MAIN CARRIER OILS

USED IN AROMATHERAPY

(Scroll down for specific carrier oils)

Carrier oils are so named because they "carry"

an essential
oil (EO) to the skin. Carrier oils refer to base oils that are used to dilute
essential oils before applying them directly to your skin. You'll find by
reading below that each carrier oil has different properties which may
benefit one person more than another for various reasons ranging from
texture and aroma to preventing allergic reactions.

I always label and blend my carrier oils and essential oils in

clear plastic bottles that have a pop top for easy use.

Carrier oils are typically cold-pressed oils

that are produced from the

fatty portions of a specific plant. Carrier oils do not evaporate like Essential
Oils (EO's) do, and carrier oils can go rancid where (EO's) will not.

The main carrier oils are listed below: Typically most oils purchased
at a grocery store will not be cold-pressed, with the exception of olive oil and a
few others (read the label first). Oils that are not cold-pressed have been
heated and have a minimal therapeutic effect. The color is the give-away. So
when you purchase a carrier oil listed below, make sure they are natural.
Health food stores are probably your best bet. The only exception I would make
is an oil that has natural Vitamin E (like Wheatgerm Oil) because it acts as
natural preservative.

What about Mineral oil? Mineral oil is not used in aromatherapy because
they do not penetrate the skin, therefore the EO will not be absorbed. For this
specific reason, I do not recommend replacing mineral oil with any other
carrier oil, especially when making castor oil packs.

Almond, Sweet Grapeseed Oil

Oil
Hazelnut Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil Jojoba Oil
Avocado Oil
Kukui Oil
Borage Oil
Macadamia Nut
Calendula Oil Oil
Cocoa Butter Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Peanut Oil
Evening Primrose
Oil

Pecan Oil
Rose Hip Oil
Sesame Oil
Shea Butter
Sunflower Oil
Walnut Oil
Wheatgerm Oil

ALMOND, SWEET OIL

Botanical Name: Prunus amygdalus var. dulcus
Aroma: Nutty, slightly sweet and Light
Texture: Absorbs moderately, slightly oily and leaves the skin feeling slightly
oily.

Color: Almost completely clear with a trace of yellow

Add'l Info: Considered to be the perfect all-purpose carrier oil. Blends well
with Avocado Oil.

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APRICOT KERNEL OIL

Botanical Name: Prunus armeniaca
Aroma: Slight
Texture: Usually non-irritating. Absorbs moderately and is somewhat oily.
Color: Almost completely clear with a trace of yellow.
Add'l Info: Contains B Vitamins. Because of its texture, this makes it perfect
for blending massage oils. This oil will not leave you feeling greasy or slippery.
It also softens the skin.

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AVOCADO OIL
Botanical Name: Persea americana
Aroma: Medium. Somewhat sweet and nutty
Texture: Thick, leaves a fatty, almost waxy feel to the skin.
Color: Deep olive green
Add'l Info: Blend a 10% dilution of avocado oil with another carrier oil.
Excellent for mature and dry skin types. Contains B Complex and Vitamins E
and A.

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BORAGE OIL
Botanical Name: Borago officinalis
Aroma: Sweet and light
Texture: Thin to medium, somewhat oily on the skin
Color: Light yellow
Add'l Info: Excellent for treating skin conditions such as psoriasis. Borage oil
can go rancid quickly. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of
borage oil with another carrier oil.

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CALENDULA OIL
Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis
Aroma: Spicey sweet aroma
Texture: Thin
Color: Yellow to Amber
Add'l Info: CALENDULA OIL SHOULD NOT BE USED BY ANYONE THAT HAS AN
ALLERGY TO RAGWEED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Comes from the Marigold
and works well blended with Sweet Almond Oil. Great for reducing
inflammation. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of calendula
oil with another carrier oil.

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COCOA BUTTER
Botanical Name: Theobroma cacao
Aroma: In unrefined cocoa butter it is very sweet and rich with a chocolate
aroma. In refined cocoa butter the aroma is not as noticeable.
Texture: At room temperature the cocoa butter is solid and difficult to work
with and will more than likely break-up into pieces.
Color: Tan with a yellow hue
Add'l Info: In order to use the cocoa butter it will be necessary to blend it

with other oils in order to make it more manageable. It can be used in creams
or lotions.

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COCONUT OIL
Aroma: Coconut aroma
Texture: Easy to spread and non-oily
Color: Light
Add'l Info: It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of coconut oil
with another carrier oil.

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EVENING PRIMROSE OIL

Botanical Name: Oenothera biennis
Aroma: Sweet and light
Texture: Thin and its not oily on the skin.
Color: Medium yellow
Add'l Info: Excellent for treating skin
conditions such as psoriasis. Evening Primrose Oil can go rancid quickly. It is
also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of evening primrose oil with
another carrier oil. Can be used in creams.

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GRAPESEED OIL
Botanical Name: Vitus vinifera
Aroma: Sweet, light, with a small nutty aroma.
Texture: Thin fine texture, leaving no oily residue

Color: Almost clear with a tiny hint of yellow/green.

Add'l Info: Inexpensive. May have some trace amounts of chemical solvent in
the oil because of the manner in which it is extracted. It has the possibility of
turning rancid quickly. If it is stored in a dark bottle in a cool dark area, you
may not have any problems with rancidity. Blends well with Avocado Oil.

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HAZELNUT OIL
Botanical Name: Corylus avellana
Aroma: Nutty, light and slightly sweet
Texture: Thin and is slightly oily on the skin
Color: Pale yellow
Add'l Info: I've found this is an excellent oil for those with oily skin. Helps to
prevent dehydration of the skin.

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JOJOBA OIL
Botanical Name: Simmondsia chinensis
Aroma: Light and nearly odorless
Texture: Silky and usually absorbs well on the skin. Can feel waxey.
Color: Yellow
Add'l Info: This oil is really a wax. It usually does not go rancid very quickly.
It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of jojoba oil with another
carrier oil. Great skin conditioner for most skin types.

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KUKUI OIL

Botanical Name: Aleurites moluccana

Aroma: Nutty, light and sweet aroma
Texture: Thin and its not oily on the skin.
Color: Clear with a slightly yellow hue
Add'l Info: Excellent for treating skin conditions such as psoriasis. Kukui Oil
can go rancid quickly. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of
kukui oil with another carrier oil.

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MACADAMIA NUT OIL

Botanical Name: Macadamia integrifolia
Aroma: More aromatic than other nut oils and is very sweet.
Texture: Because it is a thicker oil, it will leave an oily film on the skin.
Color: Clear with a slight yellow hue
Add'l Info: Blend a 10% dilution of macadamia nut oil with another carrier
oil.

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OLIVE OIL
Botanical Name: Olea europaea
Aroma: Smells like olives.
Texture: Heavy and oily.
Color: Use the greenest oil you can possibly purchase. The greener the oil,
the closer it is to pure cold pressed.
Add'l Info: May be blended with a 10% dilution of olive oil with another
carrier oil.

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PEANUT OIL
Botanical Name: Arachis hypogeae
Aroma: Light with a slighty nutty aroma
Texture: Thick and is very oily on the skin.
Color: Clear
Add'l Info: PEANUT OIL SHOULD NOT BE USED BY ANYONE THAT HAS AN
ALLERGY TO PEANUTS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. It is used in some massage
oil blends. Always let your massage therapist know if you are allergic to peanuts
before the massage begins just in case they use a peanut oil blend. Peanut oil is
generally Good for those who have arthritic conditions.

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PECAN OIL
Botanical Name: Carya pecan
Aroma: Extremely light with nutty aroma.
Texture: Medium and slightly oily on the skin.
Color: Clear
Add'l Info: It has the possibility of turning rancid quickly. If it is stored in a
dark bottle in a cool dark area, you may not have any problems with rancidity.

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ROSE HIP OIL

Botanical Name: Rosa mosqueta
Aroma: Mild with an earthy aroma.
Texture: Light and leaves the skin slightly oily
Color: Clear
Add'l Info: Excellent for treating skin conditions such as psoriasis. Rose Hip
Oil can go rancid quickly. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of
evening primrose oil with another carrier oil.

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SESAME OIL
Botanical Name: Sesamum indicum
Aroma: Medium, sweet, and nutty.
Texture: Slightly thick and leaves the skin slightly oily
Color: Pale yellow
Add'l Info: May be blended with a 10% dilution of sesame oil with another
carrier oil. Good calcium source.

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SHEA BUTTER
Botanical Name: Butyrospermun parkii
Aroma: Nutty aroma
Texture: Solid and workable at room temperature. May leave a waxy feeling
on the skin.
Color: Cream colored
Add'l Info: Typically used in lotions and creams

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SUNFLOWER OIL
Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus
Aroma: Sweet and light
Texture: Thin with no oiliness on the skin
Color: Clear with a yellow hue
Add'l Info: Go for the unrefined sunflower oil.
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WALNUT OIL
Aroma: Rich and with a nutty aroma
Texture: Delicate
Color: Light
Add'l Info: It is expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of walnut oil with
another carrier oil.

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WHEATGERM OIL
Aroma: Wheat aroma and slighly nutty
Texture: Thick and sticky
Color: Golden orange-brown
Add'l Info: WHEATGERM OIL SHOULD NOT BE USED BY ANYONE THAT HAS AN
ALLERGY TO WHEAT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. High in Vitamin E which gives
powerful healing properties. Usually included in a blend for preservation and
anti-oxidative properties. Because of this you can blend a 10% dilution of
wheatgerm oil with another carrier oil. If it is blended with preferably almond
or grapeseed oil, then use 25% wheatgerm to 75% almond or grapeseed.

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GENERAL SAFETY NOTICE:

ALWAYS SEARCH for more information for your own educational purpose. This
page is NOT considered fully complete and NOT a guarantee for accuracy.
ALWAYS conduct a skin patch test before applying ANYTHING new to your skin.
DO NOT apply ANY undiluted essential oils directly onto your skin.
DO NOT take any essential oils internally.
IF YOU ARE pregnant or have ANY medical problems DO NOT use essential oils
without first consulting your physician.
PUT SAFETY FIRST and consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before
using any essential oils with children. Use EXTREME caution when using any

essential oils with children using only the gentlest oils at an extremely low
dose.