BLOG: Dilute and Mix

Although you can use essential oils in many different ways, it is important to know how to do this safely. In this blog I would like to give you some tools and guidelines, so that you can use your oils in a safe and responsible way.

DILUTE

Essential oils are highly concentrated and therefore very powerful. To use them safely, you need to dilute them. This makes your essential oil more absorbable by your skin and helps to reduce/prevent evaporation, allowing you to enjoy the effects of the oil for longer. In addition, diluting the essential oil ensures a reduced chance of skin reactions. Your essential oils also last longer, because you need less to use. Not only safe, but also sustainable for the environment and of course for your wallet.

When diluting essential oils, you should take into account the purpose of use, the age of the user and his or her health * . For example, consider the use of medication, pregnancy and illness. There are various situations in which you should not use certain essential oils. Get good advice about this.

The location on the body is also important in the degree of dilution. The following dilution table (for adults) can be used as a guideline:

% essential oil

Number of drops of essential oil

Sight	0.2 - 1.5%	0.3 - 4.5 drops per 10 ml
Body	1.5 - 3.0%	4.5 - 9 drops per 10 ml
Bath	1.0 - 4.0%	3 - 12 drops per 10 ml
Specific complaints	4.0 - 10.0%	12 - 30 drops per 10 ml
Acute pain / wounds	5.0 - 20.0%	15 - 60 drops per 10 ml

NB Always start with the lowest percentage and build up if necessary .
Source: Jacqueline van Liere, Makor Care .

💡 TIP: An easy guideline you can use is: 1 drop of essential oil per 1 teaspoon (approx. 5 ml) of carrier oil for a 1% dilution.

MIX

As you may know, oil does not mix with water. So you need a substance that is fat soluble , such as one (or a combination) of the following products:

• A carrier oil, such as fractionated coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil
• A fat, such as shea butter, mango butter or coconut oil
• Another fat-soluble substance, such as alcohol (96%), castile soap or another (base) soap

The following products are water soluble and therefore will not mix with your essential oil:

• Water
• Hydrosols
• Witch Hazel
• Glycerin
• (Epsom) salt

Of course you can make products based on water-soluble substances. Use an emulsifier to mix the oil part and the water part together and help to spread your essential oil better. And preferably also a preservative, since water can cause all kinds of yeasts, molds and bacteria in your final product.

BASIC TIPS

Ready to get started? Check out the following tips and information for making your own products.

Room spray
You can make a room spray based on alcohol (96%) . Fill your bottle with drops of essential oil and top up with the alcohol. Alcohol also works as a preservative, so you can use your blend for a long time without it getting 'dirty'.

> If you prefer to make a spray based on a water-soluble substance, such as witch hazel and/or a hydrosol, use an emulsifier to mix the water and your essential oil, such as the plant-based emulsifier solubol .

> If you prefer not to use an emulsifier, understand that your essential oils will float on the surface of the water, while the opening of the straw of your spray top is at the bottom of the bottle. Shaking well before use is very important to ensure that your oils come out of your spray top.

Bath salts (epsom salt)
If you want to make a lovely bath salt, mix the essential oil with a carrier oil first, before mixing it further with the (epsom) salt . For this you can use fractionated coconut oil or almond oil for example.

It is important to know when making bath salts that you should only use essential oils that are suitable for use in the bath, and that you dilute them by first mixing them with a carrier oil. As soon as you sit in a warm bath, your skin opens up and becomes even more sensitive. The bath salt melts in the warm water, which releases the essential oils back onto the water surface. Since these do not mix with the bath water, it is important that they are diluted (by means of the carrier oil) before they come into contact with your warm, more sensitive skin.

Creams and balms
To make a cream you often use a butter, such as shea butter or (solid) coconut oil . For balms, wax is often used, such as soy wax or beeswax . Of course, you can also combine butters and wax.

The butter and/or wax melt slowly in a bain marie, so that the valuable properties are preserved and they do not burn. Once your butter and/or wax has melted, let it cool down again before adding the essential oil, so that it does not evaporate due to the heat.

💡 TIP: If you want to make your final cream a little fluffier, use a mixer to beat your final product until it is fluffier.

💡 TIP: Check out a great recipe for making your own lip balm here .

Lotions
If you want to make a more fluid lotion, add a water-soluble substance to your oil/butter/wax mixture, such as (demi)water, hydrosol or witch hazel.

In order to mix the water and oil parts together, you need an emulsifier, possibly a co-emulsifier to get a stable mixture and prevent separation, and a preservative to keep your blend fresh. Making a lotion is a bit more complicated to do, but with the right products and a good recipe, it is certainly not impossible.

Heat the butter and/or wax together with an emulsifier (for example Olivem 1000) and co-emulsifier (for example Cetyl Alcohol ) to 70°C. In a second bowl, do the same with the water-soluble substance. Once both mixtures have reached 70 ° C , combine them and mix with a milk frother or hand blender until a milky mixture is formed. Allow the mixture to cool to 45° C and add the preservative (for example Cosgard (Geogard® 221)) and the essential oils. Mix well and allow to cool. The mixture will slowly thicken.

💡 TIP: If you like to make water-based (care) products, use a preservative to extend the shelf life of your product. Water can get 'dirty' over time, so you need to protect it from all kinds of yeasts, molds and bacteria. One of the products you can use for this is Cosgard (Geogard® 221), an organic preservative.

💡 TIP: If you are looking for more information and recipes about making creams, lotions and soap, this book is highly recommended (available at bol.com).

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Disclaimer:

* It is very important that you use 100% pure essential oils and that you are well informed about which oils you can take responsibly and which oils you cannot take.

** There is a potential interaction between medications and essential oils, including an increase in the side effects of medications. Consult your physician if you have questions about implementing essential oils into your daily routine. Pay particular attention to which essential oil is safe to use in the event of a (possible) pregnancy and when using blood thinners. Special guidelines also apply to children. Consult a qualified physician for this.

This information has been compiled with the utmost care. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease, nor is it intended to replace medical advice from professional physicians and medicines. Anyone suffering from illness or injury should consult a qualified physician.

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