CARRIER OILS: EXPLAINED
A Detailed Guide to Using Carrier Oils When Blending Essential Oils
When practicing aromatherapy, it is of utmost importance to learn about carrier oils. These oils are necessary when making topical blends such as hair oils, massage oils, tinctures, and reflexology blends.
In addition, some carrier oils are edible and can be used as cooking oils, emulsifiers in salad dressings or vinaigrette, and garnishes, we’ll talk about these at a later time. In this article, we’re going to take a deeper dive into carrier oils, their benefits, and their uses so you can practice aromatherapy safely.
What Are Carrier Oils?
Carrier oils are plant-based oils used to dilute essential oils to make them easier to absorb into the skin and safer to use. They are often extracted from nuts and seeds and have therapeutic properties of their own. The medicinal properties of carrier oils can often enhance the effects of essential oil blends and applications by way of synergy.
By choosing carrier oils that help treat the same (or closely similar) problems that your selected essential oils are treating, you can create potent blends that can speed up the healing process. Before we get into the hows and the whys, let’s answer some crucial questions about carrier oils.
How Do Carrier Oils Differ From Essential Oils?
There are various differences between carrier oils and essential oils, the most obvious one being viscosity. When you compare the “feel” of essential oils to carrier oils, essential oils are lighter in weight and used in lower volumes due to their potency, whereas carrier oils have a much heavier feel and can be used in larger volumes when blending.
Another important difference to note is chemistry, namely the science behind polarity. According to TKB Trading, polarity is ‘the tendency for a compound or molecule to be either attracted to or repelled from another compound or molecule. Polar molecules are always looking for other polar molecules to bond with so they can become more balanced. On the other hand, non-polar molecules are already balanced.’ Much as both oils would both require emulsifiers in mixtures with water involved, essential oils and carrier oils differ in polarity.
In the Essential Oils Biological Components essay on UKEssays, it is stated that ‘essential oils are of mixed polarity, with some polar and some non-polar compounds in the oils. Carrier oils are non-polar molecules (Pitman, 2004) and have electrons equally distributed therefore will not be attracted to polar molecules.’ The essay goes much deeper into the chemical differences, and I highly recommend that you go through it as it cites some more detailed works of Vicki Pitman and Paula Y. Bruice.
The third, and most important difference is safety-related. Most carrier oils can be applied directly to the skin as they are the base oils that “carry” the more potent essential oils. Essential oils are classified as irritants and must be diluted in carrier oils. Not only does the dilution of essential oils into carrier oils make essential oils safer to use, but it also makes for easier absorption into the skin & hair. At no point can essential oils be applied directly to the skin. If you do, and experience any kind of skin irritation, discontinue use immediately and visit a clinician as soon as possible.
Now that the differences have been explained, we can look into the many benefits of carrier oils
Benefits & Uses of Carrier Oils
Carrier oils are made up of a multitude of components including antioxidants, essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. Although each oil is different, the overall benefits of the nutrients in them can improve skin texture by moisturizing the skin.
Therapeutic properties in carrier oils include anti-ageing, soothing sensitive or inflamed skin, improved blood circulation, improving acne scar healing, reduced hyper-pigmentation, and repairing damage caused by dryness.
Carrier oils can also effectively balance hormone levels, reduce discomfort caused by burns, balance sebum production in the skin, nourish hair, reduce dandruff, and improve skin tightness and elasticity.
These oils can be used in various concentrations. Oils like Sweet Almond and Grapeseed can be used neat (at 100% concentration of a blend) or make up most of an aromatherapy blend, but oils like Jojoba wax should make up no more than 20% of a blend.
Ensure that you know just how much of each oil to use especially when using more than one carrier oil. Although there aren’t really any limits, using up to six carrier oils with similar properties can create a unique blend. Essential oils can make up 1% — 2% of the total blend — carrier oils included. Any more than 2% can result in skin irritation.
For example, if we’re making a DIY 100ml face oil for glowing skin, we’d blend:
- 78% Grapeseed Oil
- 20% Jojoba Oil
- 2% Essential oil (such as rose, lavender, or geranium)
Speaking of face oils, pay close attention to skin types too. There are 8 different skin types on the spectrum: normal, oily, dry, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, dehydrated and mature. Each of these types has different requirements (that we’ll discuss in detail at a later time) so choosing oils that will improve and not worsen the condition of the skin is a must.
When choosing carrier oils, do some research on the extraction process. The best therapeutic-grade carrier oils are cold-pressed, [extra] virgin, organic and unrefined. Bleached, deodorized, infused, macerated and refined oils are for cosmetic use, so be sure to check the labels and research the manufacturer prior to making a purchase.
Shelf Life and Storage
Carrier oils have a shelf life of up to two (2) years. The shelf life of a carrier oil is dependent on various factors, primarily how they are stored, the date of manufacturing and the molecular structure of the oils. Oils should be tightly sealed and stored in a cool, dark place.
Exposure to heat can change the molecular structure of the oil, reducing its shelf life and improper sealing of the carrier oil bottle or vessel can increase the risk of oxidation resulting in the oils turning rancid which then renders them unusable. Deborah Burroughs advised that oils be kept refrigerated or frozen to preserve their shelf life, and has provided a list of carrier oils’ shelf lives for your perusal.
In Conclusion
Aromatherapy is a beautiful practice, one that requires deep research, a love for naturopathy and/or herbalism, and tons of trial & error. The journey often starts with curiosity and grows into something of a lifestyle. There is a great power that comes with this practice, and with great power comes great responsibility, so I encourage you to take your time, and be kind to yourself.
For more information, the internet and library are your oysters. Please remember that this does not constitute medical advice so always speak with your healthcare practitioner before taking any medication, or supplements, or introducing any essential oils to your daily healthcare and homecare practices. Always take care of yourselves and each other.
