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6 Best Carrier Oils for Essential Oils

August 28, 2015 Updated on April 14, 2022 By Beth K 17 Comments This post contains affiliate links.

1.5K shares

If you just started learning about essential oils you probably have a lot of questions. I know I did. After learning the basics of essential oil usage, how to store essential oils, and how to use them safely, I really wanted to know about carrier oils and why I needed them! After trying various products, here are the 6 Best Carrier Oils for Essential Oils.


6 Best Carrier Oils

What are Carrier Oils?

Carrier oils are vegetable oils that are usually pressed from the seeds or kernels. They’re the fatty portion of a plant. In this way, they’re very different than essential oils which aren’t really oils at all, but volatile liquid compounds. Carrier oils are probably exactly what you think of when you think of vegetable oils like coconut oil and grapeseed oil.

When Should I Use Carrier Oils?

You’ll use carrier oils to make the application of essential oils more comfortable, more effective, or both. Here’s what I mean.

Some oils are too strong to be applied directly to your skin. So you need a carrier oil to dilute the essential oil to a ratio that is better for your skin. These essential oils are also referred to as “hot” oils when they require dilution. It is recommended to use a patch test procedure prior to the first use of a new carrier oil on your skin.

To perform a patch test:

  • Apply 1-2 drops of the essential oil to a patch of skin such as the forearm.
  • Observe that area of skin over the course of 1-2 hours for any noticeable reaction; usually, reactions occur within 5-10 minutes.
  • If you experience a hot or burning sensation or if you develop a rash, add a carrier oil to the affected area as often as needed.

Examples of “hot” oils include cinnamon bark, clove, lemongrass, peppermint, oregano, thyme, and Thieves blend.

hot oils

Can Carrier Oils Help My Essential Oils to Work Better?

Carrier oils can be used when topically applying any essential oil. Using a carrier oil can help keep the essential oil on your skin longer. I’ve noticed that when I apply an essential oil directly on my skin with no carrier oil that it evaporates rather quickly and the aroma leaves sooner than I’d like. However, when I dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil the aroma lasts longer as more of the oil is absorbed into my skin and is protected by the carrier oil from evaporating too quickly.

Which Carrier Oils are Best?

Everyone has their favorite carrier oils. Make sure to pick one that fits your individual needs and is cold-pressed (using NO chemical solvents to extract the oils).

6 Best Carrier Oils for Essential Oils

Best Carrier Oils1. Almond Oil

Almond oil is great for dry skin. It brings with it loads of vitamins including Vitamin E which rocks for moisturizing and nourishing skin for a healthy glow. Almond oil is amazing for dry or itchy skin since it packs amazing soothing qualities. As an added bonus, almond oil is a deep conditioner for dry hair. A few of our recipes that include almond oil are:

  • Moisturizing Hand Cleanser Spray
  • Moisturizing Hand Scrub
  • Natural Aftershave
  • Shave Gel for Men

Essential Oil Peppermint Foot Scrub Recipe

2. Avocado Oil

Another deep moisturizer is avocado oil. It’s packed full of vitamins A, D, and E which deliver huge antioxidant benefits for your skin. Avocado oil is amazing for very dry and cracked feet, chapped skin, and dry or damaged hair. Recipe ideas include:

  • Moisture Rich Lotion Bar
  • Moisturizing After Shower Body Oil
  • Peppermint Foot Scrub
  • Vanilla Lip Balm

Peppermint Brownie Bites SQ

3. Coconut Oil ~ Virgin & Fractionated

We use two types of coconut oil for our carrier oils – virgin coconut oil and fractionated coconut oil. The virgin coconut oil is solid at room temperature. We use it in our kitchen for cooking but also in recipes for rubs and foot scrubs. Fractionated coconut oil is liquid and super for full-body massages. Fractionated coconut oil has no odor and so it’s a favorite for diluting oils for rollerball perfume recipes. I also use it if I use essential oils internally in a vegetable capsule. Coconut oil can be found in these recipes:

  • Body Butter
  • Moisturizing Massage Oil Blend
  • Muscle Rub Cream
  • Peppermint Brownie Bites

4. Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oil goes on silky and smooth. It absorbs quickly into the skin. Because it has a slight wine smell, I like it for diluting very strong-smelling oils like Thieves and basil. Make sure to find a variety that is cold-pressed. Most grapeseed oils I’ve seen in my health food store were actually processed with solvents. Always read labels!

  • Excellent in rollerball blends as it goes on smooth and absorbs quickly!

Bergamot and Jasmine Body Wash

5. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is one of my all-time favorites. It’s great for use on oily skin. It’s easily absorbed into your hair and skin and doesn’t leave a greasy feeling. I really love this oil in summer because it’s lighter in feel than some of the other carrier oils available. Use jojoba oil in these recipes:

  • 4 Body Wash Recipes
  • Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin
  • Overnight Deep Conditioning & Spray-On Conditioner

6. Young Living’s V-6 Oil

V-6 Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex is a product of Young Living. It carries a long shelf-life and nourishes your skin without clogging pores. V-6 is a great carrier oil for nighttime massage since it won’t stain your clothes or sheets. V-6 is a combination of fractionated coconut oil, sesame seed oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, sunflower seed oil, and olive oil. Log into your YL dashboard to order or sign up for Young Living to get a 24% wholesale discount on all their amazing products.

Are There Any Carrier Oils Not Recommended?

Many people think of trying olive oil as a carrier oil since they probably already have it in their pantry. You can definitely use olive oil, but it’s not a preferred carrier oil because it’s just so thick and can carry a strong smell. Butter, margarine, shortening, and petroleum products (like mineral oil, baby oil, and petroleum jelly) are NOT suitable as carrier oils.

Let us know if you have a favorite carrier oil that didn’t make the list. We’d love the chance to try it out and know what you enjoy about it!

New to essential oils? Learn more about how we use them and why you should use them as well. 

More essential oil tips & tricks:

  • 5 Ways to Replace Chemicals in Your Cleaners
  • 10 Must-Have Essential Oils
  • 7 Ways to Reuse Essential Oils Bottles
  • Best Essential Oil Diffusers under $20
  • How to Attach and Remove Roller Fitments
  • How to Replace Extracts with Essential Oils


1.5K shares

Filed Under: Basics

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Catherine says

    March 5, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    Thank you for sharing good information about carrier oils. What about sunflower oil?

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      March 8, 2016 at 10:16 pm

      Hey Catherine,
      Thanks for stopping in! You are welcome to use whichever vegetable based oil you like for carrier oils. If you like sunflower oil then that’s great. These are just a few of our personal favorites. I’ve heard great things about sunflower oil being nourishing for the skin and easily absorbed. Let us know how you like it!

      Reply
      • Donna Pulido says

        September 14, 2017 at 12:53 pm

        Have you learned any more about sunflower oil? Would you recommend it as a carrier oil? How to best use it?

        Reply
  2. Lynn Groseclose says

    March 16, 2016 at 7:23 pm

    I want to start making some blends in 10 ml bottles to keep in my purse. What’s considered to be a good ratio of essential oils to the almond oil for a bottle this size? I know these oils can pack a punch and a little goes a long way.

    Thank you in advance for your help.
    Lynn Groseclose

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      March 17, 2016 at 12:16 am

      Two drops of essential oil combined with 10ml almond oil would be a 1% dilution ratio. That’s a great place to start for young people and other sensitive populations. You can always add more drops if you find that you want it stronger.

      Reply
  3. Kelley says

    April 4, 2016 at 11:07 pm

    I have a question about carrier oil. In the past, I have discovered and used Emu oil for many things. It is an amazing oil and after researching about it, I discovered that it absorbs into all 7 layers of the skin. It also has healing properties which I have personally experienced such as arthritis pain, toe nail fungus, wrinkles , and my brother in law applied it to a mole on his face and it actually shrunk to nothing, not even a scar. I wondered if the essential oils could be blended with the Emu oil for a more thorough penetration into the body?

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      April 8, 2016 at 3:56 pm

      Wow! That sounds amazing! I’ve not tried it, but let us know if you do. I’m always up for new products to test.

      Reply
  4. Kristin says

    September 7, 2016 at 2:40 pm

    My daughter is allergic to coconut and almonds. So coconut oil and almond oil are not a choice for us. So many recipes call for these. What carrier oil is a good substitution for these when making lip balms or the owie blend?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      September 8, 2016 at 10:49 am

      Is she also allergic to seed oils like jojoba seed and apricot kernel? Those are great liquid carrier oils if they work for her.

      Reply
  5. Mary Polese says

    April 22, 2017 at 12:39 pm

    What about using Argan oil as a carrier? Have you tried it? Im 63 and looking for something to help with lines and wrinkles.

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      May 1, 2017 at 1:41 pm

      That sounds amazing! Let us know if you try it and it works for you.

      Reply
  6. Sheryl Walgenbach says

    May 2, 2017 at 10:59 pm

    I love Essential Oils! I also have used Emu Oil over 15 years for heathy skin & for healing. After trying several, my favorite and BEST is Get Reults brand. I order it from a lady in Lincoln, NE. My whole family, as well as others, use it.

    Reply
  7. Alice says

    May 12, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    Thank you so much for all the info on the carrier oils, especially the Vsix from YL! So, so helpful!

    Reply
  8. Jean says

    October 18, 2017 at 6:54 am

    Hi, I saw where a research hospital was testing broccoli seed oil and jojoba seed oil for treating skin conditions. The porportions given were 5nmol broccoli seed oil to 1ml jojoba oil. Approximately how much is that in regular terms?

    Reply
    • Beth K says

      October 18, 2017 at 10:04 am

      I’m not familiar with those conversions but I’d love to hear if you find the answer.

      Reply
  9. Rw says

    July 18, 2018 at 9:31 pm

    When used “neat” the essences are being absorbed into the skin, not evaporating. It is always better to apply essential oils directly to the skin where appropriate. This flies in the face of most recommendations, but using them directly on the skin is the original therapeutic way to use essential oils. Once upon a time pharmaceutical companies derived most their medicines from plants (essential oil’s). When modern distillation techniques made these essential oils more accessible to the average consumer, there was a big push by the nascent pharmaceutical industry to “warn” people of the “dangers” of direct application. By keeping the essential oil in a so called carrier oil, it decreases the essences efficacy. Very often the plant essence (essential “oil”) will become diluted beyond therapeutic value. Use common sense with hot oils like oregano and cinnamon. Layer those with cooler essences, or apply to the feet. You won’t hurt the essential oil by diluting it, but you also won’t derive maximum benefit.

    Reply
    • Recipes With Essential Oils says

      July 20, 2018 at 9:02 pm

      This is great information! Thank you for sharing your knowledge on diluting essential oils. I myself have forgotten to dilute Oregano and it is not fun at all 🙁

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Diana. I'm a naturally minded mother of two and essential oil educator. Oils don't have to be complicated! Let me show you how to use essential oils in real life, in your home, every day. I share tried-and-tested recipes to help you live a more natural life.

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