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What Carriers to Use

Choosing a carrier oil (or lotion or butter) to use with essential oils is more than personal preference. The kind of carrier you use can not only affect the absorption rate, but can also enhance therapeutic properties of the essential oil(s) you are using.

Lotions

Due to their high water content, lotion is a good choice for situations where you want fast absorption. The water in lotion quickly evaporates, and makes it ideal for injuries such as sore muscles and joints.

Choose a high quality, organic lotion, such as one made from a mixture of water and organic ingredients such as oils and even butters or beeswax. Arnica lotion makes a wonderful base for anti-inflammatory muscle blends. I personally use: arnica lotion from Tropical Traditions.

Avoid lotions made with petroleum-based oils or synthetic fragrances.

Oils

Oil is a great choice for massages, as it is not as quick to absorb into the skin as a lotion, and provides a good medium for a good, long, rub. Thicker than lotion, oil is heavier and allows the essential oils to linger longer on the skin.

Here are some of the more popular oils and the therapeutic properties they provide:

Jojoba oil (technically a wax) is a great carrier oil choice due to it’s light aroma close resemblance to our skin’s own natural oil. Not only is jojoba oil moisturizing, its anti-inflammatory properties make it a perfect base for a muscle rub. Most carrier oils have a 6-12 month shelf life, but jojoba oil’s antioxidant properties prevent this oil from going rancid.

Avocado oil is another favorite carrier oil, and has a mild aroma. This oil is a wonderful choice for dry, wrinkled skin due to its ability to improve the skin’s elasticity and increase hydration. Avocado oil is also ideal for use in an anti-scar blend as it promotes cell regeneration. Avocado oil provides relief from arthritis pain and surface inflammation.

Baobab oil contains all the wonderful properties of jojoba and avocado oils with the added bonus of being full of essential fatty acids that are beneficial for cell health. Excellent choice for eczema, psoriasis – and even scars – due to its ability to quickly regenerate cells.

Coconut oil can be quite firm, depending on ambient room temperature (although fractionated coconut oil is liquid at room temp). I personally enjoy using coconut oil for massages in low light, as it is easy to scoop out of a small mason jar and less likely to spill. Excellent choice for sensitive skin and won’t clog pores. I love and use Tropical Traditions coconut oil.

Tamanu oil is a wonderful choice for burns and severe cuts due to its natural germicidal and analgesic properties. It helps new tissue form, keeping it free from infection and inflammation. Another good choice for scars.

Trauma oil is my favorite carrier oil for the bumps and bruises my children get. A wonderful combination of Arnica, Calendula, and St. John’s Wort, trauma oil provides pain relief, is anti-inflammatory, and heals damaged tissue.

A new oil I am really liking is the arnica massage oil from Tropical Traditions. It makes a wonderful base for a muscle blend, and works well on its own.

Butters

The best option for when you want essential oils to slowly absorb over a longer period of time.

Some examples of butters are shea butter, cocoa butter, and kombo butter.

Shea butter makes a wonderful base for lip balms and even deodorant. An excellent moisturizer, shea butter is perfect for dry heels, stretch marks, and a wide range of skin issues.

Cocoa butter not only has a pleasant aroma, but has antioxidant properties. As a fat, cocoa butter repels water, creating a breathable “seal” which softens the skin. Cocoa butter also contains a decent amount of vitamin E, and acts as a lubricant. Especially helpful for treating fine-line wrinkles around the mouth and eyes.

Kombo butter is dark and sticky and similar to coconut oil in consistency. Its anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-fungal, anti-septic, and antioxidant properties make this butter perfect for achy joints and muscles.

Safety Considerations for Carriers

Shelf life must be taken into account when pre-mixing blends. Carriers generally only last 6-12 months, while essential oils can last for up to 8 years. Making a large batch that you can’t get through before the carrier oil goes rancid is not recommended; mixing smaller batches is advised.

Avoid using canola, soy, and most vegetable oils, as they contain omega-6 oils which are not healthy oils.

Toss out any oil that has become cloudy, has a foul odor, or goes rancid.

Avoid refined, processed, non-organic oils. Purchase raw and organic whenever possible.

Note: Water is not recommended as a carrier, as it does not effectively mix with essential oils.

Excerpt taken from the e-report, Using Essential Oils Safely. FREE when you sign up for our newsletter here.