What are Carrier Oils?
Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before applying to the skin. The carrier oil serves two purposes:
- To carry the essential oil onto the skin.
- To dilute the potent oil before use.
Now factories offer many different carrier oils that feature different properties and the choice of carrier oil can depend on the therapeutic benefit being sought.
Good carrier oils are mainly cold-pressed vegetable and fruit oils derived from the fatty portions of the plant. Unlike essential oils that evaporate and have a concentrated aroma, carrier oils do not evaporate or impart their aroma as strongly as essential oils.
Good carrier oils include sweet almond, apricot kernel, grape seed, avocado, peanut, olive, pecan, macadamia nut, sesame, evening primrose, walnut, wheat germ, and many others. These differ from supermarket bought oils in that these oils are not generally cold-pressed.
The Next Article: What are Fragrance Oils?
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