Contents:

1. What are Carrier Oils?

2. How to Use Carrier Oils?

3. How to Mix / Dilute Essential Oils with Carrier Oils?

4. How to Choose a Carrier Oil?

   1. What are the Best Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy?

   2. What are the Best Carrier Oils for Massages?

   3. What are the Best Carrier Oils for Hair?

   4. What are the Best Carrier Oils for Skin?

      1. What are Non-comedogenic Carrier Oils?

5. What is the Shelf Life of Carrier Oils?

1. What are Carrier Oils?

Carrier oils are also referred to as "Base Oils". Both names are associated to their use with essential oils. As essential oils are too concentrated to be readily applied on the skin, carrier oils are used as a carrier or a base to carry and dilute essential oils before topical application.

Carrier oils are generally obtained by cold pressing seeds, nuts or fruit pulp of a plant which contains plant lipids. Therefore, such oils offer natural therapeutic benefits which are unique to the plant from which it is obtained.  

2. How to Use Carrier Oils?

Carrier oils are useful as a base oil in aromatherapy, natural skincare, and haircare. Pure carrier oils, which are vegetable oils, can also be used in culinary applications. Carrier oils are also used in making oil-based plant extracts. 

Most carrier oils can directly be applied on the skin or can be applied mixed with other carrier oils or essential oils for enhanced therapeutic benefits. However, a patch test on a sensitive area such as the inner wrist or inner elbow is recommended before topical application as some may be prone to sensitivities due to nut allergies. 

3. How to Mix (Dilute) Essential Oils with Carrier Oils?

Essential oils should usually be diluted to 1-3% in a carrier oil for everyday skin use. Thus, if the final formula is 100ml in volume, it is recommended that around 2ml of essential oil is diluted in 98ml of carrier oil. The 1-3% may contain more than one essential oil (an essential oil blend), and the 99-97% may contain more than one carrier oil. 

However, certain skin friendly and nourishing oils such as pure Sandalwood essential oil may be applied directly or in concentrated form in spot treatments. A dilution of 3-5% is acceptable for short term therapeutic use. Essential oils do not need to be diluted when used in aromatherapy.

Certain carrier oils such as Tamanu oil and Bakuchi oil, which are too concentrated and potent to be applied as a standalone oil, must be diluted with another carrier oil, when used in skincare. 

4. How to Choose a Carrier Oil?

A carrier oil must be chosen depending on the end use. Therefore, in addition to the therapeutic benefits a carrier oil offers, certain physical properties such as the aroma, thickness, stability, and comedogenicity (the ability to clog pores) may be considered in choosing the right carrier oil for a specific purpose. 

4.1. What are the Best Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy?

Carrier oils are generally not required in direct aromatherapy as dilution of essential oils hinder their aroma. However, essential oils must be diluted in topical applications and aromatherapy massages. In such cases, best carrier oils for aromatherapy are those that are neutral-smelling, skin friendly, light, and stable oils. 

Jojoba oil, which is a natural wax, is considered one of the best carrier oils for mixing essential oils due to its similarity to skin sebum, its stability, and mild scent. Similarly, fractionated Coconut oil (MCT oil) is considered an excellent carrier oil due to its colorless, odorless, non-greasy nature, and stability. However due to the removal of long-term fatty acids present in regular Coconut oil, it may not be as nourishing as regular Coconut oil and is best suited for roll-ons, aromatherapy blends and hot climates. 

4.2. What are the Best Carrier Oils for Massages?

Unless targeting a specific therapeutic use, a good massage oil provides smooth glide, balanced absorption, skin safety, stability and a neutral scent, while nourishing the skin without greasiness. Therefore, carrier oils such as Sweet Almond oil, Jojoba oil, Grapeseed oil, Sesame oil, Apricot oil, King Coconut oil, and Fractionated Coconut oil (MCT oil) are suited for general massages.

However, in therapeutic massages certain other factors such as the known therapeutic benefits of the oil and its effect on body composition and doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) must be considered. For instance, Sesame is considered a well-balanced oil which is similar in composition to the sebum of the skin, and it is the classic Ayurvedic warming oil and the pre-workout oil preferred by sportsmen such as traditional wrestlers. Contrarily, carrier oils such as King Coconut is more cooling on the body and is used as a cooling oil in Ayurveda. 

4.3. What are the Best Carrier Oils for Hair?

Golden King Coconut oil is considered the best oil for hair health and growth in Sri Lankan traditional medicine. It is also light and odourless in nature, compared to Coconut oil. Additionally, it is cooling in nature and supportive of scalp health. 

Carrier oils such as Coconut oil, Argan oil, Castor oil, Black Seed oil and Neem oil are known to promote hair growth and combat hair fall. Furthermore, such oils provide natural protection against dandruff and conditions such as dry scalp. Such oils may be complemented with essential oils that promote hair health. Triphala oil is a combination of Aralu, Bulu, Nelli (Amla), in a Sesame oil base, which in Ayurveda is known to promote hair and scalp health. 

 4.4. What are the Best Carrier Oils for Skin?

The best carrier oil for skin depends on the intended skin treatment. Jojoba oil is considered very similar to the sebum of the skin in western therapy. Similarly, Sesame oil is considered to have similar properties to skin sebum in Ayurveda. Therefore, they are popularly used in treatments where general skin health is targeted. However using such oils as a face oil on oily skin or acne-prone skin may cause breakouts due to their comedogenic properties, unless paired with an antimicrobial essential oil. 

Certain carrier oils such as Tamanu oil and Bakuchi oil are effective in cell regeneration and skin repair.  However, such oils have to be diluted with another carrier oil before applying on the skin, due to their potency. People with nut allergies must avoid carrier oils extracted from nuts such as Sweet Almond oil. Carrier oils with a thick consistency such as Castor oil and Avocado oil may not be ideal for regular application. Thus, choosing the correct carrier oil depends on many factors such as the type of skin, the treatment, and the properties of the oil. 

Note: It is recommended that a patch test is performed on a sensitive area such as the inner elbow or wrist before applying any new product on the skin. 

4.4.1. What are Non-comedogenic Carrier Oils?

Non-comedogenic oils are lightweight oils that provide nourishment without clogging pores, making them ideal for oily, acne-prone skin and face oils. Sunflower oil, Castor oil, Argan oil, Cucumber oil, Grapeseed oil, Pomegranate oil, Watermelon oil, and Shea butter are considered non-comedogenic carriers. 

Comedogenic oils are best suited for dry, damaged skin, body oils, cold climates and hair treatments, where richness and moisture retention matter. Coconut oil, Olive oil, Wheat Germ oil, Avocado oil, Linseed oil and Cocoa butter are considered to have high comedogenic properties. 

Carrier oils such as Sweet Almond, Jojoba, Apricot, Moringa, Sesame, Sea Buckthorn, MCT, Rosehip, Rice Bran, Tamanu oil and Mango butter are considered carriers suited for combination to normal skin as they fall in the middle of the comedogenic scale. 

5. What is the Shelf Life of Carrier oils? 

Carrier oils don’t all last the same time. Their shelf life mainly depend on factors such as, fatty acid composition, exposure to heat, moisture, and light, and whether the oil is refined or unrefined. Jojoba oil being a liquid wax, is very stable as a base oil and has a shelf life up to 5 years. Similarly, MCT oil (Fractionated Coconut oil) is considered a stable oil which last a long time compared to Coconut oil, due to the removal of long chain fatty acids. 

Oils such as Grapeseed, Rosehip, Evening Primrose, Linseed oil, considerably have a shorter shelf life (around 1 year), and are best used fresh or blended with more stable oils. Moderately stable oils have a shelf life of 1-2 years.

It is recommended that carrier oils are kept tightly sealed in amber glass bottles, in a cool, dark place, away from heat and sunlight to prevent oxidation and spoilage, as light, air, and heat, degrade them. A degraded carrier oil, also known as a rancid oil, can be identified primarily through your senses by checking for changes in its smell, color, and taste.

Note: This is not an all-inclusive guide. If you are unsure about which application method to use with carrier oils, consult a qualified aromatherapist or a healthcare professional.