A Guide on Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are vegetable oils used to dilute essential oils before applying to the skin in massage and aromatherapy. They are so named because they carry the essential oil onto the skin. When it comes to carrier oils, there are dozens to choose from, each with different benefits.

Why Use a Carrier Oil?

Carrier oils are useful for many essential oil applications.

Comfort: Certain oils can feel hot when applied directly to the skin, especially sensitive areas. Using a carrier oil slows down the penetration of the essential oil and reduces discomfort. Dilution with a carrier oil is highly recommended for babies and children as well.

DIY Projects: If you enjoy making your own personal care products, many recipes include the use of a carrier oil.

Massage: In massage, carrier oils are necessary to disperse essential oils as well as provide a slick medium for massage techniques.

Roller Ball Blends: Most roller blends contain a carrier oil. While you can create roller blends with pure essential oils, they use a lot of oil. For this reason, most people choose to add a carrier oil to rollers.

In Capsules: Some people add carrier oils to capsules containing essential oils because it prevents burping the taste and odor of essential oils.

Choosing a Carrier Oil

Selecting a carrier oil depends largely on the purpose. Most carrier oils are derived from the seeds or nuts of plants, and the rate of dispersion will vary based on how light or heavy the carrier oil is. Additionally, some oils can clog pores and may not be desirable for topical applications. Most carrier oils have little aroma, but a few may have a slight odor that affects the finished product. When choosing a carrier oil, it is important to take into account viscosity, lubrication, absorption, and aroma.

When selecting a carrier oil, make sure you are using the highest quality you can afford. You don’t want to compromise the essential oils you use with a cheap additive. Look for organic, cold-pressed, pure, unrefined oil with no additives.

Comedogenic Rating

When choosing a carrier oil for skin preparations, many people look at the comedogenic rating of the oil.

0 – Non-comedogenic; will not clog pores.

1 – Low: Slight chance that the oil will clog your pores.

2 – Moderately low: Will not clog pores for most people, but be careful if you are acne-prone.

3 – Moderate: Will cause break-outs for many people.

4 – Fairly high: Will cause break-outs for most people.

5 – High: High risk of break-outs with this type of oil.

Common Carrier Oils (in the Philippines)

Coconut Oil

Source: Cold-pressed from the meat of mature coconuts (Cocos Nucifera)

Benefits: Coconut oil is an emollient, which is a moisturizer that helps keep the skin moist and protected by trapping moisture in the skin. It is also antimicrobial, which helps prevent infection and inflammation. Readily available and relatively inexpensive.

Characteristics: Soft, greasy, semi-solid oil with slow absorption

Aroma: Mild, coconuty

Comedogenic Rating: 4

Uses: Great for skin, lip, and hair preparations. Try this homemade Boo Boo Balm.

Coconut Oil (Fractionated)

Source: Fractionated coconut oil is derived from pure coconut oil. Fractionation removes the primary fatty acid, 12-carbon lauric acid (C12), and some other long-chain fatty acids, making this oil liquid at room temperature. Most of the health benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the lauric acid, so fractionated coconut oil does not retain many of the benefits of coconut oil.

Benefits: Fractionated coconut oil is very slick and makes a great lubricant or massage oil. It is also moisturizing to the skin, though it does not hold in moisture as well as regular coconut oil. Mild, nearly odorless, and relatively inexpensive.

Characteristics: Free-flowing, non-greasy, liquid oil with moderate absorption

Aroma: Mild, coconuty

Comedogenic Rating: 2-3

Uses: Carrier oil in roller balls, use in capsules, topical application of essential oils. Check out this Lavender Lash Serum with fractionated coconut oil.

Castor Oil

Source: Extracted from castor beans (Ricinus communis) by either mechanical pressing, solvent extraction, or a combination of pressing and extraction.

Benefits: High in essential fatty acids, including ricinoleic acid (RA)

Characteristics: Viscous, greasy, liquid oil with very slow absorption

Aroma: Slightly bitter

Comedogenic Rating: 1

Uses: Lubricant for massage; useful in making soaps. NOT ideal for any internal use, as it can induce vomiting and diarrhea. Because of the aroma, castor oil is not a preferred carrier oil for many aromatic blends.

Cocoa Butter

Source: Extracted from cocoa nibs (Theobroma cocoa) by cold-pressing (preferred) or solvent extraction

Benefits: Moisturizing and conditioning; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, photoprotective (protects from sun damage), anti-aging; produces a thicker, more heat-resistant final product.

Characteristics: Brittle, hard, solid fat with slow absorption

Aroma: Strongly sweet and chocolatey

Comedogenic Rating: 4

Uses: Skin and hair care products for its moisturizing and conditioning; used in soap making

Grape Seed Oil

Source: Cold-pressed from seeds of grapes (Vitis vinifera)

Characteristics: Free-flowing, relatively non-greasy, liquid oil with fast absorption

Benefits: Rich in phenolic compounds (such as reservation and carotenoids), fatty acids, and vitamins. Anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant; prevents free-radical damage to the skin.

Aroma: Very mild and neutral, almost odorless

Comedogenic Rating: 1

Uses: Skin, hair, and fingernail preparations. It also makes a great lubricant for vaginal use or in a massage.

Jojoba Oil

Source: Actually a wax ester cold-pressed from seeds of the jojoba bush (Simmondsia Chinensis)

Benefits: Strengthens hair and prevents breakage and split ends; may also be helpful in treating dandruff and dry scalp. Forms a barrier to protect skin; antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant; promotes wound healing; prevents skin aging. Has a soft, satiny feel.

Characteristics: Free-flowing, non-greasy, liquid wax with moderate absorption

Aroma: Pleasant soft aroma, almost odorless

Comedogenic Rating: 2

Uses: Mild and usually non-allergenic, jojoba oil is great for all skin applications. Often used for acne-prone skin and soothing to eczema and other skin issues. Use in cleansers and moisturizers, or apply directly to the skin.

Olive Oil

Source: Cold-pressed from ripe olives (Olea europaea)

Benefits: Moisturizing and nourishing properties. Very high in beneficial vitamins and fatty acids. Also high in vitamin E and antioxidants to protect skin and slow the aging process.

Characteristics: Free-flowing, greasy, liquid oil with slow absorption

Aroma: Appealing earthy aroma

Comedogenic Rating: 2

Uses: Skin and hair applications, internal use, dilution for topical use. It has a slight odor, so many people do not prefer olive oil for creating aromatic blends.

Shea Butter

Source: Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). This is done traditionally by extracting the nuts, pounding them to a powder, and finally, boiling the powder to release the fats. Solvent extraction is another less-commonly used method.

Benefits: Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wonderful emollient that repairs the skin barrier, and wound healing.

Characteristics: Medium-soft solid fat with moderate absorption

Aroma: Mild, neutral; almost odorless

Comedogenic Rating: 0-2

Uses: Great in soapmaking and for lotions and moisturizers. Since it is solid at room temperature, it pairs well with other carrier oils when a fluid is desired. Shea butter also makes a nourishing, smooth hand or foot cream.

Sunflower Oil

Source: Expeller-pressed from raw sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus)

Benefits: Odorless; enhances skin barrier function; prevents invasive bacterial infections; anti-fungal; healing to atopic dermatitis and dry/scaly skin; anti-wrinkling and anti-aging properties

Characteristics: Free-flowing liquid oil with slow absorption

Aroma: Odorless

Comedogenic Rating: 0-2

Uses: Skin and hair preparations, facial moisturizers, as a carrier oil for internal consumption, all topical applications. Because it is odorless, it blends well with essential oils.

V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex

V-6 is a blend of fractionated coconut oil, sesame seed oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, almond oil, sunflower oil, and wheat germ oil.

Many people love this blend for all kinds of DIY recipes, applying essential oils topically, in massage, and even as a moisturizer because it combines the power of these various carrier oils. It has a comedogenic rating of about 2-3 because of the oils it contains. V-6 is relatively odorless, making it ideal for blending with essential oils.

Your carrier oil not listed here?

Check out Lindsey Elmore's post about other carrier oils!