Re: when and why to dilute

[Guest guest]

Jen wrote:

> > I've gathered that many seem to believe it wise to blend the oils

> > before diluting them in your carrier (alcohol, oil, etc.). One person

> > said it was so carrier oils wouldn't be wasted. Another said it's so

> > you have control over the concentration of the finished product once

> > you create something really nice.

Lesle wrote:

> through trial and error you'll find your own way that works for you.

> I initially started not with

> blending but with dilution experiments to see how various essences

smelled

> at different dilutions and what shifted and overpowering herbal or

> concentrated essence to something light beautiful and graceful.

How very helpful, Lady. You made a great point about this which was

that it helps to see how the oils best play with each other: knowing

what will dominate a blend and by how much (and learning what would

dominate without actually letting it dominate gets me to giggle!).

The concept of odor intensity (something I read elsewhere) helps, but

this (knowing, for instance, that one oil may smell best and not

overpower others at a 5% dilution) is much more precise.

> The reason why the essences were asked to to be blended before the

carrier

> is so they will marry...put them together give it a week and they've all

> worked out their arrangement and the blend softens...but you need to

know

> how to dilute and balance them first before you compose...

That last sentence was very enlightening for me since it gave me the

overall picture which I so very much needed. Somewhere someone said

to exercise restraint by only creating 2-note accords as a beginner.

And that tip I'll heed in addition to yours. Both methods allow me to

enjoy creating and pleasing my senses while remaining scientific about

this process....'tis too easy to get carried away without truly

knowing the basics. I'd rather know how I created something well than

happen upon a great blend and be stupified over how to do it again.

>perfumery is a blend of art and science I truly

> believe you are asking all the right questions and hope that you

find all

> the answers.

> LF

Thank you!

Jen