CASE STUDY BLEND ADVICE

[Starla_C]

Hi there everyone.Good to have a lifeline when I am doing my case studies. Everyone is very friendly so thank you!
Anyway,just some feedback/thoughts appreciated on the following.I had one of my friends for a case study during the week and was working on the nervous, muscular and skin systems, she has stiffness in her hip joint from time to time, dry skin which is also sensitive and needs to relax.I used oils as follos-patchouli for open pores and it being a sedative, Chamomile to help with inflamed skin,, lavender to help with pain and inflammation and clary sage to help with sedative and muscular aches but what I wanted feedback on is the fact that although the oils I blended were ok for the symptoms they actually did not blend well together.The smell wasn't that fab and this bothered me. Its just the oils I thought better seem to have certain contr-indications with the sensitive skin she has.Does this matter, I feel it would have been better had I chosed better blending oils.Feedback and thoughts appreciated.
Another query is that I used eucalypts with rom cham and lavender as a blend for another case study and I tend to do my massages in the evening.What I wondered was although eucalyptus is a stimulatn, should you be completely avoiding stimulating oils in case they have a problem sleeping. I only used 1 or 2 drops but wondered what your thoughts were on this also.
She actually fell asleep in the final part of the massage so it can't have been too bad.
Any thoughts/feedback appreciated.Cheers, h

 

[Drurjurwiakbi]

Hi and welcome. I have to say when I read your blend my first thoughts were 'ooo that wouldn't blend nicely!' Patchouli and chamomile would fight with each other to be honest and clary sage and patchouli would do the same.

When you make a blend you have to consider the aroma as well as the effects. Usually you are taught to use three oils, one base, one mid and one high note. Did they teach you this on your course?

It can be tricky as there are so many oils and they have so many uses. As a guide it helps if you blend the base notes with something light, for instance they usually go well with citrus oils.

Onto your client. This is only a suggestion because there are many blends to choose from, but would suggest choosing from the following and you will need to try them out to see if they blend (put the bottle tops together and inhale from them not the bottle).

Clary Sage (brilliant for stress, but don't mix with alcohol that day).
Marjoram (stress and stiff joints).
Orange (natural sedative).
Roman chamomile (for stress and inflammation)
Sandalwood (for dry skin and relaxation)
Grapefruit (good for stress also)
Frankincense (wonderful for the skin and relaxation).
Lavender for all of the above.
Neroli (stress and great for the skin).

There are many others, but a bit tired now! Try all of the above, three together and have a sniff.

As for using certain oils at night. Well you have a point, stimulating oils are best not used, but if you only use one or two drops and compensate with other sedative oils in the right blend then it is a matter of balance. Get the proportions right, lavender for instance is a sedative in small doses but a stimulant in larger amounts!

Hope that hasn't confused you too much!

 

[Cell]

Thanks Candie for the feedback and advice. What is it that makes the chamomile and patchouli clash with each other and clary and patch?I know I need to go back over my notes and use my "blends well with"notes to improve the blends I do.I think I was trying too hard and forgot all about my aroma that night.Well, at least I have learnt from it!
When you have a client with you do you know what blends wel with what from off the top of your head.There is such a multitude of smells that I wondered how its done?I am still 4 months ago from my exam so hopefully things will come together soon!
I will try what you suggest re the bottle tops.Thanks ago for the help and support.

 

[9th]

Hi Healthy H
I would also say that what smells good to you may smell awful to the client as it's such a personal things (and vice versa). I would always ask a client if they know of any oils they don't like - I've found that sometime people have definite opinions on oils eg X doesn't like Ylang ylang as it makes her feel sick!! however Y thinks it's wonderful.

I know what you mean about blends and smells though. I put together a blend from my friend the other week (I can't remember what was in it off the top of my head - I think juniper and clary sage and something else) it smelled really odd to me but my friend loved it!!

Sonia

 

[rotavatore]

to be honest, i dont see why you cant have a reference sheet of the oils whilst you are doing the consultation. with so many oils to choose from, it would pretty impossible to remember them all, their notes and what blends well with what and which may go well together.

havent you ever been to the doctor and have them refer to their mims book? you can always make your own database, either card ref or book/ sheet... poster even, to make it look more professional if you are worried about that. i see much of the skill in the blending and knowing how much to use.

 

[ChristalSmoozy]

Hi again. It is all in the blending. Yes, some people will like a blend that others hate, but generally it is about harmony. Some oils just do not go together. I suggest you spend a bit of time with your oils smelling them as I suggested earlier. Find out what blends well with what and look at books for guidance.

There is nothing wrong with consulting notes and books when you choose a blend for a client. I tend to use tried and tested ones and now and again I put others together, it comes with experience, but I am not beyond checking out a blend in a book or my college notes that I kept.

We had to have an 'aromatherapy bible' which we put together whilst we studied. In it we put all the information on all the 40 oils we studied and that included what blended well with what.

don't worry too much, you have some time to go yet and that is the point of the course and your case studies, to learn about the oils.

Personally I find that Roman Chamomile doesn't blend well with some oils due to it's aroma and as for clary and patchouli, maybe it is a personal thing, but they are both too heavy to blend well. But others may disagree!

Do the blend test. Sit down with all your oils and swop them around and look for a harmonious blend and make notes of what goes well with what.

Always ask the client for feedback. I always ask them if there is something they particularly like or dislike and some say 'oh I can't stand floral oils' etc. When you have a suggested blend then you give them the tops to smell and see if they like it. If they don't they will say so and then you adapt it.

 

[aseret_me]

Agree with what has already been said. Just wanted to add that it is important to bear in mind that some blends smell differently in the bottle/mixing pot to how they smell on the skin, so again, it is worth experimenting with blending and applying some onto your forearm.

Lesley