The Best Carrier Oils for Essential Oils

Jojoba oil is one of the most popular carrier oils because it is full of beneficial nutrients, including vitamins A, D and E, making it great for your skin.

In fact, jojoba oil is known to be the carrier oil that is closest to mimicking the natural oil secretions in human skin. This makes it an excellent moisturizer for use on the face and neck that can otherwise feel greasy with other carrier oils.

The oil is extracted from the seeds of the jojoba tree and has a slightly nutty aroma. Jojoba oil is a natural fungicide and works well when combined with essential oils that also have fungicidal properties and are used for local fungal infections.

With its ability to resist oxidation, jojoba oil has an exceptionally long shelf life of up to five years. This long shelf life combined with its high absorption rate makes it one of the best carrier oils for use in aromatherapy!

💡 Top tip: Struggling to sleep? Try combining jojoba oil with lavender and chamomile essential oils, then add the solution to a hot bath before bed.

Fractionated coconut oil - Best for dry skin

Fractionated coconut oil is the most popular carrier oil for essential oils, and for good reason.

Coconut oil, extracted from the fruit of the coconut tree, is a super-oil full of natural antioxidants and is in itself an excellent antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory oil. This carrier oil nourishes the hair, nails and skin, leaving your skin feeling smooth and soft.

This is a heavy carrier oil, meaning that it is best used on dry skin. It has natural moisturizing properties, so it's suitable for use on skin conditions such as eczema.

Be sure to use fractionated coconut oil, which is liquid at room temperature. This is because regular coconut oil is solid at room temperature and can block drains, causing problems in your household. Fractionated coconut oil is ideal for use in aromatherapy massage, as well as for mixing with essential oils to add to your bath. It has a shelf life of up to two years, meaning that you won't need to replace it soon after opening. This makes fractionated coconut oil an economical option for aromatherapy massage.

💡 Top tip: If you suffer from dry skin, try combining fractionated coconut oil with lavender essential oil and frankincense essential oil and massaging the mixture into the affected areas.

Blueberry seed oil - Best for hair and nails

Blueberry seed oil is extracted from the seeds of blueberries, making it a natural source of vitamins A and E. These vitamins are essential for healthy skin, hair and nails.

This carrier oil is also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to be beneficial for the skin. The oil has a light, nutty aroma and is easily absorbed by the skin.

Blueberry seed oil is ideal for use in hair and nail products, as it helps to strengthen hair and nails while also preventing breakage. It is also suitable for use on sensitive skin, as it is non-irritating.

💡 Top tip: To help your hair retain moisture, try adding blueberry seed oil and bergamot essential oil to your conditioner. You can also add a few drops to your bath for a luxurious, moisturizing experience.

Olive oil - Best for dry scalps

Olive oil is extracted from the fruit of the olive tree and has many health benefits. With 75% oleic acid, it is a popular cooking oil. It is good for the heart and cardiovascular system, and can actually lower bad (LDL) cholesterol and increase the good (HDL) cholesterol. It is also anti-inflammatory and helps reduce insulin resistance.

However, the benefits of olive oil don't end with its consumption, as it is also a popular choice for aromatherapy massage.

Olive oil is a light oil with a fruity aroma that is not overwhelming. This means that olive oil works well with most essential oils. You can use it for almost all skin and hair types, as it does not clog the skin's pores or leave hair looking oily. In fact, olive oil is great for use on dry scalps, as it helps with dandruff, frizzy hair and dry skin.

When you're buying olive oil to use as a carrier oil, look for unrefined extra virgin olive oil. This means that no heat or chemicals are used in the extraction process, making it a pure carrier oil.

Olive oil has a shelf life of 12-18 months. This means that you'll be able to use olive oil as a carrier oil over and over again in aromatherapy massage.

💡 Top tip: For itchy scalps, try combining olive oil with a few drops of lemongrass essential oil and massaging it into your scalp.

Sweet almond oil - Best for nourishing skin

Sweet almond oil is high in vitamin E and is an excellent natural antioxidant. This carrier oil is extracted from the dried nuts of the almond tree. The high vitamin E content makes it an optimal choice for nourishing the skin, regenerating new skin cells and retaining moisture. For this reason, sweet almond oil is a great choice for those with dry skin.

Sweet almond oil also has natural antioxidant properties that protect against the harmful effects of the sun. It also contains high concentrations of both oleic acid and linoleic acid that help relieve inflammation and soothe irritated skin.

Being non-greasy and gentle on the skin, sweet almond oil makes an excellent massage oil (especially for infants), and the rich vitamin E content can help repair damage to the collagen layer in the skin, making the facial skin smooth and supple and reducing wrinkles.

Sweet almond oil is one of the best oils you can choose to nourish skin, hair and nails. With a shelf life of up to one year, sweet almond oil is an economical choice that you can use over and over again for mixing with your essential oils.

💡 Top tip: Planning an aromatherapy massage? Combine sweet almond oil with clary sage and sandalwood essential oils for a relaxing aromatherapy massage that soothes both your body and your mind.

Argan oil - Best for regenerating and renewing

Argan oil is best known for its anti-aging properties and its ability to promote hair growth and repair hair damage. If you have not heard of or used argan oil, you are missing a carrier oil that is full of rich, nourishing properties and healing benefits. No wonder leading cosmetic companies use it in their high-end formulas!

Argan oil is extracted from the fruit of the Moroccan argan tree. Argan oil is rich in antioxidants, vitamins A and E, oleic acid, linoleic acid and fatty acids. It is especially good at counteracting inflammation and sun damage. It reduces the visibility of stretch marks and scars and promotes healthy cuticles and nails.

It is one of the best oils to use to regenerate skin cells, making it an excellent choice for anti-aging ointments and creams.

Argan oil has a shelf life of up to three years, meaning that you can continue using this carrier oil for many years. After this time, the quality of the argan oil will begin to degrade.

💡 Top tip: Looking to fight the signs of aging? Combine argan oil with geranium essential oil and massage into your face before bed. Your skin will be left feeling renewed and rejuvenated.

Plum oil - Best for sensitive skin

Plum oil is a light, non-greasy oil that is perfect for those with sensitive skin. It is rich in oleic acid and vitamin E, making it an excellent choice for nourishing and protecting the skin.

Plum oil is also known for its antibacterial properties, which make it a good choice for acne-prone skin.

This carrier oil has a short shelf life of around six months, so you'll need to use it up fairly quickly. However, it's worth it for the excellent results that you'll see on your skin.

💡 Top tip: For soft skin, combine plum oil with lavender and geranium essential oils and massage into your skin. This blend will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and silky.

Avocado oil - Best for delicate skin

The fruit of the avocado tree consists of almost one-third oil. It is one of the thickest, most luxurious carrier oils on the market.

Avocado oil is a great carrier oil to fight against the signs of aging. This is because it contains a type of fatty acid that is found naturally in human fatty tissue just under the skin. Since avocado oil is similar to this fat, the skin absorbs it easily. This provides excellent nourishment for older skin that has thinned with age.

Avocado oil contains high concentrations of oleic and linoleic fatty acids, making it a potent anti-inflammatory, along with other natural nutrients and antioxidants such as vitamins A, D and E. This carrier oil is ideal for irritable skin types such as those having psoriasis and eczema.

Due to its thickness, avocado oil dries slowly, making it a good carrier oil for massage. If you want to thin avocado oil out, you can also combine this oil with another carrier oil such as olive oil or almond oil.

The shelf life of avocado oil is around eight months. However, it needs to be stored in the fridge to maintain this shelf life.

💡 Top tip: Suffering from dry skin? Try combining avocado oil with frankincense and lavender essential oils and adding to a warm bath for a soak that leaves your skin feeling nourished and rehydrated.