Behind the scenes of creating my preblended face oils
I’d like to introduce my first preblended face oil collection, and share a little of the thinking behind it — how these oils were created, and why I chose to make four different blends.
All of the face oils in this collection were created with subtle, non-overpowering aromas in mind. When blending, I carefully considered top, middle and base notes, so each oil feels balanced, gentle, and comfortable to use throughout the day.
When formulating, I also paid close attention to the chemical components within each essential oil. Rather than focusing on a single effect, I aimed to include a variety of complementary components — each contributing in a different way to skin support and emotional wellbeing.
I believe that well-balanced blends, made up of different chemical components working together, can feel more supportive and effective than those relying too heavily on just one element.
和 Wa – Balance: supporting hormonal balance
When I first began working on this collection, the very first oil I thought about was Wa – Balance.
This blend was originally created with a close friend who experienced hormonal breakouts around certain times in her cycle. She preferred a scent that felt fresh and light — not sweet, heavy, or overpowering.
Based on her preferences, I selected essential oils traditionally associated with hormonal balance, skin renewal, and emotional uplift.
At the heart of this blend is Geranium, which is one of my personal favourite essential oils. I’ve always been drawn to geranium for its ability to support both skin balance and emotional steadiness, making it especially suitable during times of hormonal fluctuation.
When I created this blend for her, it quickly became her go-to oil — something she reached for every day because it felt calming, supportive, and easy to live with. Over time, her skin settled, and using the oil became part of her daily routine rather than a “treatment”.
That experience shaped Wa – Balance into what it is today: a face oil designed to gently support hormonal changes while remaining comforting for everyday use.
静 Sei – Soothe: Supporting sensitive, dry skin
Sei – Soothe came from a recipe I originally created for a family member with very dry, sensitive skin, particularly during winter. Their skin would peel, crack, and sometimes develop painful splits.
After applying this blend, the dryness improved noticeably even after the first day, which surprised me as well. That experience made me consider how suitable this formulation could be for facial skin.
At the centre of this blend is Roman Chamomile, an oil traditionally valued for its calming properties — both for sensitive skin and emotional tension.
The focus of Sei – Soothe is not on strong actives, but on supporting the skin barrier and encouraging the skin to return to a more comfortable, balanced state.
Naturally, it became a blend for skin that feels unsettled, reactive, or easily affected by environmental changes.
檜 Hinoki – Forest: Grounding and steadying the mind and skin
Hinoki – Forest was inspired by the Japanese practice of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku).
Hinoki cypress has long been valued in Japan for its calming presence and connection to nature. I wanted to introduce this oil to more people in the UK, where hinoki is still relatively unfamiliar.
In addition to its grounding aroma, hinoki is traditionally associated with skin-purifying and balancing properties, making it suitable for skin that feels stressed or out of equilibrium.
Hinoki’s aroma is very subtle, and it took time to find the right combination of essential oils to support it — enhancing its presence without masking its delicate scent.
In Japan, hinoki wood is sometimes used to make wooden bathtubs. When warm water fills the bath, a faint hinoki aroma rises gently with the steam, creating a deeply relaxing experience. Hinoki is a precious, slow-growing material, and bathing in a hinoki wooden tub has long been considered a luxury in Japan.
I hope this face oil offers a small echo of that experience — grounding, steady, and quietly supportive for both skin and mind.
Yuzu – Radiance: Supporting skin clarity and brightness
Yuzu – Radiance was created to feature yuzu essential oil, a scent that is deeply familiar and emotionally significant for many Japanese people.
Traditionally, yuzu has been valued not only for its bright, uplifting aroma, but also for its supportive effects on both skin and emotional wellbeing. It is often associated with helping tired or dull-looking skin feel refreshed, while its fresh citrus aroma is known for lifting the mood and bringing a sense of clarity and lightness.
Yuzu’s aroma is vibrant yet naturally gentle — and also very delicate and quick to fade. Preserving its brightness without allowing it to disappear too quickly required careful balance.
This blend was refined to support yuzu’s natural freshness while gently anchoring the scent with other oils, so it remains soft, present, and wearable on the skin — never sharp or overpowering.
The result is a face oil that feels refreshing without being stimulating, offering subtle support for skin clarity while gently uplifting the mind.
Balance beyond ingredients
Across all four face oils, my focus was on balance — in aroma, skin feel, and formulation.
Each blend uses the same carefully selected base of carrier oils: cacay, apricot kernel, and jojoba. This combination was chosen to suit a wide range of skin types — nourishing without feeling heavy, and supportive of the skin’s natural balance.
The goal was never to create strong or dramatic oils, but ones that feel comfortable, considered, and easy to return to.
These face oils are not meant to replace one another.
You may find one that becomes your everyday choice, or you may feel drawn to different ones at different times.
There is no right way to use them — only what feels right for you.
Explore the face oil collection
If you’d like to learn more about each face oil, you can view the full collection here:
In my next blog post, I’ll share my experience of the CPSR (Cosmetic Product Safety Report) process, which was a required step in the UK to bring these face oils to life.