September 09, 2020

Benefits & Uses of Carrier Oils

What is a carrier oil?

"What is a carrier oil?" tends to be asked quite frequently so we thought we would help answer the common question. Carrier oils are vegetable oils derived from kernels, seeds and the nut of plants with little to no smell. They do not evaporate and help to dilute essential oils for safe application to the skin.

Here at ECO. we have a few carrier oils that you can choose from or if you are running low or waiting for your carrier oil to arrive, a really versatile ingredient that we all tend to have in our cupboards is olive oil.

What can I use carrier oils for?

Carrier oils are most commonly used to help with essential oil application to the skin. They will assist in diluting pure essential oils of your choice to minimise skin irritation and allow safe application. Carrier oils become a must-have ingredient when you decide to dive into the endless DIY world. A few examples of when carrier oils are needed are; DIY Perfume Rollerball, DIY Body Oil, DIY Face Cleanser, for the bath and so much more. Learn more about our carrier oils below.

Best Carrier Oil for Essential Oils

Sweet Almond Carrier Oil

Sweet Almond Carrier Oil is rich in vitamin E and can help soothe dry and irritated skin. It acts as a barrier against elements and is a great all round natural skin moisturiser. Use Sweet Almond Carrier Oil to apply essential oils to the body, without the risk of irritating the skin.

Try this DIY Body Oil:

To your 95ml Sweet Almond oil add 20 drops Lavender essential oil and 20 drops Lime essential oil.

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Fractionated Coconut Carrier Oil

ECO. Fractionated Coconut Carrier Oil will allow you to use your essential oils in a new range of ways. Use coconut oil to hydrate the skin or apply essential oils to the body without irritation. Great for use as a body moisturiser, for massage or local topical application.

Try this DIY Perfume:

In a 10ml rollerball add 4 drops Jasmine essential oil, 2 drops Bergamot essential oil and 1 drop Ylang Ylang essential oil. Fill with Fractionated Carrier Oil and apply to wrists as desired.

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Jojoba Carrier Oil

Jojoba is renowned for its hydrating and regenerative qualities. It is suitable to all skin types and can help improve skin suppleness and elasticity due to its similarities with human sebum. It also acts as a great makeup remover or a natural skin cleanser. Jojoba Carrier Oil will allow you to use your essential oils in a new range of ways.

Try this DIY Face Cleanser:

To a 30ml dropper bottle add 2 tablespoons of Jojoba Carrier Oil with 5 drops German Chamomile essential oil and 5 drops Sandalwood essential oil. Apply to dry skin and emulsify with water.

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Do you have to mix essential oils with carrier oils?

If you are wanting to apply your essential oils topically then we recommend always diluting into a carrier oil for application. This will vary depending on how much carrier oil you are using. See our dilution chart for an easy guide.

How much essential oil to carrier oil?

Your dilution will depend on a few contributing factors including; who the dilution is for, how you intend to apply the essential oil and what essential oil you are using. You can see a handy dilution chart here to guide you along the way.

Author: Georgia Doherty
Marketing Assistant

Georgia is the Marketing Assistant at ECO. Modern Essentials. Georgia oversees the company's social media platforms, helps coordinate brand collaborations, creates content + DIY recipes and manages ECO.'s affiliate program. She is a qualified Beauty Therapist with extensive Dermal Therapy qualifications and a Diploma in Training Design & Development. Georgia is passionate about leading a happy & healthy life and helping educate those around her.

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