The main product groups are:

1. Oil
2. Water
3. Gel/lotion
4. Cream
5. Solids (powder/salts)

Oil

Vegetable and nut oils (never use mineral oils) have a wide range of inherent therapeutic properties and are the most natural of carriers combining effortlessly with essential oils.

As making massage oils is simply a matter of adding the essential oils (normally in a ratio of 1 drop essence to 3mls oil), we shall focus our attention other product groups.

Water Based Products

Add your chosen essential oils to a a good quality solubiliser/surfactant in a ratio of 1 part oil to 2 parts surfactant. Shake/stir rigorously so that the oil and surfactant bind together and leave to stand for a few minutes then add purified (boiled and cooled) water. As a guideline; we use 15 drops essence and 2mls surfactant to make a 10ml roller ball; 30 drops essence to 5mls surfactant to make 100mls room spray or 30 drops essence to 5mls surfactant to make 100mls therapeutic spray.

Gel/lotion.

To make a shower gel, shampoo, conditioner or lotion, it is important to use only base products that are fragrance free and hypo-allergenic. It is better to use products that are designed for the addition of essential oils (as all ours are).

• For fragrance use 1 drop essence to 5mls gel/lotion.
• For cosmetic uses use 1 drop essence to 4mls gel/lotion
• For therapeutic applications use 1 drop essence to 3mls gel/lotion

Simply pour your base into a jug, add your essential oils to the base product and stir in until no undisolved oil remains – never use a whisk as this may cause the base product to break down.

Cream

• For a gentle action (e.g. dry skin cream) use a ratio of 1 drop essence to 4gms cream.
• For general therapeutic applications (e.g. eczema & psoriasis) use a ratio of 1 drop essence to 3mls cream.
• For complaints such as Sciatica or Athlete’s foot, use a ratio of 1 drop essence per 2gms cream – in certain cases, it is acceptable to increase the ratio to a maximum of 1 drop essence per gram of cream.

Simply add the essence to your cream (hypo-allergenic and fragrance free) and mix carefully to ensure there are no pockets of undisolved oil.

To enrich your cream; add vegetable or nut oils to a maximum of 5% of the finished product. To increase the shelf-life of your product; add 5% vitamin E or Wheatgerm oil.

Solids

To make a powder (use vegetable rather than mineral powder) or Bath salt; use the same ratio of essence to base product as though making a lotion.

For a fragrant bath salt; put 100gms salt in a large container and add 20 drops essence + a few drops food colouring (if desired) then shake rigorously and decant into an appropriate jar.