Carrier oils for essential oils are super helpful products that are used to make your essential oils safe for use on the skin. The best carrier oil for essential oils is going to be one that is suited to your personal needs.
There are many good carrier oils for essential oils you could choose to use. Picking the best carrier oil for your needs is going to help you get the most out of your essential oils and this guide is here to help.
Some people are looking to use their essential oils for reed diffusers while others are looking to use their essential oils on the skin and hair.
Carrier oils each have their own individual benefits and choosing the right one for your needs will help to increase the benefits from them.
For example, if you are looking for carrier oil essential oils for reed diffusion, a grapeseed oil would be a great choice as it is light, thin and aroma free, meaning it will easily travel up the reed stick and not overpower your essential oil.
Interested in learning more? In this guide, I will be discussing everything you need to know about the best carrier oils for essential oils, carrier oil to essential oil ratio, why use a carrier oil with essential oils and more.
What Is An Essential Oil?
Some people can confuse carrier oils and essential oils. However, they are different.
Essential oils are hydrophobic concentrated extracts of different types of plants. They are volatile chemical compounds meaning they are easily evaporated.
Essential oils play an important role in aromatherapy, delivering relaxing, calming essential oils for emotional and physical well being.
Essential oils are popular products for a number of uses from skin care to aromatherapy and hair care.
Many people also like to use essential oils for treating certain ailments. However, there is not enough evidence to recommend their use for curing or treating these ailments.
Certain essential oils are great for clearing up break outs, brightening the skin, anti-aging, strengthening the hair and more.
Lavender, ylang ylang and frankincense essential oils are just a few essential oils that offer many benefits from increasing relaxation, uplifting mood, clearing the skin and more.
What Is A Carrier Oil For Essential Oil?
A carrier oil for essential oil is a fatty based and fixed oil that is non evaporative. They are used to dilute essential oils making them safe to use on the skin.
Carrier oils are full of fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that are awesome for the skin.
Carrier oils are most often made from the seeds and nuts of plants. A few of these include grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil and jojoba oil.
Again, in aromatherapy carrier oils also play a vital role in delivering the essential oils to benefit physical and emotional well being.
Many people want to know how much carrier oil to use with essential oils and I will go through this further in the article.
PinWhat Is The Difference Between Carrier Oil And Essential Oil?
Carrier oils are actually completely different to essential oils.
A carrier oil is a fixed oil that is fatty based and does not evaporate. An essential oil, on the other hand, is a concentrated and non evaporative and is not oily at all – it was only given the name ‘oil’ as it does not blend with water.
Carrier oils are cold pressed from the seeds and nuts of plants and essential oils are concentrated extracts from aromatic flowers and leaves.
Carrier oils are very low in aroma whereas essential oils are basically plant perfumes. This is one reason why carrier oils are a great match with essential oils as they will not overpower the scent of your essential oils.
Below, you can learn more amount my favourite carrier oils for essential oils.
What Are Good Carrier Oils For Essential Oils?
So what is a good carrier oil for essential oils? You will find the best carrier oil to use with essential oils is going to be up to your personal preference and needs.
Apricot Kernel Oil
This awesome carrier oil is a good choice for all skin types and especially those with dry, sensitive and mature skin. It is a slower absorbing oil which makes it a nice choice for massage and perfume rollers.
Featuring emollient properties, it softens and smooths the skin. It also contains a high amount of the essential fatty acid oleic acid and linoleic acids and some vitamins and minerals. Antiseptic, antioxidant and antibacterial properties are also found in apricot kernel oil which could aid in clearing up break outs and environmental pollutants.
This carrier oil can help to improve skin tone, enhance the skins’ glow, maintain smoothness and softness and reduce the look of wrinkles and scarring.
How much carrier oil to essential oil for this essential oil? I like to use a 2% solution of essential oils when using them with carrier oils. You should never use more than this on your skin.
PinSunflower Oil
This carrier oil is a light oil that absorbs fairly quickly. It is great for all skin types, particularly those with rough, dry or irritated skin.
Sunflower oil is high in linoleic and oleic acids, vitamin E (antioxidant) and minerals which are great for the skin. These properties help sunflower oil to nourish the skin, aid anti aging and enhance the skins’ natural complexion.
The essential fatty acid – linoleic acid that is found in sunflower oil – helps your skin stay smooth and soft and is great for keeping dry skin hydrated.
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Evening Primrose Oil
This carrier oil is light and quickly absorbed by your skin. It is suitable for all skin types and especially for those with acne, dry or mature skin.
Evening primrose oil is high in the essential fatty acids – linoleic and gamma linolenic acids – and some vitamins and minerals. It will help to maintain the skins’ softness as it has emollient properties and can help maintain moisture in the skin.
This carrier oil is helpful for anti aging, skin cell regeneration, soothing and softening the skin and can be helpful in treating dry skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
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PinSweet Almond Oil
This carrier oil is a good choice for all skin types and dry skin types. It is slowly absorbed by the skin and makes a good choice for massage. It features emollient qualities which help to soften and smooth the skin.
Sweet almond oil contains essential fatty acids and some vitamins and minerals. I personally like using this carrier oil for lavender essential oil as I like how it feels and works on my skin.
Again, when I am mixing essential oils with carrier oil for use on my skin I generally like to stick with a mix of 2% essential oil to carrier oil.
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Jojoba Oil
This carrier oil is a good choice for all skin types especially those with rough, irritated, dry or oily skin. It absorbs into the skin quite quickly and leaves behind a silky texture.
Jojoba oil contains nutrients and properties that make it balancing, soothing and softening for the skin. It can help regulate the skins’ oil production and this makes it a particularly good choice of carrier oil for dry, oily and acne prone skin types.
Jojoba oil is not an oil. It is actually a liquid wax that melts at 10 degrees celcius and has the best occulsive qualities of the vegetables oils. It also contains anti-inflammatory qualities that can help with dry and inflamed skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
This carrier oil is high in natural antioxidants which help to extend its shelf life.
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PinAvocado Oil
This carrier oil is suitable for all skin types particularly individuals with aging, dry skin or eczema.
There are two varieties of avocado oil known as refined and unrefined.
The refined version is thin and light in texture and aroma. Unrefined avocado oil is thick, dark green and has a stronger aroma.
Both refined and unrefined avocado oil are quickly absorbed by the skin. They are high in the essential fatty acid, oleic acid and contain some vitamin E, D and minerals.
Both refined and unrefined avocado oil are good for skin cell regenerating, skin softening and anti aging.
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Grapeseed oil
This carrier oil is considered the lightest of the carrier oils and is a great choice for all skin types, especially oily skin types. Grapeseed oil is low in aroma and contains a heap of beneficial properties that have made it popular in skin and hair care.
It can help with breakouts, skin redness, balancing the skins’ oil production and reduces stretch marks and scars. It contains astringent properties that also help to tone and tighten pores.
Rosehip Oil
This carrier oil is suitable for all skin types particularly for those with sensitive, oily, mature and acne prone skin types. It absorbs quickly into the skin. It is yellow in colour and low in aroma.
It contains the essential fatty acids, linoleic and alpha linolenic acids that are helpful for anti aging and rose hip oil has been known as the best anti aging carrier oil.
Rosehip oil contains healing, regenerating and rejuvenating properties that can help repair damaged skin, reduce scarring, acne and the signs of aging.
Pomegranate Seed Oil
Pomegranate seed oil is not a carrier oil you hear as often as some others. However, it is a great carrier oil that is good for all skin types and mature skin.
This oil takes its time to absorb into the skin but it is not as long lasting as almond oil for example. It is high in antioxidants and polyphenols which can help to protect the skin from environmental factors like UV and free radical damage.
It helps to regenerate skin cells and repairs the skin which is great for preventing wrinkles. It contains anti-inflammatory properties and superior hydration ability. It is softening and nourishing on the skin.
It also contains a unique fatty acid called punicic acid also known as omega-5 and for this reason can’t be substituted with other carrier oils.
PinHow To Mix Carrier Oils With Essential Oils
Diluting essential oils with carrier oils? Many people want to know the right ratio of carrier oil to essential oil. I generally stick to 2% essential oils to carrier oil. The amount of essential oil you use is up to you, though for safety reasons it is best not to go over 2% dilution.
How to mix carrier oils with essential oils for hair? It is basically the same as mixing it for the skin and I would stick to a 2% dilution.
For example, 2% is about 10 drops of essential oil to 6 teaspoons of carrier oils.
For kids, you would want to use no more than 1%. It is best to check with a doctor.
How To Use Carrier Oils With Essential Oils
You can choose to use your carrier oils with essential oils in a number of ways.
Carrier oils can be used with essential oils in a range of different products, from reed diffusers to skin and hair care.
If you are looking for a single application of essential oils, simply pump some carrier oil into your hand and put 1-2 drops of essential oil into it – it can then be safely used on the skin.
For recipes using carrier oils with essential oils, you can check out my huge range of recipes here.
Final Words
I hope you have found this guide interesting and useful in finding good carrier oils for your essential oils and are left with no further questions.
Carrier oils and essential oils are both very useful ingredients in natural skincare.
Want to learn more? Find more information about carrier oils here, natural preservatives here and emollients here. You can find all my guides to natural living here.
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