Aromatherapy Carrier Oils

How to choose the best carrier oil for your skin type

A little basic knowledge can really help you choose the best carrier oil for your aromatherapy recipes. Each carrier oil has its own distinct qualities, so each oil is best suited for certain skin types or conditions such as acne, dryness or eczema.

Aromatherapy Carrier Oils Cheat Sheet

Don't be afraid to experiment. Choosing the best carrier oil for your skin is often a matter of trial and error. They won't hurt you, so it's okay to play!

Click on the links to jump to each of the aromatherapy carrier oils, or scroll down the page to browse through them.

Jojoba Oil

Olive Oil

Rice Bran Oil

Rosehip Oil

Sunflower Oil

Sweet Almond Oil

• Especially good for dry, irritated and aging skin, but suitable for all skin types.
• Soothing, nourishing and reconditioning for skin.
• High in protein, Vitamin D and GLA acids.
• Average absorption into skin, leaves a slight film on skin.
• Popular all-purpose oil.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.
• Can stain sheets if used for massage.
• Buy sweet almond oil

• Good for all skin types, including sensitive and aging skin.
• Nourishing, soothing.
• High in Vitamin A.
• Light texture, quick absorption.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.
• Buy apricot kernel oil

• Good for sensitive, irritated skin, as well as skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and severely dry or aged skin.
• Deeply nourishing, soothing.
• High in vitamins A, B1, B2, D, and E. Also contains amino acids, sterols, pantothenic acid, lecithin, and other essential fatty acids.
• Green color, slightly thick consistency. Leaves a sticky, waxy feel on skin.
• Dilute to a maximum of 10% of a recipe due to its oily residue.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year.) Refrigerate after opening.
• Buy avocado oil

• Good for dry, damaged, aging and sunburned skin.
• One of the richest known sources of essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.
• Supports mobility of joints and tissues.
• Stronger color and odor than many oils.
• Usually diluted to a maximum of 10% of a recipe due to its high price and oily residue.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.
• Not recommended for use during pregnancy.
• Buy borage oil

• Good for all skin types.
• Rich in minerals, vitamins and GLA acids.
• Very affordable, readily available (just check your grocery store.)
• Good absorption into skin.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.

• Good for dry, damaged hair. Good for use in lip balms. Creates a moisture barrier.
• Solid at room temperature; liquid when heated.
• Rich in minerals, vitamins and GLA acids.
• Buy virgin, unrefined to get the most benefits.
• Virgin, unrefined coconut oil has a strong coconut aroma; dilute if concerned about altering the scent of your recipe. Refined coconut oil has very little scent.
• Creates a smooth, protective barrier on the skin.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.
• Check for possible allergic reaction before applying directly to the face.
• Buy coconut oil

• Good for eczema and psoriasis. Soothes inflammation.
• Rich in gamma linoleic acid, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
• Dilute to a maximum of 10% of a recipe due to its oily residue.
• Quick to go rancid; shelf life is three to six months. Refrigerate after opening.
• Buy evening primrose oil

• Good for oily, acne-prone skin. Non-allergenic: good for sensitive skin types.
• Astringent.
• One of the lightest, most easily absorbed carrier oils available.
• Very popular for use as a base oil for lotions and body, bath and massage oils.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.
• Buy grapeseed oil

• Good for all skin types, including dry or mature skin, as well as oily, acne-prone skin.
• Deeply moisturizing. Rich in Vitamin E.
• Reduces appearance of pores over time.
• Reduces superficial wrinkles and stretch marks.
• Closest in properties to skin's own natural oils; helps balance skin's oil production.
• Readily absorbed without making the skin feel greasy or tacky. Does not clog pores.
• Very popular for use in facial products, cosmetics and lotions.
• Good for dandruff, athlete's foot.
• Highly stable, excellent shelf life. Often used to extend the shelf life of other oils.
• Buy jojoba oil

• Good for dry, irritated skin.
• Affordable, readily available (check your grocery store.)
• Not appropriate for bath oils because it can change the scent of the blend.
• Makes lotions feel slightly 'tacky'.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.
• Buy olive oil

• Particularly good for delicate, sensitive, dry and aging skin types (including babies.)
• Believed to protect against UV rays.
• Non-allergenic.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.
• Buy rice bran oil

• Particularly good for dry, weathered, sunburned skin, as well as eczema.
• Extremely high in essential fatty acids.
• Contains Trans-Retinoic Acid, a similar to the active ingredient of Retin-A (a popular wrinkle cream)
• Good for treating burns and sunburn, scars, stretch marks, wrinkles and premature aging.
• Usually diluted to a maximum of 10% of a recipe.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.
• May aggravate acne at high concentrations.
• Buy rosehip oil

• Good for dry, weathered, sunburned skin, as well as eczema.
• Reputed to be one of the best sources of natural antioxidants.
• Used for treating wounds, burns and sunburn, scars, stretch marks and wrinkles.
• Believed to protect against UV rays.
• Usually diluted to a maximum of 10% of a recipe.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year.) Store at room temperature.
• If undiluted it will stain skin, surfaces and clothing. Use caution, spread evenly and dilute.
• Buy sea buckthorn oil

• Good for normal to dry skin types.
• Rich in vitamins, minerals and fatty acids.
• A good all-purpose oil for bath and body recipes.
• Easily absorbed, leaves very little oily residue.
• Good shelf life (six months to a year) if refrigerated after opening.
• Buy sunflower oil

What Next?

Go to Body and Bath Oil Recipes
Simple, effective bath oil recipes combining carrier and essential oils for energy, relaxation, depression, insomnia and more.


Go to Massage Oil Recipes
Easy aromatherapy massage recipes using a blend of carrier and essential oils to make sensual, relaxing and pain relieving massage oils. There's even a Stop Snoring massage oil recipe.


Go to Aromatherapy Recipes Homepage from Aromatherapy Carrier Oils