How do the essential oils that we use smell, other than really really good?
A stench to one nose can be delight to another
Amyris: Also known as West Indian sandalwood. Comparable to sandalwood, but not from an endangered tree.
Lavender: A sweet scent with a hint of citrus. Lavender has great staying power.
Rose Geranium: Similar to the scent of a true rose. Fresh, but more flowery and a bit powdery. This essential oil has great staying power too. It can be overpowering when used alone, so care must be taken not to over do it. Allegedly, this oil has astringent properties.
Palmarosa: A rose like scent with more citrus overtones, and a richer dimension than rose geranium essential oil. This oil has less staying power than rose geranium essential oil.
Clary sage: Floral, yet deep. This essential oil can be addictive! Unfortunately, on its own it lacks staying power and can be finicky. It can be magnified and sustained when combined with the right complement oils.
Patchouli: This essential oil can have an interesting range of scent variations depending on it's age and quality. The best dark patchouli oil has a deep earthy scent combined with a floral overlay. (To me, at any rate. The perception of scents can be so subjective.) Patchouli has great staying power.
Lemongrass: A warm lemon citrus scent. A little can go a long way. Too much can overwhelm more delicate oils. This oil has superb staying power.
Rosemary: Almost a pine scent with a hint of mint and green lightness. This is the closest to pine without being pine. Pine essential oil can be a serious skin irritant. Not so for rosemary in most cases. This essential oil has excellent staying power.
Tea Tree: A fresh green scent with a subtle dry tone. Tea tree has good staying power.
Coriander: Green and floral at once, coriander has decent staying power.
Lilium auratum: This oil has a very flowery scent, but yet it is light enough to not be overwhelming. Excellent staying power.
Spearmint: Sweeter than peppermint, spearmint oil has less of a bite, but good staying power. Peppermint essential oil has
a much greater potential for irritating sensitive skin. Spearmint imparts minty freshness in a more tolerable manner.
Basil: Very much like licorice and anise. This oil can be irritating to some. Decent staying power and can mellow to a honey note after passage of time.
Vetiver: This one is doggone interesting, or really gross, depending on your personal preference! Some say it smells like slightly burned beans, and some say it smells like good rich dirt. This oil can add a subtle spicy under layer in the right proportions, or an earthy tang.
Frankincense: This oil has a highly sweet note on a spicy end and must be used in small quantities in blends. This one can be sensitizing and is best in wash off situations. If allergies are an issue, steer clear just in case.
Myrrh: Dry and spicy, myrrh adds a warm depth in blends with a hint of bitterness than can balance excessive sweetness nicely. It is good as a subtle anchor.
Ylang Ylang: Can be overpoweringly sickeningly sweet, and irritating in large amounts. Not for delicate skin types! Best in small quantities blended with gentler oils. This one by its self really reminds me of certain blue toilet tank tablets. That effect is cancelled out by the right mixture with other oils, thank goodness. It can become a tropically floral note when blended properly.
Chamomile: Like chamomile blossoms, light, sweet, not overbearing. A soothing scent.
Lavender: A sweet scent with a hint of citrus. Lavender has great staying power.
Rose Geranium: Similar to the scent of a true rose. Fresh, but more flowery and a bit powdery. This essential oil has great staying power too. It can be overpowering when used alone, so care must be taken not to over do it. Allegedly, this oil has astringent properties.
Palmarosa: A rose like scent with more citrus overtones, and a richer dimension than rose geranium essential oil. This oil has less staying power than rose geranium essential oil.
Clary sage: Floral, yet deep. This essential oil can be addictive! Unfortunately, on its own it lacks staying power and can be finicky. It can be magnified and sustained when combined with the right complement oils.
Patchouli: This essential oil can have an interesting range of scent variations depending on it's age and quality. The best dark patchouli oil has a deep earthy scent combined with a floral overlay. (To me, at any rate. The perception of scents can be so subjective.) Patchouli has great staying power.
Lemongrass: A warm lemon citrus scent. A little can go a long way. Too much can overwhelm more delicate oils. This oil has superb staying power.
Rosemary: Almost a pine scent with a hint of mint and green lightness. This is the closest to pine without being pine. Pine essential oil can be a serious skin irritant. Not so for rosemary in most cases. This essential oil has excellent staying power.
Tea Tree: A fresh green scent with a subtle dry tone. Tea tree has good staying power.
Coriander: Green and floral at once, coriander has decent staying power.
Lilium auratum: This oil has a very flowery scent, but yet it is light enough to not be overwhelming. Excellent staying power.
Spearmint: Sweeter than peppermint, spearmint oil has less of a bite, but good staying power. Peppermint essential oil has
a much greater potential for irritating sensitive skin. Spearmint imparts minty freshness in a more tolerable manner.
Basil: Very much like licorice and anise. This oil can be irritating to some. Decent staying power and can mellow to a honey note after passage of time.
Vetiver: This one is doggone interesting, or really gross, depending on your personal preference! Some say it smells like slightly burned beans, and some say it smells like good rich dirt. This oil can add a subtle spicy under layer in the right proportions, or an earthy tang.
Frankincense: This oil has a highly sweet note on a spicy end and must be used in small quantities in blends. This one can be sensitizing and is best in wash off situations. If allergies are an issue, steer clear just in case.
Myrrh: Dry and spicy, myrrh adds a warm depth in blends with a hint of bitterness than can balance excessive sweetness nicely. It is good as a subtle anchor.
Ylang Ylang: Can be overpoweringly sickeningly sweet, and irritating in large amounts. Not for delicate skin types! Best in small quantities blended with gentler oils. This one by its self really reminds me of certain blue toilet tank tablets. That effect is cancelled out by the right mixture with other oils, thank goodness. It can become a tropically floral note when blended properly.
Chamomile: Like chamomile blossoms, light, sweet, not overbearing. A soothing scent.
