What can I mix with these oils to make a paste type lure. I heated up some petro from MTP with a few drops of anise oil, but it didn't seem to mix well. I thought they were both oil based, but not sure. Any help would be appreciated.

Maybe try mixing the essential oil with a dryer base that will absorb it then mixing the petro.... maybe a base that is attractive to ur target also

It would help greatly if we knew your target species.

Just wondering how to mix oils so they blend well with a base for a smear type lure. I only need the oil scent, just want the base to hold the scent in a specific spot for as long as possible. Probably a loaded question. For example Traprjohn, poplar bud oil on a peeled stick for beaver. Or anise on the lip of a weasel box. I have plenty of very good commercial lures, just dabbling in making something simple. You gotta start somewhere!

Glad saw this as was about to make a post for same type, poplar bud oil mixed with what to make something not necessarily a paste but thicker then just the oil itself.

lure thickeners from JR & Sons or Grawes or Kaatz Bros or other suppliers...some use lard or lanolin too.

should be in the 8-10 catalogs that I hope are already on your desks guys.,,..like from the 3 above plus Schmitt Enterprises, FandT, PCS, Southeastern Outdoors, MTP, RP Outdoors, Eplers, Sterling Fur, etc, etc.

What i did was join the Lure/Baitmakers Free Book Club to shorten my learning curve by decades.

Here's how....get 1 or more supply catalogs, make a few copies of the page with Lure/baitmaker books, circle a couple different books on several copies, give copies to loved ones to buy your Christmas or Birthday or Anniversary or Valentines or Easter gifts and explain you want their money to go to something you want/need/will use as opposed to a sweater you may only wear once/yr.

Traprjohn, thanks for the info. I have supported most of the dealers you mentioned over the years, as I hope you have.

Understand that not all "essentials" are oil based. The same "essential" maybe available in either a water soluble version or an oil soluble version. If you are not buying from a major supplier of essentials you may not know what you are getting. In which case, you will need to make some small scale solubility/mixing tests. Do this my trying to mix several drops of the essential and of the base you are trying to blend to see if they are compatible before mixing large amounts only to find they don't mix.

Great post. Life would be so much easier if there was a solubility “chart” out there for all the essential, perfume, and flavor oils.

Lure making is a challenge and a continuous learning curve all along the way if you are going it alone.. If it was all so easy to figure out there would be many more in the business.

What John has said is very true but just another part of the learning curve. If it came so easy there wouldnt much fun or sincere interest in continuing. What is learned the hard way and at times the expensive way, will stay with you and give you another building block to move to another level. Most have to pay their dues to achieve their goals or to learn thru other means of training or learning. It comes with time and experimentation then some by accident.

Remember, not everyone is in this game to make lures to sell. I do it for the satisfaction of catching a few on lures I make. I also understand you commercial lure makers probably don't want to reveal too much info. I use this forum as a learning tool to make me a better trapper. If I think asking a question on here will shorten my learning curve, I will ask it. Thanks to everyone who replied with helpful info! I agree you never really know what you are buying from some suppliers, which is part of the reason I asked the initial question.

Mully, have you entered the FREE bait/lure makers book club?...to get free books on this very subject?

get a few supply catalogs,
make copies of the lure book page
circle a couple different books on each page
give pages to loved ones to get your Christmas, birthday, anniversary, Easter, labor day, etc, etc gifts.

tell them you want their money to go to something you want/need/will put to use as opposed to a sweater that will stay in the closet except for 6 hrs/year.

Eventually you graduate to getting glands, urines and essential oils as gifts from those loved ones.