In a world wafting with artificial fragrance as far as the nose can smell, those of us with scent sensitivities often find it challenging to navigate the vast, perfumy sea of skin and body care products. As someone who gets a headache solely at the thought of walking through a store’s fragrance department, this challenge is nothing new to me. After spending an inordinate amount of time walking down aisle after aisle, uncapping and sniffing products, only to settle on one I found relatively tolerable, I’ve since opened myself up to a new world—custom fragrance!

Prior to joining the Mountain Rose Herbs team, I admittedly hadn’t put much thought toward creating my own scents. Now that I’ve spent a few years diving nose deep into the art of aromatherapy, my perception surrounding fragrance has shifted greatly. Little had I known that fragrance can not only be entirely tolerable but can also offer surprisingly powerful therapeutic benefits! Although I can’t retrieve the lost time and money I spent settling on acceptably scented products, my time is now much better spent crafting alluring fragrances with equally enticing essential oils.

Any good essential oil blend needs an equally good base, which is why I’ve fallen madly in love with Mountain Rose’s unscented product line! From everyday unscented essentials, such as velvety body lotion and richly moisturizing massage oil, this product line offers an endless supply of whole-body nourishment and DIY fragrance possibilities. Since no one should have to put up with the mysterious concoctions that make up artificial fragrances, I’m sharing my favorite essential oil blends that will have your nose whisked away into the world of nature-inspired fragrances—far, far away from the perfume aisle.

Unscented Body Wash Base, with Lavender London Fog Essential Oil Blend

Lather yourself in luxurious suds with our organic body wash base and envelop yourself in citrusy, vanilla-like aromas reminiscent of a lavender-infused London fog latte!

Ingredients

Makes enough for 16 ounce base with 2% essential oil dilution.

• 1 tsp. bergamot essential oil (96 drops)
• 1/2 tsp. Peru balsam essential oil (48 drops)
• 1/2 tsp. lavender essential oil (48 drops)

Directions

1. Add all essential oils to a small container and swirl to combine.
2. Pour essential oil mixture directly into base container. Place lid on and shake gently until oils are distributed evenly (about 20 seconds).
3. Store in a cool, dark place and use within 1 year.

Pro Tip: If you don't have Peru balsam essential oil, benzoin resin oil has similar vanilla-like qualities without the pure vanilla price tag. However, benzoin is very resinous and can be tricky to blend with a carrier, so an extra few shakes before each use is recommended with this substitution. 

Unscented Bubble Bath Base, with Forest Bathing Essential Oil Blend

No proper bath is complete without bubbles! Our silky smooth aloe vera-based bubble bath paired with this woodsy, soothing scent will transcend you and your bathtub into a cedar forest speckled with aromatic wildflowers.

Ingredients

Makes enough for 16 ounce base with 2% essential oil dilution.

• 1 tsp. black spruce essential oil (96 drops)
• 3/4 tsp. lavender essential oil (72 drops)
• 1/4 tsp. Atlas cedarwood essential oil (24 drops)

Directions

4. Add all essential oils to a small container and swirl to combine.
5. Pour essential oil mixture directly into base container. Place lid on and shake gently until oils are distributed evenly (about 20 seconds).
6. Store in a cool, dark place and use within 1 year.

Pro Tip: Prefer soaking with bath bombs over bubbles? We've got you covered! This blend can also be used in place of the essential oils called for in our DIY bath bomb recipe. Try blending 7 drops black spruce essential oil, 5 drops lavender essential oil, and 3 drops Atlas cedarwood essential oil to transform your bathtub into a fizzy forest! 

Unscented Lotion Base, with Awakening Essential Oil Blend

Silky, soft, smooth, and hydrated will all be words used to describe how your skin feels after applying our lightweight lotion base. With the added gentle, refreshing aroma of lavender, vetiver, and tea tree—slathering yourself in lotion after a shower will go from a chore to a treat for the senses!

Ingredients

Makes enough for 16 ounce base with 2% essential oil dilution.

• 1 tsp. lavender essential oil (96 drops)
• 1/2 tsp. vetiver essential oil (48 drops)
• 1/2 tsp. tea tree essential oil (48 drops)

Directions

10. Add all essential oils to a small container and swirl to combine.
11. Pour essential oil mixture directly into base container. Place lid on and shake gently until oils are distributed evenly (about 20 seconds).
12. Store in a cool, dark place and use within 1 year.

Pro Tip: This blend would also be divine for an invigorating shampoo, conditioner, or body wash! 

Unscented Conditioner & Shampoo Base, with Scalp-Reset Essential Oil Blend

If you find yourself frequently scratching your head when you’re not lost in puzzled thought, it may be time for a scalp-reset! Our dynamic-duo shampoo and conditioner bases are suitable for all hair types and make for an invigorating shower experience with the addition of soothing and cooling essential oils, such as rosemary and peppermint.

Ingredients

Makes enough for 16 ounce base with 2% essential oil dilution.

• 1 tsp. rosemary essential oil (96 drops)
• 1/2 tsp. peppermint essential oil (48 drops)
• 1/2 tsp. tea tree essential oil (48 drops)

Directions

7. Add all essential oils to a small container and swirl to combine.
8. Pour essential oil mixture directly into base container. Place lid on and shake gently until oils are distributed evenly (about 20 seconds).
9. Store in a cool, dark place and use within 1 year.

Pro Tip: For those with sensitive scalps or who prefer less of a cooling effect, I would recommend paring this blend down by half to make a 1% essential oil dilution. 

Unscented Massage Oil Base, with Muscle-Melter Essential Oil Blend

Whether you enjoy massages for aromatherapy, intimacy, soreness, relaxation, or all of the above, our massage oil has got you covered—literally! Lightweight, yet hydrating carrier oils, paired with the warming, stimulating properties of rosemary, basil, and wintergreen essential oils, this blend will leave your muscles, and your mind melted in no time. 

Ingredients

Makes enough for 16 ounce base with 2% essential oil dilution.

• 1 tsp. rosemary essential oil (96 drops)
• 1/2 tsp. basil essential oil (48 drops)
• 1/2 tsp. wintergreen essential oil (48 drops)

Directions

13. Add all essential oils to a small container and swirl to combine.
14. Pour essential oil mixture directly into base container. Place lid on and shake gently until oils are distributed evenly (about 20 seconds).
15. Store in a cool, dark place and use within 1 year.

Pro Tip: Our unscented massage oil base is also the perfect carrier for making herb-infused oils! 

Pro Tips (General)

• If you are using more or less than 16 ounces of base, our nifty Essential Oil Dilution Calculator & Ratio Guide will help you determine how to scale these recipes up or down.
• All of these blends have a 2% essential oil dilution. For those who prefer faint scents, divide each essential oil in half to make 1% dilution.
• To bring variety to your DIY scent lab, you can split the base in half or quarts and make multiple scents. For each four ounce batch, you will want to use up to 48 drops (2% dilution).