Carrier Oils For Aromatherapy

Thankfully, there are mild vegetable, seed, and nut oils - known as carrier oils - that dilute the effects of the essential oils while still allowing the user to receive the desired benefits. Carrier oils enable essential oils to be used in massage preparations, baths, and home-made cold remedies. Literally, they carry the essential oils that cannot be used on the skin by themselves.

*Vegetable oils such as soybean, corn, and canola should never be used in the bath as they will make the tub very slippery. Doing so could result in injury.

*If you experience an allergic reaction while using an essential oil/carrier oil mixture, suspect the carrier oil first. It is more likely you are allergic to the particular nut or vegetable oil than you are to the essential oil. Try switching carriers to determine the source of the allergy. If it's not the carrier oil you're allergic to, it may be one of the essential oils, after all.

*Shelf lives of carrier oils are important to note, as you do not want to make the smelly mistake of using rancid oil. Smell the oil before using. If it's rancid, you'll know.

Olive Oil
Olea europaea, or olive oil, has been widely used for centuries. Because of its thick and oily feel, many people prefer other carriers over olive oil. However, it does work very well in certain preparations and can be more cost effective than other oils. Be sure to buy cold pressed, virgin olive oil. Olive oil has a shelf life of 1-2 years.

Jojoba
Jojoba oil, also known as Simmondsia chinensis, is really not an oil at all, but a liquid wax. Because jojoba is very similar in composition to our body's own oil (sebum), it is a popular choice in home-made acne preparations. Jojoba is good for all skin types, and is often used to reduce skin inflammation.

One home-grown remedy for cellulite is to rub the area with jojoba oil and certain essential oils (like cypress), as it is also thought to disperse and break down fat cells. The shelf life of jojoba oil is indefinite, which makes this a very good oil to keep on hand.

Grapeseed Oil
Vitus vinifera - grapeseed oil - is a light oil that with a pleasant, nutty fragrance. It's a very good, all-purpose oil that is easily absorbed by the skin, which makes it a favorite of massage therapists. It's also an excellent oil to use in the bath.

Be sure to use up your bottle of grapeseed oil in a timely manner, as its shelf life is only 6-12 months. Because it is solvent-extracted, it is not recommended for use on acne-prone areas.

Almond Oil
Slightly nuttier in aroma than the grapeseed variety, almond oil (Prunus amygdalus var. dulcus) is also used frequently in massage preparations. A very affordable oil, it is expeller-pressed and believed to be good for all skin types. Almond oil has a shelf life of about 12 months.