Most Popular Carrier Oils
There are many carrier oils available, here are some of the most popular carrier oils for use when making balms, salves, aromatherapy and massage blends.
When choosing a carrier oil it is wise to consider the properties of the oil depending on the intended application, skin type and desired shelf life. Always store oils in a cool dark place for the highest shelf life as oils are degraded by sunlight and heat. Ideally store your carrier oils in the fridge.
Sweet Almond Oil
This sweet oil is rich in Vitamin A which makes it a good carrier oil for the treatment of acne and is also rich in vitamin E which makes it great for anti-ageing, the treatment of scars and for use on sun damaged skin. Easily absorbed and doesn’t leave the skin feeling greasy. This oil has a shelf life of 1-2 years.
Avocado Oil
This oil is rich in vitamins, has a sweet, nutty scent add works well in blends meant for skin and hair. Stored carefully it has a shelf life of 12 months.
Coconut Oil
This versatile oil is rich and moisturising and melts into sensitive and dry skin, soothing irritation and healing. It contains antioxidants and has antibacterial and anti ageing properties and been proven to protect the skin from sun damage. However fractionated coconut oil is highly refined and lacks many of the properties of virgin coconut oil. There are benefits of fractionated coconut oil as it has a longer shelf life and won’t set like raw coconut oil which makes it a good choice for fermenting herbs to use in balms and salves. Virgin coconut oil is still highly stable and has a very long shelf life of 2-3 years.
Grapeseed Oil
This is a lightweight oil excellent for use in aromatherapy for massage and is especially good on sensitive skin. Be sure to check the extraction method used before purchasing this oil as it can often be solvent extracted so choose one that has been expeller-pressed to avoid chemical residue. The shelf life of this oil is relatively short at 6-12 months.
Hazelnut Oil
This is a good oil to use for skin care and massage and particularly on oilier skin types, it sinks quickly into the skin which makes it a good oil to use in skin care products. This oil has a shelf life of 12 months.
Jojoba Oil
This carrier is actually a waxy fat rather than an oil, it is ideal for use in facial and hair products and also for massage particularly on inflamed skin as it has natural anti-inflammatory properties. It is the perfect choice for use on oily or acne prone skin types. It is very stable and has a long shelf life of 2-3 years which makes it an excellent choice when making hair, skin products and essential oil perfume blends.
Macadamia Oil
A thick and silky oil that has anti-inflammatory properties, it’s thick viscosity makes it a good massage oil, particularly on sore muscles. It can be a little overpowering when using as a carrier so is often mixed with another carrier. The shelf life of this oil is 12 months.
Virgin Olive Oil
A wonderfully rich oil with many properties, it is rich in antioxidants, vitamin E and fatty acids which make it a perfect choice when making balms. When used in aromatherapy blends it can be overpowering due to it’s aroma and is also has a heavy viscosity and oily texture when used in massage. This oil is perfect for making lip balm due to it’s natural healing properties, mixed 50/50 with coconut oil would make a perfect blend for cracked, dry and sun damaged skin. It has a long shelf life of 1-2 years.
Sesame Oil
This oil is rich in anti-inflammatory properties and makes a good choice for massage, it can be overpowering when used in aromatherapy blends and is often mixed with another carrier for this purpose. Avoid chemically extracted oil as always and strive to purchase cold pressed, unrefined oil. This oil has a shelf life of around 12 months.
Sunflower Seed Oil
This oil is rich in anti-inflammatory properties and makes a good choice for massage, it can be overpowering when used in aromatherapy blends and is often mixed with another carrier for this purpose. Avoid chemically extracted oil as always and strive to purchase cold pressed, unrefined oil. This oil has a shelf life of around 12 months.
Watermelon Seed Oil
A very nourishing and light oil, great for use in all aromatherapy applications, it is a good choice for oily and acne prone skin with good absorption. This is a good choice to use in blends with heavier carrier oils such as Macadamia and Olive oil to prevent those heavier oils from overpowering a blend with essential oils. It has a 2 year shelf life.
Wheat Germ Oil
This oil is high in antioxidants and has the highest vitamin E content of any vegetable oil, making it the perfect oil to treat skin irritation and wounds. The shelf life of this oil can be up to 2 years.
For dilution guidelines when using carrier oils with essential oils, see this table.
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