The Simple Rule That Makes Blending Easy

The 30-50-20 Rule is your simple roadmap for creating essential oil blends that smell beautiful and actually work. This guide breaks the method down step-by-step so you can blend with confidence, whether you’re making rollers, diffuser blends, or calming supports for big emotions.

Master balanced, beautiful essential oil blends with confidence.

Creating your own essential oil blends can feel overwhelming at first – too many oils, too many opinions, and no clear starting point. That’s why the 30-50-20 Rule exists. It gives you a simple structure that helps your blends smell balanced, feel supportive, and actually work for emotional regulation, sleep, and focus.

If you’ve ever mixed oils together and thought, “Hmm… that’s not quite right,” this guide will help you fix that quickly.

What Is the 30-50-20 Rule?

It’s a simple framework for building any essential oil blend:

  • 30% Top Notes
  • 50% Middle Notes
  • 20% Base Notes

Using these proportions helps your blend feel layered, balanced, and therapeutic. You get the brightness at the start, the emotional support in the middle, and the grounding finish that helps the scent last.

Think of it like building a LEGO model – each layer plays a role, and when they come together, they create something strong and beautiful.

Top Notes (30%)

Light + uplifting + quick to evaporate

Top notes are the first scents you notice. They brighten the blend and create that immediate “ahhh” feeling.

A bottle of doTERRA Lime essential oil labeled Citrus aurantifolia stands upright, flanked by fresh lime wedges on a white background. This bright citrus oil is a classic top note, often used in the 30-50-20 rule for blending essential oils to create balanced, aromatic DIY blends.

Common top notes:

  • Bergamot
  • Grapefruit
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Peppermint
  • Wild Orange

Top notes are brilliant in blends that support:

  • motivation
  • mental energy
  • mood
  • morning routines
  • clearing mental fog

Tip: Add top notes last when you’re experimenting – they’re the easiest to overdo.

Middle Notes (50%)

The heart + emotional anchor of your blend

Middle notes hold everything together. They soften the sharpness of the top notes and connect them to the grounding of the base notes.

A doTERRA Cardamom essential oil bottle labeled Elettaria cardamomum is surrounded by whole dried cardamom pods on a clean white background. As a warm and spicy middle note, Cardamom fits into the 30-50-20 rule for blending essential oils, providing aromatic balance between bright top notes and grounding base notes.

Common middle notes:

  • Cardamom
  • Chamomile
  • Cypress
  • Douglas Fir
  • Geranium
  • Lavender
  • Marjoram
  • Rosemary

Middle notes are perfect for blends that support:

  • emotional regulation
  • overwhelm
  • calming routines
  • hormonal balance
  • big feelings
  • bedtime

This is where I spend most of my time when creating blends for my boys – especially Cypress and Juniper Berry for emotional recovery after big days.

Base Notes (20%)

Deep + grounding + long-lasting

Base notes are the foundation. They settle the blend, slow evaporation, and give the scent staying power.

A bottle of doTERRA Ginger essential oil labeled Zingiber officinale stands beside fresh, sliced ginger root on a glossy white surface. As a warming, earthy base note, Ginger anchors essential oil blends and completes the 30-50-20 rule for crafting well-balanced aromatic combinations.

Common base notes:

  • Arborvitae
  • Cedarwood
  • Frankincense
  • Ginger
  • Patchouli
  • Sandalwood
  • Vetiver

Base notes support:

  • sleep
  • nervous system regulation
  • grounding
  • transitions
  • emotional resilience

If your blend feels “too light” or disappears quickly, it’s usually missing a strong base note.

How to Use the 30-50-20 Rule in Real Life

Let’s say you want to create a blend for calming big emotions before bed.

Try this example:

Bedtime Blend (using the 30-50-20 Rule)

  • Top note (30%) – 3 drops Bergamot
  • Middle note (50%) – 5 drops Lavender
  • Base note (20%) – 2 drops Vetiver

For a roller:
Add to a 10 mL bottle + top with Fractionated Coconut Oil.
Learn more: Carrier Oils for Beginners

For a diffuser:
Use 1-2 drops of each oil (keeping the proportions similar).

Discover more: Diffuser Blends

Practical Blending Tips (Beginner Friendly)

These will save you so much frustration:

  • Start small. Test your blend with one drop of each oil before committing.
  • Smell as you go. The scent changes as oils merge.
  • Let it rest. Blends often soften and balance after 24 hours.
  • Label everything. You will forget what’s in your favourite blend if you don’t.
  • Write down your successes. Future you will thank you.

Why The 30-50-20 Rule Works So Well

The 30-50-20 Rule helps you create blends that are:

  • balanced
  • emotionally supportive
  • predictable
  • long-lasting
  • kid-friendly

And most importantly, blends that actually help the emotional and sensory needs in your home.

When you combine oils intentionally – instead of guessing – you create synergy. That’s when your blends start supporting calm, focus, transitions, and sleep more effectively.

Want to Go Deeper?

Here are your next steps inside the DIY Blending Guides:

  • How to Blend Essential Oils Like a Pro
    A full walkthrough using real examples.
  • The 30-50-20 Rule (this page)
    Your foundational structure.
  • How to Create a Roller Blend Safely (coming soon)
    Perfect for parents supporting emotional regulation on the go.
  • Build Your Own Diffuser Blend Library (coming soon)
    Organise blends that support everyday routines.