Carrier oils also referred to as base oils or vegetable oils are used
to dilute essential oils, CO2s and absolutes before applying to the
skin. Please see the
What are Carrier Oils?
article for more information on what carrier oils are and how they are
used. Below is a list of many of the commonly used carrier oils.
Almond, Sweet Botanical Name: Prunus amygdalus var. dulcus Aroma: Light, slightly
sweet and nutty. Texture: Slightly oily, leaves a slight oily feeling
on the skin. Absorbs semi-quickly. Color: Virtually clear with a tinge
of yellow. Notes: Sweet Almond oil is considered to be a good all-purpose
carrier oil to keep on hand and is moderately priced.
Apricot Kernel
Botanical Name: Prunus armeniaca Aroma: Faint Texture: Somewhat oily,
absorbs semi-quickly. Color: Virtually clear with a tinge of yellow.
Notes: The semi-oily texture makes this oil helpful in massage blends.
Avacado
Botanical Name: Persea americana Aroma: Medium. Somewhat sweet, fatty
and nutty in aroma. Texture: Thick, leaves a fatty, almost waxy feel
to the skin. Color: Deep olive green. Notes: If not carefully used or
used in a small dilution with another carrier, it may overpower a blend.
Borage Botanical Name: Borago officinalis Aroma: Light and sweet. Texture:
Thin to medium, leaves a somewhat oily feel to the skin. Color: Light
yellow. Notes: Is said to be excellent in treating many skin conditions.
Borage oil is expensive and is usually blended in a small (often 10%)
dilution with other carrier oils. It goes rancid rather quickly.
Evening Primrose Botanical Name: Oenothera biennis Aroma: Light and sweet Texture: Thin,
leaves only a trace of oiliness on the skin. Color: Medium yellow. Notes:
Evening Primrose is also said to be excellent in treating many skin
conditions. It is expensive and is usually blended in a small (often
10%) dilution with other carrier oils. It goes rancid quickly.
Grapeseed Botanical Name: Vitus vinifera Aroma: Light, slightly sweet with a hint
of a nutty aroma. Texture: Thin but leaves a glossy film on the skin.
Color: Virtually clear, has an almost unnoticeable tinge of yellow/green.
Notes: Unlike most other carrier oils, grapeseed oil is solvent extracted
and may have trace amounts of chemical solvent remaining. I have heard
mixed reports on the shelf-life of grapeseed (some have said it goes
rancid rather fast). I usually go through a bottle of grapeseed once
each six months and have not discovered any problems with rancidity
when stored in an amber bottle in a cool dark area.
Hazelnut
Botanical Name: Corylus avellana Aroma: Light, nutty, somewhat sweet.
Texture: Thin and only leaves a slightly oily film on the skin. Color:
Light yellow. Notes: It is said to be a good choice for those with oilier
skin.
Jojoba Botanical Name: Simmondsia chinensis Aroma: Light to medium in aroma,
not as sweet as the nut oils. The aroma is distinct but pleasant. Texture:
Light and silky. Absorbs well. Color: Yellow. Notes: Jojoba "oil" is
actually a wax. It is a somewhat pricier oil and is frequently blended
in a small dilution (10%) with other oils. It has a very long shelf-life.
Macadamia Nut Botanical Name: Macadamia integrifolia Aroma: More fragrant than sweet
almond and some of the other nut oils, it is very sweet, fatty and nutty
in aroma. Texture: Thick and leaves an oily film on the skin. Color:
Clear with a tinge of yellow. Notes: If not carefully used or used in
a small dilution with another carrier, it may overpower a blend.
Olive Botanical Name: Olea europaea Aroma: Typical aroma of olive oil used
in cooking (smells somewhat like olives). Texture: Heavy and rather
oily. Color: Light to medium green. Notes: If not carefully used or
used in a small dilution with another carrier, it may overpower a blend.
Peanut Botanical Name: Arachis hypogeae Aroma: Like Pecan, it is extremely
light in aroma with a slight fatty, nutty quality. Texture: Thick and
leaves a very oily film on the skin. Color: Virtually clear. Notes:
Peanut oil should not be used by anyone that has an allergy to peanuts.
Because of it's oiliness, it is said to be a good choice for inclusion
in massage blends. It has been said that it is a good oil to use for
those with arthritis.
Pecan Botanical Name: Carya pecan Aroma: Extremely light with a hint of a
fatty, nutty aroma. Texture: Medium thickness, leaves a slight oily
film on the skin. Color: Virtually clear. Notes: It is said that it
goes rancid somewhat quickly. I have used only one bottle of Pecan oil
and did not discover any problems with rancidity when stored in an amber
bottle in a cool dark area during my use of the oil over about 4-6 months.
Rose Hip
Botanical Name: Rosa mosqueta Aroma: Mild and perhaps earthy aroma.
Texture: Light and leaves only a hint of oil on the skin. Color: Virtually
clear. Notes: It is said to be excellent in treating many skin conditions.
It is expensive and is usually blended in a small (often 10%) dilution
with other carrier oils. It goes rancid rather quickly.
Sesame Botanical Name: Sesamum indicum Aroma: Medium with a distinctive sweet,
nutty sesame scent. May overpower a blend if not diluted with another
carrier oil. Texture: Mildy thick, leaves an oily film on the skin.
Color: Light yellow. Notes: Sesame oil may overpower a blend if not
diluted with another carrier oil.
Sunflower
Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus Aroma: Faint and sweet. Texture: Thin
and does not leave an oily residue. Color: Virtually clear with a tinge
of yellow. Notes: When choosing sunflower oil, strive to get unrefined
oil.
Total Cost: Rs. 0.00
