Not only can juniper berries be used in culinary recipes for flavor, but the oil from juniper berries can be used to balance the aroma of other essential oils in aromatherapy blends. Positively influence the body, mind and spirit by balancing marjoram and clary sage with melissa oil mixed with almond oil, grapeseed oil, or apricot kernel oil. Balance basil essential oil with angelica root. Balance sandalwood essential oil with petitgrain and lemon oil. Treat lethargy with lavender oil blended with lemongrass oil containing citral. For a floral scent, combine geranium essential oil with lavender oil.
Balancing, Normalizing, and Stabilizing
Separated, equal amounts of the individual components camphor, cineol, and terpenol would smell penetratingly overwhelming. The linalol linalyl acetate would smell excessively delicate and sweet. Natural lavender oil contains such a small percentage of pungent components that they balance and complement the light floral constituents, resulting in a sweet, but delicate herbaceous aroma. Essential oils with balanced, seemingly unrelated components are used often in aromatherapy as balancing, normalizing, and stabilizing essential oils.
Many oils are used for balancing. Excellent choices for balancing oils include clary sage, geranium essential oil, and lavender oil. Oils with balancing characteristics include marjoram, melissa oil, lemongrass oil, petitgrain, oil from juniper berries, and fir needle.
The body, mind and spirit tend to focus on the component needed when the oils are used separately. For instance, someone stressed would tend to benefit from lavender's soothing aroma. Someone suffering from lethargy would benefit from the uplifting effect of the fresh, herbaceous characteristics.
Knowledge of major scent traits and therapeutic benefits help aromatherapists create their own synergistic blends.
Two ways to create balanced aromatherapy blends are to only use balanced oils in a blend or to blend oils with opposite effects, yet complementary scents. Try the following two massage or bath oil recipes using balanced essential oils.
Fresh-Herbaceous Balancing Blend
* 4 teaspoons almond, apricot kernel, or grapeseed oil
* 5 drops clary sage
* 3 drops marjoram
* 4 drops melissa
Lemony-Herbaceous-Floral Balancing Blend
* 4 teaspoons almond, apricot kernel, or grapeseed oil
* 2 drops geranium essential oil
* 4 drops lavender oil
* 6 drops lemongrass
Although made from different oils, the two above blends are sweet and herbaceous with similar aromas. The citral in the melissa and lemongrass oils contribute a lemony note.
The two recipes below are made from oils with opposing effects that together, produce a synergistic, balancing effect. A balancing oil reinforces the synergy. Benefits are listed for each of the oils.
* Topnote: 5 drops basil essential oil (refreshing, energizing, vitalizing)
* Middle note: 4 drops fir needle (balancing, normalizing, stabilizing)
* Bottom note: 4 drops angelica root (anchoring, introspective, relaxing)
* Topnote: 6 drops lemon oil (uplifting, refreshing, cheering)
* Middle note: 2 drops petitgrain (balancing, normalizing, stabilizing)
* Bottom note: 4 drops sandalwood essential oil (strengthening, supportive, relaxing)
A top note benefit plus a bottom note benefit is equivalent to the balancing benefit in the middle note. Balancing essential oils help the opposing effects, synergize blends, and create a more stable blend.
Balancing, normalizing, and stabilizing characteristics make use of the potential of naturally balanced single essential oils and opposing yet complementary blends. Blends with opposing effects tone down the effects of other oils in the blend. This creates a balanced, stable scent to normalize over or under active emotional or physical states. Opposing, yet balanced individual oils have the same effects and benefits.
To learn more about aromatherapy, click Learn and view topics under Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, & Lavender. Click to view other Aromatherapy Articles.
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