Purodem® CPD Series

Aromatherapy Blending: Principles & Practice of Essential Oil Formulation

A professional CPD course building structured, confident blending skills for aromatherapists and practitioners engaged in essential oil formulation.

CPD Course Overview

  • CPD Hours: 3–6
  • Level: Professional CPD
  • Delivery: Distance learning
  • Assessment: Competency-based
  • Prerequisites: See below
  • Structured blending methodology
  • Formulation logic and balance
  • Understanding aroma relationships
  • Dilution and proportion confidence
  • Direct application to practice
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About The CPD Course

Essential oil blending is a core skill in aromatherapy practice, yet it is often approached intuitively often disregarding safe formulation principles. This CPD course is designed to develop a clear approach to essential oil blending that supports safe, effective, and purposeful formulation.

You will learn how to construct blends using note structure, aromatic relationships, and therapeutic intent, while understanding how proportion, dilution, and ingredient interaction influence the final formulation. Through guided formulation exercises and reflective practice, you will build confidence in creating balanced, coherent blends suitable for professional use.

Who This Course Is For

This CPD is suitable for aromatherapists, holistic practitioners, formulation students, and professionals working with essential oils in therapeutic or product-based contexts. Some prior experience with essential oils is helpful but is not required.

CPD Course Content

Unit 1: Introduction to Professional Aromatherapeutic Blending

  • Discover the purpose of blending in professional practice, including therapeutic, emotional, aromatic, and functional goals
  • Why a considered blending approach supports safety, consistency, and reliable outcomes
  • Understanding the professional blending workflow; from intention to oil selection, blending, refinement and recording

Unit 2: Aromatic Notes & Blend Structure

  • The concept of top, middle, and base notes and their relationship to volatility
  • How aromatic balance influences perception, longevity, and overall usability
  • Understanding evaporation: immediate, evolving, and lingering aromatic phases
  • The role of diffusion, tenacity, brightness, depth, and roundness in blend construction

Unit 3: Therapeutic Intention & Oil Selection

  • Defining clear blend intention, including emotional support, topical application goals, and environmental or diffusion use
  • Selecting essential oils based on therapeutic actions, aromatic compatibility, and intended application
  • Avoiding common formulation errors such as over-complex blends, conflicting aromas, and excessive use of potent oils
  • Integrating client considerations, including preferences, sensitivities, and relevant health factors

Unit 4: Carriers & Dilution Principles

  • Overview of carrier oils and their properties, including absorption, skin feel, and suitability for different applications
  • Understanding dilution levels for various uses, typically within the 1–5% range
  • Awareness of safe maximum dermal limits and application-specific considerations
  • Patch testing procedures and skin sensitivity awareness
  • Application methods including topical use, rollerballs, diffusion, and inhalation sticks
  • Measurement accuracy using drops, millilitres, and percentage-based calculations

Unit 5: Safe Blending Practices

  • Recognising contraindications and red-flag scenarios in essential oil blending
  • Awareness of photosensitising oils and appropriate usage precautions
  • Identifying oxidation-prone materials and managing freshness
  • Workspace hygiene, cross-contamination prevention, and use of appropriate protective equipment
  • Accurate labelling, including contents, date, batch reference, and intended use
  • Storage protocols to support blend stability and longevity

Unit 6: Practical Blending Techniques

  • Step-by-step guided blending practice, including selecting 2–3 oils for a defined purpose
  • Measuring and combining essential oils using structured ratios and proportion-based thinking
  • Evaluating aromatic balance immediately and after 10–20 minutes to observe development
  • Refining blends by adjusting strength, harmony, and overall coherence
  • Creating two to four blends (depending on delivery format), including:
    • One emotional blend
    • One topical or functional blend
    • Optional: diffusion-focused or skincare-oriented blend

Unit 7: Recording & Version Tracking

  • Using blend recording sheets to document formulations clearly and consistently
  • Recording drop count, weight, percentage, and aromatic or therapeutic rationale
  • Versioning blends to track refinements and formulation changes
  • Maintaining reflective notes for future reference, including:
    • Perceived strengths and limitations of the blend
    • Intended adjustments or improvements
    • Client suitability and usage considerations

Unit 8: Stability & Shelf-Life Considerations

  • Understanding oxidation risks and factors influencing blend shelf life
  • Recognising sensory and physical signs of degradation
  • Appropriate storage conditions and packaging choices to support stability
  • Knowing when a blend should be remade rather than adjusted

Teaching, Learning & Assessment

The course is delivered through a combination of tutor-led teaching, guided formulation exercises, and structured self-study.

Assessment is competency-based, focusing on understanding, method, and safe, professional blending practice rather than creative preference or subjective aroma judgement.

Assessment methods may include:

  • Blending worksheets and formulation records
  • Comparative analysis of blend versions
  • Short-answer knowledge checks
  • Reflective notes on formulation decisions
  • Practical observation during guided blending activities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this CPD, participants will be able to:

 

Understand

  • The professional purpose and principles of aromatherapeutic blending
  • The role of aromatic note categories (top, middle, and base) in structuring balanced blends
  • The function of carrier oils, dilution guidelines, and intended application routes
  • Key safety considerations, including sensitisation risks, contraindications, and storage-related degradation

 

Apply

  • Select appropriate essential oils based on a defined therapeutic, emotional, or aromatic intention
  • Use structured blending techniques to create simple, balanced formulations
  • Measure, blend, and record formulations accurately using professional documentation standards
  • Evaluate and refine blends for aroma harmony, strength, diffusion, and therapeutic suitability

 

Integrate into Practice

  • Use reflective practice to review blending decisions and improve formulation outcomes
  • Integrate therapeutic rationale alongside aroma profile considerations when constructing blends
  • Demonstrate safe handling, accurate labelling, and appropriate storage of essential oils and carrier materials

Your CPD Tutor

Deana Kassim

Deana Kassim is Principal Tutor and Director at Purodem. She is a qualified educator, experienced clinical aromatherapist, and member of the International Federation of Aromatherapists (MIFA), with over 20 years’ experience across the beauty, wellness, and education sectors.

At Purodem, Deana leads professional training in clinical aromatherapy and therapeutic product formulation, alongside ongoing work in bespoke aromatherapeutic remedy development.

Frequently Asked Questions

No prior blending experience is required. This CPD is designed to build structured blending skills from first principles, while still being valuable for practitioners who already work with essential oils and want to improve consistency and confidence.

Yes. The course is suitable for beginners who have basic familiarity with essential oils, as well as qualified aromatherapists or practitioners seeking to strengthen their formulation and blending practice.

This CPD focuses on blending principles rather than fixed formulations. You will learn how to construct blends logically and safely, allowing you to adapt formulations to different therapeutic or aromatic goals.

Yes. Safety is a core component of the course and includes contraindications, sensitisation risks, photosensitising oils, oxidation, storage, and appropriate dilution for different applications.

You will not be required to purchase specific oils to complete the course. Where practical blending is included, guidance will be provided on suitable alternatives based on what you already have available.

Yes. The principles taught apply to therapeutic aromatherapy, topical preparations, personal formulations, and early-stage product development, within an appropriate professional scope.

The course includes guided practical blending exercises designed to reinforce learning. The emphasis is on quality, method, and evaluation rather than producing a large number of blends.

Yes. You will be taught how to record blends using documentation methods, including proportions, rationale, version tracking, and reflective notes.

Assessment is competency-based and focuses on understanding, safe practice, and method. This may include blending records, short-answer knowledge checks, and reflective practice rather than pass/fail testing.

Yes. On successful completion, you will receive a certificate confirming your CPD hours and participation in the course.

Access

This CPD is being prepared for release as part of the Purodem® Professional CPD Series. You are invited to register your interest to be notified when enrolment opens and full course details, including pricing, are released. Registration does not involve payment or commitment.

Continue Your Professional Development

Explore the full Purodem® Professional CPD Series or discover related courses below.

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