Carrier Oils

Carrier Oils
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. Below is a list of many of the commonly used carrier oils.Carrier Oils Used in Aromatherapy View 18 profiles of popular carrier (aka fixed, vegetable and vegetal) oils and materials used in aromatherapy.

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.

Avocado

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.

Cocoa Butter

Botanical Name: Theobroma cacao

Aroma: Unrefined cocoa butter is rich and very sweet . It has a chocolaty, "cocoa" aroma. The cocoa aroma is less noticeable in refined cocoa butter.

Texture: Solid and hard to work with at room temperate. Breaks into pieces.

Color: Yellowish tan.

Notes: Cocoa butter needs to be blended with other materials/oils to be workable. Suitable for use in lotions and creams.

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.