Whether they’re being used to unwind for improved sleep quality, to uplift the mood, or to create the precise ambience, Essential Oil aromas have the potential to enhance the mind, body, and atmosphere. While it can be confusing to make a selection when faced with the vast number of Essential Oil options due to their limitless benefits, it can be easier to make a choice by narrowing down the options based on the characteristics of their “aroma families.” Each Essential Oil aroma family exhibits a primary aromatic trait by which it is easily recognized (citrusy, floral, minty, etc.) and a corresponding effect (calming, grounding, cooling, energizing, clarifying, etc), which can help to readily identify the ideal application for it.
This article mainly highlights the core aroma families, as families also have offshoots or sub-groupings in which several categories of Essential Oils overlap. One example is the “Balsamic” aroma family. Essential Oils in this group can be described as having soft, sweet, warm, earthy aromas with spicy and floral undertones. They are reminiscent of resins and exude the scent of a forest and especially of Balsam trees. Inhaling the scent of balsamic essential oils can produce a peaceful, soothing, and grounding effect. Another example of a complex aroma family is “Coniferous” oils, which exude a woody and earthy pine scent, as they are generally distilled from cone-bearing trees. Their scents are characterized as sharp, biting, camphoraceous, and energizing, reminiscent of fresh outdoor air. Based on these descriptions, Essential Oils in these sub-groupings can fall into several of the eight main aroma families. The sub-group of “lemony” oils, too, can encompass not only oils with “Lemon” in their names – Lemongrass, Lemon Balm, Lemon Eucalyptus – but also oils like Ginger, Citronella, and Palmarosa.
An oil’s aroma can also change from one batch to another, often for reasons based in nature, such as the source botanical’s growing conditions. Thus, due to the complexity and subjectivity of scent profiles, this article focuses on the commonly-accepted and widely-recognized classes of aromas or “aroma families.”
3 ESSENTIAL OIL AROMA NOTES
Aroma families can also be distinguished by their primary “notes.” An Essential Oil’s aroma “note” is the feature that distinguishes how long its scent will last. Notes are categorized as Top, Middle, or Base notes. Some oils can have multiple notes, which can give them a deep, full-bodied, and seemingly luxurious quality; however, oils are largely characterized by a sole defining note that overrides the others.
The reason that an oil blend changes over time, sometimes even over a short period of time, such as from the morning to the afternoon, is because the Essential Oils that it comprises each have varying degrees of volatility, meaning they all have diverse rates of evaporation, and it is the evaporation of each oil in its own time that causes a fluctuation in the strength of the scent…
In an Essential Oil blend, the oils with the smallest molecules – the essential oils that are the most volatile – are the first to evaporate. These are the Top notes. They are the first scent to be detected and the first to dissipate.
The oils with the largest and thus the heaviest molecules are the slowest or last to evaporate, thus they impart the longer-lasting scents. These are Base notes.
Other Essential Oils – the majority – reveal their scents gradually and help to integrate the Top and Base notes for a harmonious fragrance, which is what makes them Middle notes.
The following chart may help to further illustrate:
| NOTES & CHARACTERISTICS | NDA OILS IN THIS CATEGORY |
|---|---|
| Top
This is the initial perceptible scent in an aroma blend and is usually the one fragrance that stands out to give the scent its distinctive essence. Despite the powerful and intense quality that makes it the first detected smell, it is also the first to quickly fade.
|
Bay
Cardamom Citrus oils Cypress Eucalyptus Hyssop Mint oils Petitgrain Pine Ravensara Rosemary Sage Tagetes Vanilla Oleoresin (10 Fold) Yarrow |
| Middle (aka “Body,” “Heart,” or “Bouquet”) These notes become noticeable just as Top notes fade. Smooth and soft, Middle notes unify the Top and Base notes, helping to reduce the intensity of any disagreeable or piercing scents and to promote a roundedness to aromas, making them softer. These notes are generally more enduring than Top notes, lasting up to an hour after the blend has been applied.
|
Black Pepper
Cajeput Chamomile Cinnamon Clove Bud Geranium Ho Wood Jasmine Juniper Berry Marjoram Myrtle Myrrh Niaouli Nutmeg Palmarosa Rose Absolute |
| Base (aka “Fixative”) Not to be mistaken for a Base Oil, which is meant to dilute an Essential Oil, a Base note emerges after the Heart note and is the longest lasting scent in a blend. Base notes often have strong, provocative aromas with earthy nuances and ascend gradually, remaining for a longer time than the other notes, all the while helping to reduce the rate of the other oils’ evaporation and subsequently enabling the fragrance of the blend to persist.
|
Copaiba Balsam
Frankincense Patchouli (Light & Organic) Sandalwood Spikenard Valerian Vetiver |
8 ESSENTIAL OIL AROMA FAMILIES
The chart below depicts the most popular groupings of Essential Oils; however, keep in mind that many oils have more than one prevailing aroma and note.
| AROMA FAMILY | ESSENTIAL OILS | NOTE | REPUTED BENEFITS |
|---|---|---|---|
| CITRUS
These light oils often have fruity scents that are characteristic of the rinds from which they are extracted. They can be described as tangy or tart, fresh, clean, vibrant, invigorating, exciting, energizing, and uplifting. |
Lemon
Orange Grapefruit Bergamot Lime Tangerine Citronella Lemongrass Mandarin Litsea Cubeba Tagetes |
Most often top notes |
|
| FLORAL
These scents are often reminiscent of the flowers from which they are extracted and can be described as being feminine, powdery, subtle, modest, romantic, and even poetic. They are often sweet-smelling and create a feeling of cheerfulness. Floral scents are considered to be classic and timeless. |
Chamomile
Geranium Jasmine Lavender Rose Rosewood Ylang-Ylang Petitgrain |
Most often middle notes |
|
| HERBACEOUS
Essential Oils that have herbaceous scents can be further described as smelling green or grassy. These Essential Oils often have mild floral yet invigorating spring-like scents that are associated with lush, wet foliage. They are reminiscent of the aroma of fresh leaves, moss, mown grass, herbs, and trees. |
Chamomile
Angelica Root Clary Sage Eucalyptus Radiata Fennel Hyssop Marjoram Melissa Rosemary Thyme Oregano Bay Laurel Catnip Sage Dalmatian Parsley Tea Tree Yarrow |
Most often middle notes |
|
| CAMPHORACEOUS
These Essential Oils have strong scents and are known to be beneficial for clearing the respiratory system due to their clarifying, penetrating, energizing, purifying, and almost medicinal aromas. |
Camphor
Cajeput Eucalyptus Pennyroyal Laurel Leaf Lavandin |
Most often middle notes |
|
| MINTY
Essential Oils with a minty scent are strong-scented and are distinctly known for their bracing, fresh fragrances. They are reputed to be clearing and cooling when used in aromatherapy and topical applications. |
Spearmint
Wintergreen Peppermint |
Can be top, middle, or base Notes |
|
| SPICY
These Essential Oils have exotic, warm, intense aromas that are often reminiscent of baking and other warm memories. With strong scents, they are commonly used to stimulate energy and focus. |
Aniseed
Basil Black Pepper Cardamom Cinnamon Coriander Cumin Ginger Nutmeg Allspice Cassia Clove Bud |
Middle or base notes |
|
| RESINOUS/MUSKY
These Essential Oils exude deep, rich scents that are smoky, woody, earthy, sweet, leather-like, and warm. Their mellow, alluring, and long-lasting fragrances lend a reassuring quality that makes them ideal for use in spiritual practices. |
Benzoin
Elemi Frankincense Myrrh Peru Balsam |
Middle or base notes |
|
| WOODY/EARTHY
These Essential Oils have deep, warm, lingering scents. Often described as smelling “brown,” these oils are reminiscent of the scents of a forest floor or damp soil. Their fragrances are soft, masculine, musky, and sensual. Their alluring, seductive, and hypnotic qualities create an atmosphere of mystery. |
Cypress
Juniper Berry Pine Sandalwood Fir Cedarwood (Atlas & Virginian) Palo Santo Rosewood Patchouli Vetiver Valerian Carrot Seed |
Most often middle or base notes |
|
WHICH ESSENTIAL OILS SMELL GOOD TOGETHER?
Any Essential Oils can smell good together depending on the individual’s preferences! While oils in the same aroma family largely combine well, this is not a rule for how all blends should be made. The simplest way to select oils for a blend is to consider the individual oils that are preferred, the person it is for, the purpose, the method of application, and the ideal outcome. Generally, the best results are often from combinations of oils that have all 3 notes, which create balanced and harmonious aromas.
| AROMA FAMILY | BLENDS WELL WITH… |
|---|---|
|
CITRUS |
Most other aroma families Floral Minty Spicy Woody |
|
FLORAL |
Citrus Spicy Woody |
|
HERBACEOUS |
Minty Woody |
|
CAMPHORACEOUS |
Citrus Spicy Woody/Earthy Herbaceous |
|
MINTY |
Citrus Woody Herbaceous Earthy |
|
SPICY |
Floral Woody Citrus |
|
RESINOUS/MUSKY |
Citrus Floral |
|
WOODY |
Floral Herbaceous Minty Spicy Citrus |
|
EARTHY |
Woody Minty |
HOW TO MAKE A BALANCED ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND
The easiest way to create a well-rounded oil blend is to narrow down a list of preferred Essential Oils to a maximum of 5 Essential Oils:
- 2 Top note oils
- 2 Middle note oils
- 1 Base note oil
When it comes to creating Essential Oil blends, there are no strict guidelines for oils that should or should not be combined, but the following standard can act as a guiding principle to help encourage a congruous blend, especially for a beginning strategy:
For 1 drop of a Base note,
add 2 drops of Middle note(s)
and
3 drops of Top note(s)
Alternatively, and more simply, combine each Essential Oil 1 drop at a time until the blend emits the preferred scent. When formulating new blends, the least wasteful approach to mixing is to limit the total amount of all combined Essential Oils to a minimum of 5 drops and a maximum of 25 drops. Begin by blending the Base and Middle notes. When the ideal scent is achieved with this mixture, add in the Top note. Continue to add 1 drop at a time of each type of oil until either the maximum number of drops is reached or until the ideal blend is attained.
To keep track of the oils and their amounts, it is helpful to make notes with each addition. Before using the final blend, it is recommended that they be allowed to sit or “rest” for 24 hours in order for the scent to develop, as it can potentially change within this time. Before creating or using any blends, ensure that all safety protocols are followed. When applying the blend topically, dilute first with a Carrier Oil.
See our wholesale essential oils category.
ESSENTIAL OILS SIDE EFFECTS
As with all other New Directions Aromatics products, Essential Oils are for external use only. It is imperative to consult a medical practitioner before using these oils for therapeutic purposes. Pregnant and nursing women are especially advised not to use Essential Oils without the medical advice of a physician, as they may have effects on certain hormone secretions and it is unclear whether these effects are transferable to babies at these stages of development. These oils should always be stored in an area that is inaccessible to children, especially those under the age of 7.
Those with the following health conditions are especially recommended to be advised by a physician: cancer, heart-related ailments, skin disorders or allergies, hormone-related ailments, or epilepsy. Individuals that are taking prescription drugs, undergoing major surgery, or who are at a greater risk of experiencing strokes, heart attacks, or atherosclerosis are also advised to seek medical consultation prior to use.
Prior to using any Essential Oil, a skin test is recommended. This can be done by diluting 1 drop of the Essential Oil in 4 drops of a Carrier Oil and applying a dime-size amount of this blend to a small area of skin that is not sensitive. Essential Oils must never be used near the eyes, inner nose, and ears, or on any other particularly sensitive areas of skin. Potential side effects of Essential Oils include redness, rash, hives, burning, bleeding disorders, decreased speed of healing, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, convulsions, and rapid heartbeat. In the event of an allergic reaction, discontinue use of the products and see a doctor, pharmacist, or allergist immediately for a health assessment and appropriate remedial action. To prevent side effects, consult with a medical professional prior to use.