All About Aromatherapy Carrier Oils

If you are not familiar with aromatherapy oils, you may not be aware of aromatherapy carrier oils.  These oils are base oils or vegetable oils that are used to dilute essential oils.  Most essential oils are too strong to be applied directly to the skin, so using aromatherapy carrier oils will ensure correct application.  

They also help with the correct application of CO2s (high quality essential oils extracted with carbon dioxide in liquid form) and absolutes (liquids that are very similar to essential oils, but even more concentrated) to the skin.  

So, what exactly is the difference between carrier oils and the aromatherapy liquids such as essential oils?  Carrier oils are vegetable oils that are taken from the fatty portion of the plant.  Essential oils evaporate, while carrier oils do not.  The fragrance from the carrier oils is also not as concentrated as essential oils, absolutes and CO2s.  Carrier oils will expire after so long but essential oils will not. 

Some examples of good carrier oils are:

• apricot kernel
• grapeseed
• avacodo
• peanut
• olive
• pecan
• macadamia nut
• sesame
• evening primrose
• walnut
• wheat germ

These oils are cold pressed, not heated, which helps to protect the structure and nutrients in these oils.  All of these carrier oils do something different.  

There are so many carrier oils to choose from so how do you decide which one is right for you?  You choose carrier oils the same way you choose essential oils.  It depends on your needs.

Know what the carrier oil is good for.  Know the properties that it contains.  Sweet almond, peach and apricot oils can be good for body message or facial treatments, because it is a light oil and the skin easily absorbs it.  More carrier oils that are good for facial treatment would be black seed, borage, evening primrose, jojaba and rosehip oils.

Apricot kernel is great for message blends because of its semi-oily texture.  Evening primrose is great at treating menstrual cramps, eczema, and psoriasis.  It contains a high concentration of gamma linolenic acid.  This is essential to cell and body functions. 

The carrier oils work hand in hand with the essential oils.  The aromatherapy carrier oils work great to help with sunburn relief, message of the muscles, relief the pain from canker sores, heal diaper and heat rash; helps heal cuts, scrapes or burns and minimize scarring and it also minimizes stretch marks.

Other uses of aromatherapy carrier oils are to make soaps or to use them straight for massage. 

You can find aromatherapy oils in your local health food store or buy online and have them delivered to your door.  You may also want to grow your own plants for your own aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy carrier oils are a necessity to expand your aromatherapy and essential oils collection.  There are many things you can do with the right combination of essential oils and carrier oils. 

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