Essential oils as a base?

[maxman]

I don't know if this is going to make any sense, but I'll pitch it out there anyway.
Let's say you really like Vetiver but can't find that fragrance that hits the mark.

What if you took some Vetiver essential oil or Ruh Khus and used that as a base on your skin then applied your fragrance.
Assuming of course that the EO you use is of high quality.

It sounds like it could work, but I'm not knowledgeable at all about EO to know if this idea has any merit

 

[Timmy Dee]

It'd be tough to get just the right amount - EOs (especially vetiver) can be pretty damn strong, and even a dab on the wrist could easily drown out some of the other notes in the fragrance you layer, notes that you'd miss if they were gone.

But hey, make sure you don't suffer any skin reaction to applying EOs directly to your skin, and then experiment away.

 

[hedonist222]

You could but have you really explored all vetiver or your preferred note based perfumes?

Have you tried Bourbon Vetiver by Miller Harris?

 

[jakespoppy]

The EO's I've smelled in the Whole Foods store don't really smell that good to me. I've wondered if it's because they are just too strong at a 100% dose, or if they just need to be blended to contribute in a smaller dose in the same way a lot of cooking ingredients are great when blended in a recipe, but you would never eat them by themselves.

 

[john parker]

The EO's I've smelled in the Whole Foods store don't really smell that good to me. I've wondered if it's because they are just too strong at a 100% dose, or if they just need to be blended to contribute in a smaller dose in the same way a lot of cooking ingredients are great when blended in a recipe, but you would never eat them by themselves.

I have noticed that, as well! Think sniffing at Whole Foods just gives one an idea of what the basenote may be. Only one I have ever purchased was a rose to try to create my own version of rose witch hazel (a disaster), but the oil did not smell like a nice sweet rose. Really strong and rough.

 

[maxman]

Hmmm. I didn't really think it would work.
I guessed as much.
I just wonder if you had an oil or something of high quality if layering it would work.

 

[jungie]

i use oils sometimes, i ike it

 

[zumo]

Hi !!

It is dangerous to use essential oils directly on the skin
(can cause burns).
need a carrier liquid alcohol, water, olive oil ...
and make a mixture.

good luck.

 

[The Chandos]

I don't know if this is going to make any sense, but I'll pitch it out there anyway.
Let's say you really like Vetiver but can't find that fragrance that hits the mark.

What if you took some Vetiver essential oil or Ruh Khus and used that as a base on your skin then applied your fragrance.
Assuming of course that the EO you use is of high quality.

It sounds like it could work, but I'm not knowledgeable at all about EO to know if this idea has any merit

YES!
You can do this!

I do it all the time. Vetiver is probably my absolute favorite note. Not to go on a tangent, but I think I like it better than oud and sandalwood. It is meditative yet provides me with a bit of energy whereas sandalwoods soothe me and ouds are more meditative. Vetiver is on a different plane.

Anyway, there are a lot of varieties of vetiver ois, absolutes, etc. I would sample a few to find the ones you like. See my two most recent SOTD's - which are both vetiver oils - where I describe them very differently. I have a source for some really good hydro-distilled vetiver that is fairly inexpensive and I can get large quantities for splits if I need to.

You will need to play around with the dosage to get the right "layering" but what I like to do is put some on each wrist and maybe a spray of something else under my shirt. I also like to put sandalwood oil on the tops of my wrists with some vetiver oils underneath my wrists. Etc., etc. How you combine them or blend them is up to you. But make sure you get some good quality vetiver oils. It is NOT expensive - considerably less than oud oils and less even than good sandalwood oils.

Good luck and have fun!