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Carrier Oils |
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Our pure carrier oils, or 'base' oils, are of the highest quality available. With quality control processes in place, you are assured the most natural, healthy carrier oils available. All our oils are cold-processed and unrefined (except Sunflower, which has been partially refined with organic methods), retaining the oils fatty acid profile in it's original state.
Diluting your essential oils in a carrier or base oil (the terms are synonymous) is critical when applying to the skin. Only a couple of oils are ok to apply 'neat' or undiluted, such as Lavender Oil and both German and Roman Chamomile Oils. Most other essential oils should be diluted to only 1-5% in a carrier oil.
Carrier oils are nut and seed oils, NOT vegetable oils - Vegetable oils (corn, safflower, canola, soybean, etc.) are highly processed oils that are not recommended for aromatherapy and massage use. (In fact, they are not even recommended for eating, but that's another story!) Vegetable oils do not contain the natural fatty acids present in unrefined seed and nut oils, and are not as well tolerated by the skin. The carrier oils should be kept in cool, dark places, as heat and sunlight can break them down because they are not refined.
The carrier oils vary in their consistency and preferred application. They are all good for use in massage, but some, like Jojoba oil, can be too thick if used 100%. Blending it with a thinner oil to the desired consistency is best. See the individual notes for each oil for recommendations.
Carrier Oil Terminology Defined:
Cold Pressed: Cold pressing utilizes mechanical methods to express the seed or nut oil from the raw material. This is the most difficult method, with the lowest yeilds, but the oils are left in their most natural state. The entire process is kept at low temperatures - below 90 degrees F - through constant movement of the raw material during the process. Carrier oils produced using this method are of high-quality, and are suitable for skin care, massage, and low temperature cooking.
Expeller Pressed: Similar to cold pressing, this mechanical method allows a slighly higher temperature to be reached during the process - between 120 and 200 degrees F. The heat is generated through friction in the pressing, not applied from an external source. This is suitable for most seed and nut oils (though not the most sensitive) as their fatty acids remain near their original profile. Carrier oils produced using this method are of high-quality, and are suitable for skin care, massage, and low temperature cooking.
Refined: Refining of an oil is performed to preserve the oil, remove unwanted colors or odors, or to make acceptable for high-heat cooking. The oils are processed via high heat, freezing, deodorization or other processes. These are generally not the healthiest of oils, as the fatty acids are not retained in their original state. Partially refined oils can be acceptable if organic methods are used, and important components of the oil are not modified or removed. Our Sunflower oil is processed in this manner.
Solvent Extracted: Seed and nut oils that have been extracted from the raw material using a solvent such as hexane. The oil is dissolved into the solvent, and the mix is removed from the raw bulk. The solvent is then evaporated, leaving the oil behind. This is generally not considered an acceptable method of processing carrier oils for aromatherapy, skin care, or massage use. The solvents have a high environmental impact, traces may be left in the oil, and the health benefits of the final product are questionable. None of our carrier oils are processed this way.
Diluting your essential oils in a carrier oil - Most essential oils should be diluted to between 1 and 5% before topical application. This table shows approximate dilutions - adjust to your own sensitivity.
| General dilutions for
essential oil in carrier
are as follows: | Essential Oil | | Carrier Oil | | 1 drop | to | 1/4 tsp | | 2-5 drops | to | 1 tsp | | 4-10 drops | to | 2 tsp | | 6-15 drops | to | 1 tbs | | 8-20 drops | to | 4 tsp | | 10-25 drops | to | 5 tsp | | 12-30 drops | to | 2 tbs |
For other dilutions, note that 1 ounce equals 30 milliliters, and there are about 25 drops in 1 milliliter. So 1 milliliter, or 25 drops, of essential oil in 1 ounce of carrier provides an approximate 5% dilution - useful for most but the spiciest essential oils (like Cinnamon or Clove). |
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