pre-mixed oils?

[Glithiarth]

Wondering if anybody could help or give suggestions?

I qualified in Holistic Therapies about 4-5 years ago, but have only just decided to go self employed. I do not feel confident enough in my aromatherapy skills to blend my own oils for clients, so I would like to go down the pre-mixed blends route.
I used to use the Eve Taylor products at college, but these seem to of changed a little since I last used them.

Are these a good oil to use in a salon? Can anyone recommend any others I could use.

Also if you buy for salon use to they come with either flip top lids or pump dispensers as I don't want to waste oil by having to pour into a separate container etc, and I think its a lot easier to take straight from the bottle in the middle of a massage and its more hygienic etc etc.

Also on the look out for general massage/reflexology/indian head oils if anybody knows of a decent supplier?

Thanks in advance for any info you can supply.

P.S I already have some essential oils, but not sure if you can make up batched blends?? How long do essential oils last for?

Sorry if it all sounds a bit dense! lol

 

[Raqhim]

Hiya

Eve Taylor blends are really good, if a little expensive, and their trade account qualification is really high. Personally I use Purple Flame.

Don't be tempted to use straight from the bottle. Have you ever tried to pick up a heavy glass bottle with oily hands? What you would save on decanting and wasting oil that way, you might lose much more on broken bottles! Dangerous. You could try using pump-action tops. You can get special belts (I think you can get them through FHT) with space for pump-action oil bottles.

 

[Olga]

If I was to use straight from bottle I would want it where I could use a pump dispenser top on it, as you say I wouldn't fancy trying to pick up a glass or even plastic bottle with oily hands. Bottle glass would be too dangerous and plus you would end up with oil everywhere - not good.

Was just wondering if a pump dispenser would fit onto a pre-blend bottle?
Not heard of Purple Flame so will go google that now, thanks. I do like Eve Taylor but am open to other options.

Thanks for your reply

 

[Jenifflala]

Hi Muddi

I am a tad confused about your question....are you qaulified in aromatherapy because some of your questions should have been covered in your course.

I only ask as (I practise aromatherapy) I would never consider pre-blend oils as that negates using the oils specifically for the client and how they are feeling that day.

Patchouli

 

[dood]

I'm just looking for some pre-blended oils to use when I qualify, as I'm not trained in aromatherapy, so I'll be interested in what's recommended too.

I must say as a home enthusiast I am quite tempted to get a few different brands so that I can try at least to match some of the essential oils to the client, but I know that's kind of Aromatherapy By Stealth, and I do want to train properly eventually.
But then I used some Sports Blend Tui Balme on a friend the other day, because it contains lemon and manuka oils and she was feeling run down - the next day she slept a lot, the day after she said she felt better and the cold she was expecting never came, which seems like a good result to me!

Tui Balmes seem to do some nice blends, and are not messy, but I think to be hygienic you need to remove the balme for each client into a separate container using a spatula. Anyone's advice / experience with this would be gratefully received

At college we are using small plastic flip-top bottles (50ml) which you are not in any danger of dropping, so you could always buy some of those and decant some of each blend into one of those - no wastage then.

 

[beixsreq]

Hi Patchouli, my holistics therapies I qualified in covered aromatherapy, but its been a few years since I have mixed any blends, so was unsure of mixing my own as I know how powerful they can be if mixed wrongly or too strongly etc. And I think I have lost my confidence within myself - I would not feel comfortable doing any mixes 'blind' - i.e no chart etc to go from. (as in which are are high, medium and low/base tones etc)

Pre-mixed are just easier and lazier lol but I know what you mean about not being tailored to suit the client.


ooh and when I asked about making up blends and how long the oils last - I meant that I have some essential oils that I purchased around 4 years ago and didn't know if they would still be ok to use - without looking at the dates etc on them as they are packed away.. Sorry if it sounded a bit confusing. I knew what I meant lol

 

[Gia C]

I think it is a case of just practising for a while and reading up on a few good books. It will soon come back to you. I would buy a "recipe" book of oil blending. I have one (rarely look at it now) which was handy when starting out, I will check the name and post it later. I am sure other HP'ers know of some too.

Re: the dates of oils.

Base notes can last for many, many years. Some may improve with age and some found in funeral pyramids in Egypt still smelled fresh and were considered usable.

The middle notes may last about 12-3 years depending on what it is and top notes I only keep for 6-12 months after opening.

That was just the way I was taught but it may be that some people were taught differently.

I would say tho' that imo any top notes that have been opened and are over 2 years old are best binned.

Patchouli

 

[Maria Sweatfield]

Thank you, some of the oils have not been opened, I will have to get the box back out of storage and check them all.

So you dont think its going to look too bad if I have to 'look up' a recipe or blend for a client? I didn't want to look like a complete numpty by looking up and checking which oils can be blended with one another

When mixing oils before the clients seemed happy with what I came up with. Like you say I could do with mixing some up and just getting back into it etc...

Many thanks - I suppose we all have to start somewhere!

Trip to the library I think, to see which are decent and helpful books before I buy any.

 

[Better Than]

Of course you won't be a complete numpty if you have to look up what oils to use! I have to do much more than that in the hospice - I'm expected to look up the drug interactions as well!

What you need is called either a "decoder" - and you can get them for £4.99 off Amazon - or a Therapeutic Cross Reference. If you can find your notes, maybe your teacher gave you one - mine did, and I've since adapted and expanded it. Your client will respect you immensely if you take the time to compose the blend specifically for that person, taking into account their needs at that time.

 

[WinterOpal]

Thanks Chris - didn't want the client to think I was being unprofessional, but thinking of it from their view - I would be quite pleased that my therapist was taking a bit more time to look and make sure the blends were suitable just for me.

Yes I have some notes somewhere - but I have moved since and they have been packed away 'somewhere safe'

Guess what I will be doing this weekend??

Thank you for all your replies x most helpful