Confused by carrier oils?
We use the words “carrier oil” a lot around here, but not everyone knows what a carrier oil is!
Carrier oils are VERY important when using essential oils because essential oils are never supposed to be applied undiluted to the skin. Today we’re talking about what a carrier oil is by doing a deeper dive into each one and teaching when to use it.
What are carrier oils?
First things first, what is a carrier oil? A carrier oil is a vegetable oil derived from the fatty portion of a plant, usually the seed, nut, or kernels. Carrier oils also have their own different therapeutic properties, and your choice of the carrier oil should depend on what therapeutic benefit you’re looking for. A carrier oil is used to dilute essential oils before they’re applied to the skin.
Why do you need carrier oils?
If you dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil before applying them to your skin, the carrier oil helps prevent the essential oil from evaporating, enhancing their usefulness. That means you’re getting more of the essential oil absorbed into your skin. And the therapeutic properties of the essential oil are strengthened and enhanced by the carrier oil you choose.
So now you know what they are, and why you need them… let’s dive into each carrier oil’s unique benefits!
Each carrier oil brings its own benefits to the table.
The answer to “which carrier oil is best for me?” is somewhat dependent upon your skin type. For example:
- Sweet Almond (all skin types, especially oily)
- Apricot Kernel (dry, mature, or “normal” skin types)
- Argan (all types, but especially mature skin)
- Avocado (mature and very dry skin)
- Camellia Seed (mature skin)
- Evening Primrose (dry, mature, or hormonal skin)
- Grapeseed (all skin types, but especially oily)
- Hazelnut (oily/acne prone skin)
- Jojoba (since Jojoba is a plant wax that closely mimics the structure of skin’s own sebum, it’s ideal for many skin types)
- Sunflower Seed (all skin types)
And don’t worry, this isn’t a complete list. Let’s take an even deeper dive:
Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot Kernel Carrier Oil has very little scent. It can be used in skin blends at 100% strength, which is great for simple blending. This oil is also slow to go rancid. Users can expect a shelf life of at least 1 year under proper storage conditions (cool, out of direct sunlight).
Great for these skin types:
- All skin types
- Sensitive skin
- Mature skin
Uses:
- This oil is wonderful for use in massages!
- Rub several drops of Apricot Kernel Oil between your palms and massage into desired areas.
- For dry hair, place several drops into the palm of your hand and work into hair strands to avoid flyaways and help moisturize strands.
- Combine with our Sensual Blend to help set a romantic mood with a massage.
Try making your own natural hair detangler with Apricot Kernal Oil!
Argan Oil
Argan Carrier Oil is beloved in the cosmetic industry for its incredible conditioning and anti-aging properties. Rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, Argan Oil is known to make dull complexions glow, help diminish the appearance of fine lines, and restore skin elasticity.
*While allergic reactions are rare, people with nut allergies should consult with their physician before using this product.
Great for these skin types:
- All skin types
- Sensitive skin
- Dry skin
- Breakout-prone skin
Uses:
- Use as a facial moisturizer to improve skin elasticity on skin that is prone to acne.
- Add to natural unscented hair products to help moisturize dry hair.
Avocado Oil
Avocado Carrier Oil contains Vitamins A, B, D, E, and beta carotene. It’s a deeply penetrating monounsaturated oil, slightly thicker and with a heavier feel than most carrier oils.
A small amount of Avocado Oil (5-10%) is typically added to other carrier oils to enrich vitamin content and help nourish the skin. This oil is used mostly by product makers (particularly so in soaps, lotions, and creams).
Great for these skin types:
- Very dry skin
- Mature skin
- Sun-damaged skin
- Dry hair
Uses:
- Add to other carrier oils to improve skin-nourishing properties.
- Use when making homemade lotions, creams, or balms.
Try making your own homemade oatmeal mask using Avocado Carrier Oil.
Camellia Seed Oil
Camellia Seed Oil helps protect the skin from free radical damage, refines mature skin, and helps nourish your complexion. This oil is easily absorbed by the skin, leaving it feeling silky smooth without feeling greasy, making it one of the best-kept secrets in the cosmetic and hair care industry.
This carrier oil can be used at 100% strength but often is mixed with other carriers. It also contains high levels of antioxidants that help to revitalize and rejuvenate the hair and skin.
Great for these skin types:
- Mature skin
- Sensitive skin
Uses:
- Use as a moisturizer or add to creams or balms to help smooth the look of fine wrinkles.
- Use in rollerball blends for quick-absorbing on-the-go use.
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Coconut Oil absorbs very quickly into the skin, making it ideal for use with any essential oil or blend for quick topical application. Because it readily penetrates the skin, this oil is perfect for rollerball blends, creams, and lotions. Plus, it leaves no greasiness on the skin.
Fractionated Coconut Oil also produces a barrier on the skin, but will not clog pores, making it great for all skin types.
Great for these skin types:
- All skin types
Uses:
- Use as a skin moisturizer.
- Avoid skin irritation by using as a natural makeup remover.
- Keep hair lustrous and smooth by adding to natural hair care products.
- Add to rollerball blends, cream, and lotions.
Try making your own DIY foot scrub, or use it to make your own beard-tending products!
Evening Primrose Carrier Oil
Evening Primrose Carrier Oil contains high levels of nourishing fatty acids and is excellent for use at up to 20% in skin blends but is not generally used at 100%.
Great for these skin types:
- Very dry skin
- Mature skin
Uses:
- Add to shampoo or massage into the scalp to help reduce flakiness.
- Add to blends designed to support the menstrual cycle.
- Smooth into rough skin to help reduce redness and irritation.
- Add to homemade creams and lotions.
Try mixing Evening Primrose oil with German Chamomile to make a nourishing DIY face serum.
Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed Carrier Oil is one of the lightest carrier oils available, and also has the benefit of being odorless. This oil is cold pressed and then refined to produce a light yellow-green colored oil that’s popular in cosmetics manufacturing. This versatile oil has numerous essential fatty acids. It has a rich, silky texture that is perfect for helping soothe away dryness and irritation. Grapeseed also won’t clog pores or cause break-outs and has mild antiseptic properties, making it great for acne-prone skin.
Great for these skin types:
- All skin types
- Oily skin
- Acne-prone skin
Uses:
- Use when making homemade aromatherapy creams and lotions.
- Add to a massage blend of carrier oils for use in aromatherapy.
- Use as a natural moisturizer.
Try combining Grapeseed Oil with Tea Tree and Vetiver essential oils to make your own pre-shaving oil!
Hazelnut Oil
High in Vitamin E, Hazelnut Carrier Oil is known for its astringent qualities. It’s great for those with oily skin and can also help tone and tighten the appearance of your skin.
Hazelnut is non-greasy and is best used for those who have oily skin but still want to enjoy the many benefits of carrier oils.
The one thing that’s important to note: This oil is made from hazelnuts (a tree nut). Although our expert states skin reactions to nut oils are rare, those with nut allergies should consult their medical practitioner before coming into contact with Hazelnut Oil.
Great for these skin types:
- Oily skin
- Mature skin
Uses:
- Use as a moisturizer for oily skin.
- Tone and tighten mature skin by adding to your skincare regimin.
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp Seed Oil can be applied topically as a moisturizer or used as a carrier oil for essential oil application.
This oil is extracted mechanically without the use of chemicals, preservatives, or additives, and is cold pressed at low temperatures. It is then filtered to remove any natural suspended solids, leaving this oil with a slightly nutty scent.
Great for these skin types:
- All skin types
Uses:
- Add to body care, including creams, lotions, facial or body oils, massage oils, shampoos, lip balms, and soap.
- Add a few drops to your favorite natural hair care products to increase manageability and shine.
Try combining Hemp Seed oil with Mandarin essential oil to make your own DIY body wash.
Meadowfoam Oil
Meadowfoam Carrier Oil is highly resistant to oxidation due to naturally occurring tocopherols and is one of the most stable lipids known. As a result, it has an extremely long shelf life.
This oil has superior moisturizing and rejuvenating properties and is highly recommended for use in cosmetics and skin care products. It has mild ultraviolet (UV) protection properties, making it especially good to add to homemade products for outdoor use.
Meadowfoam Carrier Oil is a key ingredient in products like suntan lotions, massage oils, and body lotions, hand/facial creams, hair and scalp products, cuticle repair cream, foundations and face powders, lipsticks, shampoos, shaving cream, and various balms.
Great for these skin types:
- Sensitive skin
- All skin types
Uses:
- Rub several drops of Meadowfoam Oil between palms and massage onto hair to help smooth the cuticle and add shine.
- Add to skin essential oil blends, balms, body butter, and lotions to boost UV-blocking benefits.
Use Carrot Seed Essential Oil with Meadowfoam Carrier Oil to make our Fountain of Youth Face Serum.
Jojoba Oil
GMO-free Jojoba (golden) is a favorite carrier “oil,” but Jojoba isn’t actually an oil. It’s a liquid wax! It closely resembles the natural sebum (oil) our own skin produces and is rich in vitamin E.
Because it is high in antioxidants, it can help slow down the rate of oxidation when added to other carrier oils. It has become a very popular carrier in the cosmetic and aromatherapy industries because of its excellent skin care properties.
Great for these skin types:
- Oily skin
- Blemish-prone skin
- Reddened skin
- Rough or dry skin
Uses:
- Use as a skin moisturizer, ideal for any skin type.
- Remove makeup naturally by using Jojoba oil to promote overall healthy skin. Additionally, it’s non-comedogenic, meaning it won’t clog pores.
- Use a few drops to moisturize and nourish hair.
- Treat a dry scalp, keep it flake free, and help with hair regrowth by adding to your hair care products.
- Use to soothe skin after too much sun.
- Smooth onto chapped/reddened skin to help relieve redness.
- Gently pat around the eyes to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Use Jojoba with Geranium Egyptian Essential Oil to make a luscious body cream.
Rosehip Oil
Rosehip Oil contains high amounts of vitamin E, vitamin A, and essential fatty acids, which promote collagen and elastin levels to increase and assists with cell regeneration. It is a key ingredient in creams, lotions, massage oil, face oil, and body oils.
It’s best added at a concentration of 5-10%. This is due to its bright orange-red color that may discolor those blends. In high concentrations, Rosehip Oil may aggravate oily skin and will stain linens and clothing.
Great for these skin types:
- Dry, irritated skin
- Weathered skin
- Scarred skin
Uses:
- Combine with Helichrysum Italicum to help reduce the appearance of scars.
- Use to soothe dry, irritated skin.
Sunflower Oil
Organic Sunflower Carrier Oil has high amounts of Vitamins A, B, D and E, and minerals. Plus, it has beneficial amounts of lecithin and unsaturated fatty acids making it a wonderful skin softener and conditioner. Sunflower is a versatile cost-effective carrier oil that has applications in both massage and aromatherapy.
Use at Organic Sunflower Oil at 30-50% in most skin and massage blends.
Great for use with these skin types:
- All skin types
Uses:
- Add to massage oil blends.
- Use in topical aromatherapy roll-on blends.
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet Almond Carrier Oil is an excellent emollient that helps to soften and recondition the skin. It penetrates easily and can soothe dry, irritated areas. Also, it’s excellent for all skin types.
This is a great carrier oil for roll-on topical essential oil blends. Also useful as a bath or massage oil; Sweet Almond is a great addition to lotion bars, sugar or salt scrubs, and balms.
*Made from almonds (a tree nut). Although our expert states skin reactions to nut oils are rare, those with nut allergies should consult their medical practitioner before coming into contact with Sweet Almond Oil. Massage therapists: note that this oil may stain linens.
Great for these skin types:
- All skin types
- Irritated skin
- Dry skin
Uses:
- Add to lotions, bars, sugar or salt scrubs, and balms.
- Add to massage oil blends.
Use Sweet Almond Oil to make immune-boosting bath bombs, perfect for relaxing and keeping germs at bay!
Tamanu Oil
If you have a nut allergy, you should not use this oil.
Great for these skin types:
- Stretch marked skin
- Irritated skin
- Reddened skin
Uses:
- Help sooth bug-bite irritation by applying Tamanu at 100% to reddened, irritated, or small bites.
- Reduce the appearance of scars when combined with essential oils.
- A small amount can be used on the face after it is cleaned to moisturize, reduce and relieve blemishes, and keep the face fresh, toned, and even.
Use Tamanu to make nourishing homemade bar soap!
Want to learn more ways to use all these amazing carrier oils? Head on over to our Safe Essential Oil Recipes Facebook page to learn more!
This comment is based upon the question by Debra F on March 26,2019 and the fabulous answer by Plant Therapy on using carrier oils by themselves on topical applications. As PT commented, Sesame Seed oil is a great oil to use by itself or as a carrier oil to dilute Essential oils. I have used Sesame Seed oil and unrefined coconut oils for many years not only for cooking but also for application on skin (all over the body) and leave it on for 20-30 minutes before washing it off. I have used these oils on hair and also as a carrier oil. In short, I love Sesame Seed oil and its benefits and aroma are unbelievable. I just wanted to share my experiences with these two oils. Recently, I am using Fractionated Coconut oil and Jojoba oil as carrier oils and they feel great on skin..
how much of a carrier oil and essential oils do i have to use to make something for example scaring
It really just depends on where you apply and what oils you’re using. For the face, no higher than a 1% dilution should be used. For other areas, if it’s a small you can go up to 3-4% unless the oils your using require a lower dilution.
Excellent post and wonderful blog, this sort of interesting posts I really like, keep it up…
Thank you so much for all this information. I have never used essential oils and had no idea what a carrier oil was. I am very interested in learning more.
This was really good information about carrier oils. I have made, and want to make again, face cream. It is so helpful to know which oils will be best for my dry, mature skin.
I found this blog to be extremely helpful. I use sweet almond oil and jojoba oil all the time and I love them!
Awesome chart! It’s nice to have all the descriptions on one page.:)
I have a friend with a 7 year old son, and we are looking to make something to help his skin. He has severe eczema and is allergic to nuts, so no nit oils. His poor little face , scalp, and body are covered in scars and bumps but they are not open. Can you suggest a carrier oil or carrier blend with ratios please? Also would helichrysm I be good to add to it ? Thanks so much for your reply!
Please reach out to our team of aromatherapists at [email protected] and they can help you find the products for this specific case.
Also look into Anthony Williams the Medical Medium. He is Healing so many people and those with skin conditions. He has two instagrams Medical Medium and Celery Juice Benefits. Good Luck!!
This was one of the most informative blogs I’ve seen. I guess it’s time to order a few different carrier oils! Plant Therapy rocks!
I haven’t ventured outside of coconut oil. After reading this I definitely want to try avocado oil and the recipe included in the blog post! Thank you!
Thank you for this post!! I’ve know some of the benefits of different carriers. This post will be getting book marked so that I can reference it! This will help so much with my homemade skin care products I enjoy making!
I love your charts!
I hadn’t considered the potential therapeutic benefits of different carrier oils. Thanks for breaking down the info and making it accessible!
Great article. Thank you!!
Hi, what about the shelf life of your carrier oil blends ? How do I find out about their shelf lives ? Thank u !
If you go to our downloads page, we have a chart for the carrier oils that lists the shelf life of each one!
Excellent information! Thank you!
Thanks for the article. I would be interested to see your analysis of sesame oil.
I have used the fractionated coconut oil and meadowfoam oil. The coconut works better in a rollerball and absorbs really well. The jury is still out for me on the meadowfoam. It is thick and not as easy to us in a roller. I add carrot seed oil for ultra moisture. Not sure if it is well suited to my own skin. For now, I add the coconut and meadowfoam together for easier application and it works well. So many carrier oils left to explore!
This is a treasure trove of information! Thank you so much!
Exactly the information I’ve been needing, thank you Plant Therapy!
I am so thankful for this blog post! I refer back to it very frequently – every time I buy or use a carrier oil! Very informative and useful! Thanks!
Great information. Thank you!
Thank you for this informative blog! As mentioned in the blog, there are more carrier oils than what were discussed, and I’m looking forward to part 2 🙂
Many years ago, I used to buy Bitter Almond essential oil from Aura Cacia brand. The scent made me swoon with delight. It was incredibly wonderful. They don’t carry it anymore. Does Plant Therapy know of this oil, and will you possibly provide it?
One of my favourite entries. There are som many carrier oils to choose from. This blog posts makes it so easy to choose the right one. FCO and almond oil are my go-to’s. Thank you for this.
I’m really excited to use my new tamanu and jojoba oils. Thanks for the great introductions!
I have several carrier oils now and am always happy with trying a new one. We just bought clear complex for my preteen daughter. She’s in love with it. I love this blog post and the great information. I need to print it out and save the chart. Thank you!
Thank you for this blog post. As a newbie, I had only used sweet almond oil. Now I am seeing so many other possibilities for my teenager’s acne.
I love having information all together in an easy to find format. I will add this to my little EO data book. There is so much to learn but it is definitely worth it.
Thank You for the great information.
LOVE!!! this article. I will be re-visiting iT and sharing iT for sure. Great to learn from ALL these oils, especially HAZELNUT. Oh my! I was just asking myself, “What can I use to tone and tighten my skin?” …and then this blog! I personally love everything HAZELNUT, sooo HAZELNUT iT is! Thanks so much. I appreciate You.
Thank you for making this into a list! I’ve been flipping screens to read about the individual oils but this is so helpful! Tamanu states it helps in scare appearance when blended with EOs. Can you give a suggestion to which would be best to blend for children’s scaring? Thanks!
Any carrier oil that is high in vitamin E would be fantastic to help with scarring! Luckily, that is a lot of carriers, including Argan, Sunflower, Hazelnut, Jojoba, and Rosehip. My personal go-to is Jojoba, but really any of these would work just fine. Tamanu does have a pretty distinct nutty smell, so you may want to try adding just a bit of Tamanu to a larger amount of something with less of an odor, like Jojoba or Sunflower, so that the smell isn’t quite so off-putting to your children (I know my own children really struggle with the smell of Tamanu!). I hope this helps!
Thank you for compiling and sharing this information. Been a tremendous help for me to narrow down my choice of carrier oils.
This is a great blog! I only used Sweet Almond yet, for it is so general. It is great for massages, I don’t have to take the oil of the skin when starting with the kneedings. Thanks so much for this information, I really want to use more different carriers.
Hi! Is there any way I can get this blog as a pdf to have this info handy? I would appreciate it very much!
Brandy, we currently do not have our blogs in a PDF format, but you may want to reach out to our Customer Service Team at [email protected] for some help. You are always more than welcome to copy the blog into a word document and storing and/or printing it off that way as well 🙂
So very helpful! I just ordered 8 new carriers in addition to my FCO, Grapeseed, and rosehip carriers. I can’t wait to try some of these hints to get the most out of their therapeutic properties. If I had combination skin on my face, with severe acne what would be a good combo to try? DermiSoothe is for dry skin and the other premise is for oily skin so I wasn’t sure which to try so I just bought the carriers to try to replicate both! Thanks!
Brandy, try a blend of Jojoba and Grapeseed if you have those available; that would be my first recommendation 🙂 But honestly, it will take some experimenting on your part to learn what works best for you. We all have unique skin and what works for one person may not work the same for another. When starting out with a new carrier for your face, try just a tiny bit on your fingertips and gently massage into your skin to see how your skin handles it 🙂
This was so helpful and informative! I’ve only ever use fractionated coconut oil but this post and chart was the perfect information I needed to get started in looking into what other carrier oils may be a good addition to my collection. Thank you!
This is the best information I’ve ever read on carrier oils! I have spent a lot of time reading this & understanding which oil is which. Thank you so much Plant Therapy!!!
This is a great post. I currently only use fractionated coconut oil because of its versatility, but that chart is really useful.
What a great blog post! I’m now going to buy the jojoba that has been waiting for me on my wish list, in addition to some meadowfoam which I’m just discovering in this blog!
Thank you!! This is very helpful as I try to work complex and expensive beauty products out of my routine!
I really appreciate the chart in this post. I look to get the most bang for my buck and get longer lasting carrier oils. However, if a shorter shelf life oil is what I need to address a specific concern, I will get it. I’m going to start storing my filled roller ball bottles in the fridge, too.
Questions: Does storing carrier oils in fridge extend shelf life? if so, by how much?
It can help extend the shelf life of a carrier oil, but I do not know by how much. You may want to reach out to our team of aromatherapists at [email protected] and they may be able to shed more light on this question 🙂
Great info! I’ve always just used fractionated coconut as a carrier oil and didn’t know the value of using other carriers. I’m so excited to try the Clear Complex blend and jojoba!
Great info! Would be helpful to also know how comedogenic each oil is or isn’t.
Near the end of the blog we have a posted a chart that lets you know the comedogenic rating for each oil 🙂
Thank you for this deep dive into carrier oils. I already use about half of these carriers. Looks like it’s time to try some new ones! 🙂
Thank you for this great post! Super helpful information to help me navigate my carrier oils, find some new ones to try, and expand my use of carrier oils.
Thank for you this! As a newbie to EOs I found it super helpful!
Just ordered Argan fir the first time, excited to try it on my skin and hair!
Thanks for this informative article! My question is: Can carrier oils then be used by themselves without an essential oil?
Debra, absolutely!! In fact, if you haven’t tried using a carrier oil by itself, I highly recommend it. They are so great for skin care and leave your skin feeling really soft and nourished 🙂
I don’t see Sesame Seed Carrier???
Unfortunately, we do not currently carry Sesame Seed Carrier, which is why we haven’t included it on the list. However, it is one of the ingredients in our Younger Glo Carrier Oil Blend if you’re interested in enjoying some of its benefits. Sesame Seed penetrates skin easily and deeply and brings wonderful essential fatty acids to the skin 🙂
So much information! I am saving this for reference! Thank you.
Thank you Plant therapy! The information you compile into a blog post is amazing! I’ve learned so much from your blog posts, and at Aromahead!
This is very good information to have…have wondered how to use the various carrier oils I do have and the different benefits.
Thank you.
Question: What kind of alcohol do you need to use with EOs to spray them?
Joni, we suggest everclear or vodka, anything with a high alcohol content 🙂
This is SOOOO helpful. I am so happy to have found such a wonderful company! I truly have been missing out
very detailed information which is useful even though I have been with another company.
Thank you for such an informative post, so much information in one easy to locate place. Very helpful on my oily journey!
This is such a useful guide! Before this, I kinda always thought that carrier oils were pretty much the same. Now I know better! 😀
Honestly this article is great! I’m new to using essential oils and this article helped me to choose the right carrier oils for the essential oils I bought! So excited for this journey!
Very interesting blog about all the carrier oils. I did not know that there was so many different types of the carrier oils. I learn something each time I read one of the blogs. Thank You!
Mhm! I always keep the rate at 1% and I don’t apply the diluted oil on skin that’s going to be exposed by the sun.
Thank you so much for your reply 🙂 have a nice day!
Please consider a post about nails. I bought the Evening primerose and Manuka and been usung those for my dry flaky nails but they smell horrible. Hoping for good results. I have used hemp, argan, jojoba on my face and love them all. I use almond for my body .
great general information on carrier oils. I would love to see more information on shelf life, particularly the oils that are more prone to rancidity.
Kathy, I will link you to our carrier oil chart we have on the downloads section of our webpage to help you with this: https://www.planttherapy.com/pdfs/carrier_oil_chart.pdf. It is a fantastic idea to get this on the blog, so I will make sure to do that! 🙂
Wonderful information is there one that you would recommend that works best for eczema prone skin?
Jennifer, Almond and Avocado carrier oils are both very popular choices for this concern 🙂
Thanks for such a comprehensive blog post. I often have difficulty choosing a carrier oil for my EO inspired serums/lotions because I’m unfamiliar with the benefits of each. I had commented on a live that I would like to see something like this and it is awesome that PT obliged!
Thanks for this great information, all in one spot! It’s so neat how the carrier oils can enhance the benefits of the essential oils. Bookmarking this (and probably printing it for easy reference!)
I wish I had seen this blog before I spent hours scouring the internet. I finally settled on trying coconut and jojoba. I have combination oily skin. I am of course more concerned about my face breaking out than the rest of my body which is why I picked up some jojoba to try. Interesting that it is used to extend shelf life of carrier oils. Does it also extend shelf life of essential oils it is blended with?
Erin, Jojoba is high in antioxidants and can slow down the rate of oxidation. When using with essential oils, we recommend you stick with the essential oil’s shelf life 🙂
So much information, thank you! As a new beginner, I am a little lost with so many choices. I am wondering if there is a good carrier oil is is a good overall generalist for most uses….
Many people like to start with Fractionated Coconut Oil. It is very versatile, odorless, and absorbs into the skin quickly 🙂
Great article. Choosing the right carrier oil is just as important as choosing the right oil. Appreciate you breaking this down.
Great article, very thorough! I love trying different carrier oil combinations in facial serums and this information will be quite helpful. Thank you!
Thank you so much for this article. I never realized that the use for carrier oils was to get the full benefit of the essential oil. I always thought that it was to dilute the oil and a lot of the time I did not use a carrier oil because I thought I did not need to dilute it because I didn’t have a reaction to it, now I know that by using a carrier oil I will get even more effect. Thank you so much plant therapy once again for always having great information!
Whoa so many benefits to carrier oils!! I have always just used lotions but definitely need to try some of these! Definitely the sweet almond and the jojaba!
I personally love meadfoam and grapeseed. These two are so light oils no greasy feeling afterwords. And Meadfoam is fave because of the shelf life as well. One day I will buy a biggest bottle of it.
Very informative, thank you! Did not know about jojoba being a wax similar to skin sebum. Jojoba and Tamanu are on my list now.
What a great article. I never would have thought about the oils evaporating! I also know why I see argon oil is all over products now and what oils are good for my skin!
Great info here! I have tried Hemp Seed and Jojoba so far, and I like them both for different reasons. Can’t wait to try some others!
Thanks for the great info! Now I can put all of the carriers have to good use. Bookmarked for reference.
Is there a specific carrier oil best for hyperpigmentation facial serum?
Roby, try Tamanu Oil blended with Evening Primrose Oil. These are great for helping to even out skin tone and support a variety of skin concerns.
This is so helpful as I continue to work out my oil cleansing and skincare routine. Thanks for all the great info you provide!
I had no idea that the carrier oils had so many differences and such great qualities of their own. Wow! Seriously grateful for this post. I make many products with my essential oils and this list will be my go-to from now on! Thank you!
I’m just starting to use carrier oils and this was very helpful information.
Loved reading the break down of all the carrier oils. I didn’t realize there were so many and how each one was different and had their own benfits! Great read!! Thank you!
This is such a great detailed description of CO ‘s thank you for this !
I’ve heard that hemp seed oil needs to be refrigerated because it tends to go rancid. Is this true? If so, how long can it stay unrefrigerated before it starts to go bad?
Dan, ideally, refrigerating Hemp Seed is the best way to keep it fresh and maximize its shelf life to about a full year. However, if you plan on using your oil within 6 months, a cool location out of direct sunlight is just fine 🙂 Hemp Seed is a personal favorite of mine; I do not store it in the fridge, but I use it frequently enough that I know it’ll be gone in a few months, especially if I buy a smaller size, such as a 4 oz bottle. If you were to get 16 oz. or a gallon, I would recommend that stay in the fridge as it will take you a lot longer to go through. I hope this helps! Feel free to reach out to our team of aromatherapists at [email protected] if you need more information 🙂
This is great! I was just going thru some of my oils yesterday trying to decide which one would be good as a massage blend to use Damiana I want with sweet almond oil, but will make a blend next time
So many choices! Thanks for the detailed breakdown of each one!
Every post on carrier oils that I read leaves me with a list of oils I need to be using. Then I read on FB all of the issues people have finding the right one, or combination for their skin. I’m finding it very difficult to get past the research and into actually using. These posts are informative and helpful, but sure wish I could sample a few oils before buying a couple of ounces only to find that one doesn’t work for me. I have Jojoba from a past attempt to use oils but it doesn’t work on my face. I also know that I can’t use coconut oil on my acne prone skin (I found that out when I tried daily oil pulling for a couple of weeks a few years ago).
Unfortunately, your situation happens to a lot of us. I know I had to try quite a few different carrier oils before I finally found one that didn’t give me breakouts (oddly enough, it’s Jojoba! Isn’t it crazy how different everyone’s skin is?). I know many people who have found success with Grapeseed Oil, so that might be one you want to try. Really, just buy the smallest size of carriers possible, and of course, if you notice that it is clearly not working for you, just take advantage of our awesome return policy! For those of us plagued with temperamental skin, finding what works just right does take some experimentation 🙂
An excellent overview! Thank you for the information!
I have been confused as to what carrier oil to get. This article is wonderful because it lays it all out for you. Thank you so much for the education. I think I will need to get at least 2 or 3 different carrier oils to use in different ways. I can’t wait to get them.
Wow! This post is awesome! All the info I need about carrier oils in one place! I have a couple carrier oils and love them, but I am for sure going to use this post to invest in a few more. Thanks Plant Therapy for this wealth of knowledge!
I kinda feel like I have information overload, and can’t make up my mind which to use. I’m looking to improve skin elasticity and glow
Great info! Thanks for spelling things out so clearly. I especially like the notes on which ones to be careful of if you have nut allergies. I’d never have thought of that.
Thank you!!! Such a GREAT reference for my future blending!
Thanks for this – very helpful!
good info. Just want I need to help with my diy.
This is the article that I really need. I plan to copy and save it to refer to frequently. Thank you for the wonderful information you provide to all of us.
What a great article on carrier oils. I love learning about the properties of each oil and how they can help us. Meadowfoam oil is now on my wishlist!
Thank you
This articleis very helpful. Thank you for the blog.
Thanks for this article, just bought some different carrier oils. Saving this article for future use, it’s has very useful information.
Definitely going to save this article for future reference. I’ve always used Fractionated Coconut oil as a carrier oil, and it’s been fine. But it’s nice to see the benefits of some other options as well. Thanks for the info PT!
This is a great post. All the needed information in one stop. I’m bookingmarking this post for future reference. Thank you for always putting out such great content.
Thanks! This is great information to have.
Thank you for providing this information on the different carrier oils. As a “newbie”, the explanation of each type is super helpful, and the suggested recipes give a real feel for how to use them . Will be bookmarking and/or printing this page, for sure!
Could we get a chart that lists shelf life? Lots of good information, but that is one critical piece missing.
Clarie, we got the chart loaded up in the blog now 🙂 Great suggestion!
My favorite is coconut oil! But now I have some ideas on why to try a different one!
I have been looking for a nice all-around article on these for quite awhile. ThankYou. Your oil chart though says Coconut oil is prone to clog pores, and the article says it doesn’t.
My go to carrier is jojoba but for some things I use coconut since the jojoba is so costly. I add a little rosehip to jojoba for face serums, or sometimes pomegranate seed oil. I still want to try meadowfoam (what a great word!)
I this blog post!!! I really love Apricot and Almond oils!! I am now interested in Camellia oil!!!! Thanks for some great information!!!
This was a very educating post. I have a number of these oils already, but still learned a couple new uses for them. I also learned of a few new ones i want to try, like tamanu!
Why are most of your carriers refined?
Sharon, you may have to reach out to our Customer Service Team at [email protected] to see if they can shine some light on specific purchasing choices we make 🙂
This is great information to save! In order to make some really effective facial serums I may try not only using several EO’s but mixing up some of these different carrier oils too!
This is so helpful! Thank you so much! I am going to have to bookmark this when making my blends. Thank you!!
I wish I read this before I placed my order. I could have ordered Hazelnut oil. I didn’t know that it is great for toning the skin.
I do have a question, I have been using evening primrose oil with lemon oil, only to improve the smell. Is that okay? Do I have to mix it with other carrier oils? Is it safe to use it without diluting it with other carrier oil? It says that it is not generally use 100%. Now, I am concerned that I have been using it incorrectly. I hope you can answer me. Thank you 🙂
Belle, my biggest concern here is how much lemon EO are you using in the evening primrose oil? Lemon is a phototoxic oil and should be used at a 2% dilution or less for safety. Do you know how much lemon you are using with how much evening primrose oil? I’d be happy to figure out the dilution for you! However, as for adding essential oils to help with the smell, that is totally okay, as long as it’s a low dilution. Around 2% – 3% is a good rule of thumb, but depends on the essential oil you are using. You absolutely do not have to mix evening primrose with other carriers, but people often do this for the same reason you’re adding lemon — that smell! When you mix a bit with another carrier oil, you’ll get all the benefits of evening primrose, but it will come across as a bit more tolerable. I hope this helps!
this is by far my favorite and most helpful blog post. I’ve always been so confused about carrier oils and just tend to use olive or coconut oil for everything. I will def expand my variety after reading this as the carrier oils themselves offer so many therapeutic benefits. Thanks PT!
This is great info! Currently printing it out for my oily binder. Time to order some new carriers soon! I tried hemp seed oil instead of fco as a facial moisturizer and prefer it! Now to find something better for hair & scalp.
I had NO idea. Like NONE. That there were different benefits. I don’t know why I always thought the carrier oil was just a plain oil. I’ve always just used grapeseed and never questioned it. While it works for me, it may be fun to explore something new and different.
I’m in a similar boat. I’ve used primarily grapeseed oil because of its affordability. I did get some jojoba to try on my mature face. My grapeseed is almost up, so I’m about to try some sweet almond oil as my new carrier.
Love having these resources to make it easier to know which carrier is good for different uses. Thank you!
Wow, didn’t know there were so many carrier oils. Thanks for all this info, so much to learn.
Thank you for another seriously helpful post!
Havent known much about carrier oils before thank you so much for all this new info
This is very helpful.
Thank you for this info
This is so helpful!
Oh, so much to learn! Thank you!
Great article. Just wish it also listed shelf life.
I am saving this post, and I am sure I will reference it frequently! Thanks for the detailed information!
Definitely bookmarking this. So helpful!
What a great and informative post! I’ll be coming back to this a lot!
I am going to try the mandarin oil with hemp seed oil DIY bodywash. I love Plant Therapy carrier oils! They are such high quality, I know I’m getting the best possible product. Thanks PT!
I’m so thankful for PTs wide array of helpful information! Lots of valuable information here to help me decide which carrier oils I need! Time to place another order!
Wow! What a great and informative article.
I have sunflower carrier I’ve been holding for something special…this month’s ootm?
But I mostly use foc. I think I need to branch out and get some for my skin! Maybe grape seed is my next purchase.
I never realized that carrier oils had such a huge benefit for one’s skin. I love using the PT combos such as Younger Glo, Clear Complex and Near Perfection. Plain carrier oils are now my makeup remover of choice. Thank you PT for providing such awesome information and products.
Thanks for the useful information! I usually use sweet almond oil with a few of the others that are listed for my face serums but I never thought of using it in my roller ball mixes – I’m excited to give it a try!
Thank you for the loads of information! Loving these blog posts
So thankful for this post, great info! Going to print and save this!
Wow! I have to try hazelnut!
This is such a great blog! I saved the link to my home screen!
This is such a great article. I’ve never been terribly concerned about the carriers used until now. It gives me a whole new shopping/wish list!
There’s so much to learn about all the different carrier oils. Thanks for this info and the links to different uses.
Thank you so much for explaining all this! I’ve been trying to figure out which carriers are best for what and had no idea where to start. I’m trying to resolve various skin problems and this helps make the process less complicated. Now I feel I can make some progress.
I had no idea they all were different. WOW.
Very informative..thanks so much…
useful Information! I am using Grapeseed Oil. Great!
Using Grapeseed Oil, great! Thanks
Thank you so much for explaining the differences of carrier oils. I will be referring to this blog the next time I purchase an oil.
Very helpful information. Also appreciate the recipes for uses with these carrier oils. Thanks for caring about getting the info out there.
This is a great blog article. I’m glad to have all this information in one place and I have saved the site. Just a suggestion, but it would be nice if the shelf life of each was included in the description. I’ve learned that can help make my decision on what I need to buy especially if I am debating on a few worth he same benefits. Thank you!
This info is great, since there are some carrier oils which I know so little about. The explanations about whether to use a carrier oil 100% or in combination is what I have been looking for! It might be time for me to experiment with other carrier oils.
Awesome post. I have sweet almond, jojoba, and fractionated coconut oil. Now I know which oil to use for different DIY projects. I’m looking forward to using jojoba for a facial moisturizer. I’ve also been reading about infusing a vanilla bean in jojoba, really excited to try that. This is a great post to refer back to as my carrier oil supply expands.
READ READ READ! This was an amazing article. So informative!
This article is filled with so much useful information! Thank you, I know I will be referring back to this often.
This is really useful!! I am going to try to print it And keep it with my essential oils as a go to guide!!
Thanks for a great post!
Looks like I have a few carrier oils I may have to try! I’m loving sunflower in the body butter I make for my son. We haven’t had to use his steroid cream for his eczema at all this winter since I started making it!
Thank you! I appreciate all of the skin type information. I used to be a massage therapist. I remember when it was all about olive oil, and when apricor kernel oil became trendy. I greatly appreciate the great information here.
Very informative…thank you!
This is great to learn about some of the carriers I’ve not gotten yet.
I have always heard that the shelf life of a blend was determined by the oil with the shortest shelf life, but here you say that jojoba can extend the shelf life of blends. How does that work, and how long would it extend it?
Ashlee, there are a lot of specifics that go into that question, including how you store your products and the overall recipe in general. Reach out to our aromatherapists at aromatherapists at [email protected] to get more information 🙂
So helpful! Gotta go add some carrier oils to my wishlist…
Great information – I’ve been trying to figure out what carriers would be best to use and this is full of a lot of helpful information to help me decide. Thank you for putting this together!
Thank you for all of the great information. Very helpful to have it all in one place.
Great info on benefits of different carrier oils. Ver helpful. Thanks!
Thank you for this article. I wasn’t aware how to pick a carrier oil. 🙂 Some of these oils, I have never heard of. I plan to review this article again when i need to buy more carrier oils.
Wow this is so useful! I have always wondered about the different types of oils
I’ve always used fractionated coconut oil because it’s so versatile. After reading this post, I’d really like to try primrose oil for my own beauty products. Thanks PT for the great information!
Very useful information on carrier oils
This is a great article on carrier oils. I have been debating which ones I should buy. I have 3 in my cart right now. This had helped me see I have made the right choice.
Thank you for the information. I had no idea there was a difference between oils.
What a wealth of useful information! I have bookmarked this for future reference. Thank you again PT for such wonderful content.
Thank you for sharing this wealth of information about carriers. I’ve always wondered the differences and having this resource availble is so helpful when planning recipes and figuring out the best one (or more) to choose. Thanks for continually helping us along this journey!! 🙂
This is blog post was shared on my fb page! I ahve always been at a loss to what carrier oils i should use for what & this has everything i needed
this is such a great post! will refer to it often.
This is just what I have been looking for! I have printed all of these pages and will laminate to keep them safe during my diys!!
Great post!
Thank you for the post. I was looking for more info on carrier oils as I always have problem choosing. Is has sooo much reat info.
Good info!
This information is so great it answers every question about carrier oils I think I have ever wondered.Time to print this off and save it
I have used coconut oil, olive oil, and evening primrose oil before as carriers. I haven’t tried the rest yet though. Those carrier oils are super important when using a “hot” oil such as ginger or oregano that’s for sure!
Thank you for your very detailed and informative blog on different carrier oils. I now know which carrier is best for each application and for my skin age and type. I am so glad I found plant therapy!