If you are dealing with essential oils you will have either read or heard talk of “Carrier Oils”.
WHAT IS A CARRIER OIL?
Carrier oils are used to add to your essential oil or oil blend to dilute it. Diluting essential oils reduces the concentration of the essential oils or oil mixture without taking away its therapeutic benefits. And you can apply the mixture wherever it is needed (I covered common placement of oils in a tutorial of how to make rollerball bottles). Essential oils evaporate, but the carrier oils do not and these can also go bad over time.
There are many carrier oils to choose from. In my opinion the best carrier oils are organic oils that are cold-pressed or expeller-pressed.
There are numerous options when it comes to carrier oils; but, here is a list of the more common carrier oils.
CARRIER OILS
- Jojoba Oil– Jojoba is my favorite, for no particular reason other than it is so versatile. it has a mild, nutty scent. It is an all purpose Oil: Use it in facial oils, facial polishes, body scrubs, face serums and massage oils, or alone as an easy and natural eye-makeup remover. This oil is a great option for anyone with ultra-sensitive skin.
- Grape Seed Oil– This oil is very popular in the culinary world and also a popular carrier oil, it is my second favorite. This oil is light, odorless and made from grape seeds, and is an abundant byproduct of wine making. It is suitable for all skin types, contains some vitamin e, but a balance of skin-supporting compounds like oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and stearic fatty acid. it is suitable for all skin types and they say it has wound healing properties. Choose oil that is that’s unrefined and cold-pressed.
- Fractioned Coconut Oil– This is at the top of the list because it is a very light oil and has many health benefits. It is Colorless, odourless and absorbs easily. It is liquid because it is created by hydrolysis and steam distillation. It prevents oxidation, which is great for extending the shelf life of your essential oils. Also it contains natural antioxidants and it is moisturizing.
- Coconut Oil– With a naturally high smoke point (350°F/177°C), coconut oil is perfect for baking, frying and sautéing, also coconut oil solidifies at 75 degrees, so do not use these in roller bottles. Coconut oil is great to use in homemade salves, creams, lotions and when you are trying to cover a larger surface area.
- Sweet Almond Oil– This oil has really no fragrance but maybe just a hint of sweet and nutty aroma, but it is not sweet in flavour. It is called sweet almond because there is another almond variety out there and it is a bitter almond and they contain cyanide. It has a medium consistency and contains more than the recommended daily allowance for Vitamin E. This oil can cause skin irritation to anyone with a nut allergy.
- Avocado Oil– Cold pressed Avocado oil is an antioxidant rich light and emollient natural moisturizer which has a multitude of hydrating benefits for hair skin face and nails. It is also makes an effective massage oil as well. It has the unique ability to deeply penetrate the outer layers of skin. It contains essential nutrient vitamins A, E, & K which make it perfect for skin care and hair care. It is very Hydrating for dry skin. Choose oil that is that’s unrefined and cold-pressed.
- Olive Oil– Olive oil is another option. It has a very distinct taste and smell. It is very thick oil, which doesn’t work as well in the roller bottles and can leave an oily film on the skin. But, many people massage a few drops into skin and scalp to help moisturize and rejuvenate. It’s rich in highly beneficial oleic acid which is a nutritious omega-9 that goes deep to beautify skin and hair and it is also very high in antioxidants. In my opinion this is in the same category as the coconut oil, better left out of the roller balls.
Now to get started here is a list of Roller Recipes.
And here is a how to guide to make a Roller Bottle.
I have put together a few pages to help you with your Essential Oil Journey.
I personally have been using essential oils for many many years. I use them for all kinds of medicinal reasons and for overall health and wellness.
Learn how to make essential oil roller bottles.
See more Essential Oil Recipes like this.
Learn more about Essential Oils
Learn about how to care for your Diffuser
See Some Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes and Blends
Click here to order your premium starter kit
Enroller ID: 25404703