Carrier Oils

Carrier Oils

Kukui

Botanical Name: Aleurites moluccana

Aroma: Light, sweet, pleasant, nutty.

Texture: Thin. Absorbs well, leaving only a trace oily feeling on the skin.

Color: Clear with a hint of yellow.

Notes: It is said to be excellent in treating many skin conditions. It is a somewhat more pricier oil. It goes rancid rather quickly.

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: Mildly 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.

Shea Butter

Botanical Name: Butyrospermun parkii

Aroma: Nutty, fatty.

Texture: Solid but permeable at room temperature. Leaves an oily/waxy feeling on the skin.

Color: Off-white/cream.

Notes: Suitable for use in lotions and creams.

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.