Understanding Aroma Notes for Essential Oil Blending: Base Notes

The art of essential oil blending is a delicate and thoughtful process that I often compare to the individual layers added to a painting. Just as each brush stroke on a canvas gradually builds on the layer of paint underneath to create a harmonious result, crafting essential oil blends applies the same principle. In the world of perfumery and essential oil blending, the three commonly recognized “paint” layers are known as fragrance notes, which encompass top notes, middle notes, and base notes. At the foundation of these blended layers, you will find base notes.

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Posted by Hailey

Fire Zodiac Perfume Recipe with Essential Oils



Over the past few months, I have been working on an elemental perfume series. I first tapped deep into the soil to find inspiration for an Earth Goddess blend. From there, I dove into the sea to create a whimsical Mermaid Blend made with “juicy” ylang ylang and brisk bay laurel. Then I soared amongst the clouds to create a blend with “go-with-the-flow” vibes that was crafted with ravensara and coriander. The last stop on this aromatic journeywas to be fire, and I had been waiting patiently for inspiration to strike me. Boy did it ever! My community was hit with a bad ice storm that resulted in hundreds of fallen trees and dangerous conditions. I was stuck at home without electricity or internet for several days and was fully reliant on my wood-burning stove for heat, cooking, and entertainment. During this time, I became deeply reacquainted with fire. 

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Posted by Jessicka

Chai Spice Whipped Body Scrub

 

Shower time is sacred to me. These precious moments wash away the physical grime of the day and offer an emotional reprieve from just about anything that is going on in my life. The act of bathing has long been known as a ritualistic expression of self-care. It is a time to slow down, to inspect your skin, and to give it the attention it needs. It’s a time with little to no distraction and where you can envelop yourself in the warmth and comfort of flowing water. It’s truly a meditative practice and is a key reason that DIY skin care is one of my favorite things.

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Posted by Jessicka

Guide to Evergreen Essential Oils



Many of us associate certain smells with the holiday season—from the sweet smells of spiced cookies to minty diffuser blends, to the most characteristic winter aroma: evergreens! Even for those who don’t celebrate Christmas, the bright woodland scents are welcomed by many this time of year. One of the questions most often asked of Mountain Rose Herbs this time of year is the difference between evergreen essential oils. We pride ourselves on our wide selection of organic essential oils, but so many options can make it harder to choose.

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Posted by Jessicka

2023 DIY Gift Guide + Free Herb-Inspired Gift Tag Template

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Each year, when I make my holiday gift list, I aim to meet a set of criteria. Offerings that are thoughtful, personal, and useful are amongst the most important to me. I have generally found that homemade gifts are more appreciated than things I can find in mass quantities at any big box store. Small-batch DIY gifts also allow customization, making them personalized for your beloved recipient. It can also help to keep waste out of landfills.

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Posted by Jessicka

Holiday Scents: 3 Essential Oil Blends for the Winter Season

The winter holidays are such a feast for the senses: not just our tastebuds, but also our eyes, ears, and olfactory system. This time of year, our public spaces are full of bright lights, festive music, and perfumed everything. Unfortunately, those expensive store-bought candles, diffuser oils, and room sprays are often made with synthetic ingredients that aren’t a healthy choice, no matter how much they promise to imbue us with the spirit of evergreen forests, candy canes, and homemade pumpkin pie. Diffusing natural essential oils—at home, at work, or in your car—is a wonderful alternative to scent your space with seasonal aromas. We love these three time-tested, holiday-inspired, DIY essential oil blends!

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Posted by Heidi

Warming Lotion Bars for Autumn & Winter


We all love a temperate and cozy home, but turning the heater on or lighting up the wood stove can be drying to our skin. Enter lotion bars! These delightful little skin-supporters add moisture and act as an emollient to protect the skin from the seasonal drying that happens this time of year.

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Posted by Jessicka

Herbal Simmer Pots + Stovetop Potpourri Recipes



This time of year, scent is an important part of my home. Seasonal aromas make autumn feel more alive and more celebrated. It makes coming home all the more enjoyable and brings added seasonal awareness to the two teens in my household. To achieve this, many of us DIY folks craft up our favorite diffuser blends, wax melts, and DIY candle recipes. While I like to make all of those things, I have recently added simmer pots to my repertoire. I have really enjoyed this new avenue of bringing fresh and fragrant smells to my home, so I thought I would share some of my family’s favorite combinations.

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Posted by Jessicka

DIY Foaming Hand Soap: Fall Scent    

   

I’m a sucker for seasonal scents. As soon as fall arrives, I begin making homemade wax melts, diffuser blends, roll-on perfumes, and natural skincare recipes to match the seasonal shift. I was recently inspired by my dear colleague Heidi’s autumn spice lotion recipe and I thought a foaming hand soap would make a great compliment.

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Posted by Jessicka

Wind Element Perfume Recipe with Essential Oils: Head in the Clouds Blend



Welcome to part three of my Elemental Perfume Blend series. What started as a journey to create fun DIY party favors for my upcoming wedding has turned into a rabbit hole of perfume recipe development. So far, I have shared an Earth Goddess perfume, an Aquatic Mermaid perfume, and now this wind-themed blend for my air sign friends.

With just three essential oils, this blend is made of top and middle notes to keep it as light as air.

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Posted by Jessicka

Homemade Deodorant: How to Make Natural, Herbal, Roll-On Deodorant

Summer being what it is—with all the extra sunshine and outdoor fun—our deodorant choices start to matter in a bigger way. Consumers have become increasingly aware of the potential issues that can come with using deodorants with ingredients like propylene glycol, aluminum, and triclosan, and have been turning more and more to natural deodorants. Unfortunately, while over-the-counter natural deodorants are a safer and more earth-friendly option than those loaded with parabens and chemicals, they are still packaged in mostly non-recyclable plastics that millions of Americans throw away every year. Happily, it’s an easy task to make your own natural, herbal, roll-on deodorant.

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Posted by Heidi

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Understanding Aroma Notes for Essential Oil Blending: Base Notes

Learn how to craft well-balanced and long-lasting aroma blends by understanding the foundation of essential oil blending: base notes!
WRITTEN BY Hailey

March 18, 2024

Fire Zodiac Perfume Recipe with Essential Oils

Fire is about warmth, strength, creativity, and transformation. This essential oil perfume blend celebrates the strength and passion of zodiac fire signs.
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

January 25, 2024

Chai Spice Whipped Body Scrub

This warming skin care recipe turns winter spices, skin-loving oils, luscious body butters, and an exfoliant into a dreamy and easily spreadable body scrub.
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

December 19, 2023

Guide to Evergreen Essential Oils

One of the most commonly asked questions this time of year is the difference between evergreen essential oils. Explore blending tips and aromatic notes for 10 common woodland oils.
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

December 15, 2023

2023 DIY Gift Guide + Free Herb-Inspired Gift Tag Template

Find DIY gift inspiration with this 2022 DIY gift guide, complete with a FREE gift tag template. Choose from over 50 homemade gift ideas for foodies, herbalists, essential oil lovers, and natural product enthusiasts.
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

December 9, 2023

Holiday Scents: 3 Essential Oil Blends for the Winter Season

Diffusing essential oils is a wonderful, natural way to freshen your home. Celebrate the aromas of the season with these 3 holiday-inspired DIY oil blends!
WRITTEN BY Heidi

December 1, 2023

Warming Lotion Bars for Autumn & Winter

Harness the power of skin-loving emollients with these seasonal lotion bars! They are easy to craft and make exceptional gifts.
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

November 16, 2023

Herbal Simmer Pots + Stovetop Potpourri Recipes

Learn how to use simmer pots for natural household fragrance, read about their pros and cons, and find two recipes to get you started.
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

November 2, 2023

DIY Foaming Hand Soap: Fall Scent    

Making a homemade foaming hand soap is easier than you might think! Try this simple recipe for a seasonal upgrade to your next hand wash.
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

October 4, 2023

Wind Element Perfume Recipe with Essential Oils: Head in the Clouds Blend

This light and airy perfume blend harnesses the weightlessness of air. Made with just three essential oils, this easy DIY perfume is great for everyday use and makes an exceptional gift!
WRITTEN BY Jessicka

August 28, 2023

Homemade Deodorant: How to Make Natural, Herbal, Roll-On Deodorant

It’s the time of year—full of sun and outdoor fun—when our deodorant choices matter more than ever. Make your own effective, natural, herbal, roll-on deodorant!
WRITTEN BY Heidi

July 31, 2023