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Often overlooked by people entering the art of aromatherapy, carrier oils are the quieter sibling of the essential oil, imparting a gentler and more soothing fragrance of the concerned fragrance and holding more moisturizing capabilities. Often compared to essential oils, carrier oils are often used to dilute essential oils so that the concentration of the fragrance is lower and gentler to use.

What are carrier oils?

Carrier oils are generally oils that have been cold pressed from the harder portion of plants, like the kernels, nuts and seeds. Extracted from various vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, carrier oils hold a plethora of anti oxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids, depending on the vegetable, fruit, seed and nut it has been extracted from. With endless uses, carrier oils can be utilized in almost any domestic field – from cooking, skin care, hair care to massaging, cleaning, aromatherapy and even cosmetics. Furthermore, with the added benefit of holding various medicinal properties, carrier oils are fast becoming very popular in the pharmaceutical fields of the world.

How to use carrier oils?

Carrier Oils are essentially the middle men of applying essential oil on human bodies. Essential oils, absolutes and other concentrated aromatic fragrances can cause severe irritation and reactions for some allergic individuals. Adding carrier oils to these oils and absolutes is one way of reducing its high concentrations to more skin-friendly levels. Carrier Oils essentially carry the essential oil into the skin and improve and enhance the existing health benefits of the oils.

Nowadays, several lotions, creams, moisturizers, lip balms, and bath oils contain carrier oils to acts as a mediator between the moisture and the skin, so that the skin can easily absorb the goodness of the oils. The choice of the carrier oil can affect the blend of the essential oil to the moisturizers and creams, especially in terms of therapeutic properties and shelf life, aroma and consistency of the product.

However, with so many carrier oils being offered on the market, how do you know which is the best fit for you? The following are some of the most popular carrier oils that are currently dominating the markets because of their pleasant smell, therapeutic properties and health benefits.

Best Carrier Oils:

• Almond Sweet Oil:
  With its nutty aroma that is both sweet and light, Almond Sweet Carrier Oil is a great moisturizer that is immediately absorbed by the skin. Considered to be an all purpose carrier oil, Almond Sweet Oil blends especially well with Avocado Oils.
• Avocado Oil:
  With it characteristic sweet and nutty aroma, Avocado Oil is known for its highly moisturizing capabilities and aromatherapeutic qualities. Made to suit thick concoctions that leave typically mature and dry skin feeling hydrated and slightly waxy, Avocado Oil is extremely high in Vitamin A and Vitamin E, which is vital to your health.
• Jojoba Oil:
  This nearly odorless carrier oil is suitable to mix with almost any essential oil because of its un-interfering aroma. Silky to touch and easily absorbable, Jojoba Oil is now becoming one of the most used carrier oils in all moisturizing products. For all of its light consistency and calming, almost neutral fragrance, Jojoba Oil acts as a great skin conditioner for almost all skin types.
• Rosehip Seed Oil:
  Meant to be used with other carrier oils because of its light aroma, Rosehip Seed Oil is the most perfect match for anyone with mature and dry skin. Now being widely pursued by pharmaceutical companies to cater to those whose skin needs deep healing, Rosehip Seed Oil is chock full of vitamins and antioxidants that your skin will forever love you for. Specially known for taking care of scars and dry skin, Rosehip Seed Oil is a must have for all its multifarious purposes.

With more than a hundred carrier oils now being available on the market, there are endless combinations of carrier oils and essential oils and choices of the same available. It is up to you to decide what fragrance you like best and which ailment you would like to tackle, so that you can make a good and informed decision about your carrier oil.