Essential oils and carrier oils both play the important roles in aromatherapy. While carriers are often thought of in terms of their reflexology and massage uses, these oils actually posses their own virtues. Instead of thinking of them as merely the method of applying essential oils, we can explore the unique qualities of carrier oils separately with great results. Most likely, your aromatherapy techniques will be enhanced by using your special essential oils with carriers that actually increase their medicinal qualities.

Also, need to remind you here that most of the pure essential oils are not safe if apply directly to skin undiluted, because essential oils are highly concentrate oils. Whenever, you plan to use essential oils, always refer to the safety precaution of aromatherapy essential oils.

To begin with, it is important to remember that fats are essential for human life. Fats, called lipids, are critical for maintaining warmth, providing protection and ensuring healthy cellular function. Although the world of nutrition is engaged in discovering which fats are best for internal health, aromatherapy is concerned with how plant-derived oils deliver health from the outside in. Externally-applied oils help the body maintain vital functions in unique ways through both chemical changes and mechanical assistance.

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Most of the essential oils could not be used directly on the skin because they are too potent Essential oils should always be diluted before applied.

Carrier oils is the most common ingredient to use for diluting essential oils. It protects and help soothe the skin tissue. Usually vegetable oils such as grapeseed and sweet almond are used. Anyway, it is a matter of personal taste.  If you do not like the idea of oily skin, then use a lotion of cream which should be unperfumed and specially formulated to be used with essential oils.

Which is the best vegetable oil to buy?  Well, vegetable oils which have not been heat-treated or do not contain preservatives are liable to have a shorter shelf life than the average cooking oil.  So store carrier oils in a cool, dark place.

Mineral oil is not a good carrier because it has a low penetrating ability.

A bottle of massage oil with essential oil(s) added lasts on average for six months.  As a general rule, the higher the content of essential oil added, the longer the massage oil will last.  However, if you require an oil for a particular reason at a particular time, you only need to make what you need at the time.

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What are Carrier Oils? Carrier oils are the oils that derived from the fatty portion of a plant, usually from the seeds, kernels or the nuts. Carrier oils do not evaporate and they can go rancid over time. Some carrier oils are odorless, but generally speaking, most have a faintly sweet, nutty aroma. If you come across a carrier oil that has a strong, bitter aroma, the carrier oil may have gone rancid.

Most essential oils are thought to be too concentrated to apply directly to the skin. If applied to the skin undiluted, essential oils may cause severe irritation or reactions in some individuals. In aromatherapy, carrier oils are used as a base to dilute essential oils before they are applied to the skin. That’s why carrier oils also know as base oils.

Carrier oils are named so because they carry the scent of the essential oil to the skin where it can be absorbed.  Most aromatherapists prefer to use carrier oils that are labeled “cold-pressed,” which means they are processed without heat. Vegetable oils used in aromatherapy are completely different from those used for cooking and the two should never be substituted for each other.

Same like essential oils, different carrier oils offer a different combination of therapeutic properties and characteristics. The choice of carrier oil can depend on the therapeutic benefit being sought.From a simple essential oil/carrier oil blend to a more complex one, your choice of carrier oil can make a difference in the therapeutic properties, color, overall aroma and shelf life of your final product.

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