> of the time. Like I'd love to add a drop of something to see if it

> would improve the blend but instead if it's not going where I want

it

> too I will often bin it after the first two notes are mixed rather

> than carry on and waste time, oils and energy. Each step of the way

it

> has to be going where I want it to go, thats why it's so important

to

> have a vision or an idea of what you want it to be like when it's

> finished.

> So I start with the base, like Mandy Aftel says, and work from

there.

> But the base has to be right before I move on to the next step. I

used

> to think that if the base isn't perfect maybe if I add the middle

> notes it might pick up, but I soon discovered that things would just

> get worse.

> So here I am today blending for the first time in a couple of

weeks.

> I love it, I'm in my element!

>

> Oh Happy Days!

>

> Ruth

Hi Ruth

Thank You for sharing! It is great to find inspiriation in how others

work. I found a great post in the archives that was posted earlier

this year that was very informative too. There seemed to be a bit of

a debate going on about the amounts to use. The discussion gravitated

around using 10 drops for accords. When I read this, something

dropped and a few things became clearer.

I'm learning alot from everyone here and I appreciate the guidance.

Have a wonderful day!

Trudi

[Guest guest]

> I've been reading what others wrote and decided to add my two cents

> worth. I am not long blending compared to , Anya and others,

so

> I'm just developing a style of writing formulas. What seems to be

> happening is I start with an inspiration, often it's a person which

> sparks my imagination. For example I am working on a scent at the

> moment which was sparked by my son, who talks incessantly and who's

> favourite colour is yellow...yellow is the colour for mental

> stimulation and this kid is all brains...so I work on a colour

design

> for my scent first, then think about what main notes I would use (I

> have this worked out for weeks before I actually start

> blending)...thinking about what goes with what and fits into the

> idea...I keep it really simple, like said, 'cos I am a

> beginner. Restraint is Key! I really feel like I'm holding back a

lot

> of the time. Like I'd love to add a drop of something to see if it

> would improve the blend but instead if it's not going where I want

it

> too I will often bin it after the first two notes are mixed rather

> than carry on and waste time, oils and energy. Each step of the way

it

> has to be going where I want it to go, thats why it's so important

to

> have a vision or an idea of what you want it to be like when it's

> finished.

> So I start with the base, like Mandy Aftel says, and work from

there.

> But the base has to be right before I move on to the next step. I

used

> to think that if the base isn't perfect maybe if I add the middle

> notes it might pick up, but I soon discovered that things would just

> get worse.

> So here I am today blending for the first time in a couple of

weeks.

> I love it, I'm in my element!

>

> Oh Happy Days!

>

> Ruth

Hi Ruth

Thank You for sharing! It is great to find inspiriation in how others

work. I found a great post in the archives that was posted earlier

this year that was very informative too. There seemed to be a bit of

a debate going on about the amounts to use. The discussion gravitated

around using 10 drops for accords. When I read this, something

dropped and a few things became clearer.

I'm learning alot from everyone here and I appreciate the guidance.

Have a wonderful day!

Trudi

[Guest guest]

--- > > I've been reading what others wrote and decided to add my two

cents worth. I am not long blending compared to , Anya and

others, > so I'm just developing a style of writing formulas. What

seems to be happening is I start with an inspiration.............

> > I love it, I'm in my element!

> > Oh Happy Days!

> > Ruth

>

>

> Hi Ruth >

> Thank You for sharing! It is great to find inspiriation in how

others work. I'm learning alot from everyone here and I appreciate

the guidance.>

> Have a wonderful day!

> Trudi

>

Hello to Ruth and Trudi, hello to everyone,

ditto to what you said trudi

My apologies for being so late on the formulas and amounts. I

decided to write on this because I thought it would be good for us

beginners to see how one of us stumbles through and I also have some

questions.

I start off at my desk with paper and pen and wish I had a broader

range of oils to work with. Then I remind myself that soon I will

have more money and be able to get them. I take a deep breath and

push those thoughts aside.

It is time to have some fun!

I have mainly got florals and citrus and a few base notes. Within

those boundaries I experiment.

I keep it small. base heart top

On paper I put my figures. As I blend I change amounts depending

on what I feel and what I smell.

I let the oils sit for a while. I have a smell and sometimes

change things a bit.

I add the vodka and let it mature.

Then if I am happy I go through all my bits of paper and put it on

the computer with dates times amounts.

I do all of this in a 12ml glass bottle with a spray mist as a top

(with the tubing pulled out). It means if I am happy with the end

result I can pop the tube back in and spray away.

This process I have with bottles is really messy and I am stumbling

here, at the moment I can't seem to think of a better way.

There must be a better way!!!!!!!!!!********Is anyone willing to

offer advice for a beginner on good practices in relation to actual

bottles and tops to use for blending and maturing********for that

matter any input on physical containers, funnels(I use plastic),

measuring implements etc.

I am quite happy to stumble along as I work this out for I am loving

the learning BUT advice would be very much appreciated.

Sorry it is so long and sorry if I am asking stuff and waffling on

stuff knowone wants to hear of answer.

Love