Choosing Carrier Oils
Which essential oil base to use when creating products can be confusing. For years, I have made my own aromatherapy products due to the contaminants many over-the-counter personal care products contain. I have had great luck mixing essential oils with carrier oils, creating salves, body lotions, and butters. They are much easier to create than you think. Below is a list of several common carrier oil bases you can use. I created this list to help you decide which ones you want to use with your essential oils. Also, remember aromatherapy and essential oils are very beneficial to your overall wellness.
Variety of Carrier Oils for Essential Oils
Almond Oil, Sweet is a light to medium carrier oil that is non-greasy and easily absorbed into the skin.
Aloe vera gel is very light, cool, and refreshing. It has healing benefits for the skin and has been widely used for cuts, burns, inflamed skin, and wound healing.
Apricot Kernel Oil is a fine, light carrier oil that provides hydration for dry, damaged, and mature skin. It is used widely in beauty and skin care products.
Avocado Oil is a heavier carrier oil that is very rich in nutrients. It is mostly used in products for dry scalps, damaged hair, and skin problems such as eczema.
Grapeseed Oil is a very fine, light, non-greasy, fast-absorbing carrier oil with no odor. It is widely used in aromatherapy products and is hypoallergenic.
Jojoba Oil is a liquid wax and is best used to moisturize and rehydrate skin. It has a long shelf life, which is why I use it in all my roll-ons. It is also very easily absorbed through our skin.
Olive Oil is a heavier vegetable oil that has hydrating, nourishing, and moisturizing benefits. Extra Virgin Olive oil is the best, and I love it. Many others tend to feel it is somewhat of a heavier oil, so they combine it with a lighter oil when they create a product.
Butters and Waxes – Essential Oil Base
Butters are very moisturizing and range in consistency from hard to soft. You can use a variety of butters when creating a lotion or a salve. Butters include: Shea, Mango, Aloe, and Cocoa.
Beeswax is a pure substance secreted by worker honeybees. It is great for use in cosmetics, salves, body care products, and lotions.
Emulsifying Wax is usually vegetable-based, and its main function is to mix water with oils. It is great for use in lotions and cosmetic products.
Enzymes consist of proteins derived from vegetables and fruits.
Salts and Lotion for Essential Oils
Epsom Salt contains magnesium sulfate. It dissolves easily, making it perfect for soothing sore muscles, relaxing soaks, or foot baths. You can also use it to create body scrubs and bath salt mixtures with sea salt.
Sea Salts are very mineralized to the skin. Soaking in a sea salt tub helps remove toxins and dead skin cells.
Unscented Body Lotion. If you don’t wish to create your own body lotion, I have used Alba Botanica Lotion Original Unscented and added 2% essential oils to it, and did not have a problem with it becoming watery or thin.
References: Jennifer Hochell;
Passport to Aromatherapy by Joel Wallach