Carrier oils are the quiet partners of essential oils. They make essential oils comfortable to use on skin, and many are lovely on their own as body, hair and massage oils. This guide explains what they are, how to dilute with them, and how to choose the right one from our 26 carrier oils.
1. What a carrier oil is
A carrier oil, sometimes called a base oil, is a plant oil pressed from seeds, nuts, kernels or fruit, such as sweet almond, jojoba, argan or coconut. Unlike essential oils, carrier oils are rich, mostly unscented or lightly scented, and do not evaporate. They sink into the skin slowly, carrying the essential oil with them, which is where the name comes from.
Carrier oils contain natural fatty acids and vitamin E, which help skin and hair feel soft, smooth and nourished.
2. Why essential oils need one
Essential oils are highly concentrated. Straight from the bottle they can irritate or sensitise skin, so they should always be diluted before touching skin. A carrier oil spreads a few drops over a larger area, makes massage glide smoothly, and slows evaporation so the scent lasts longer on skin.
You do not need a carrier oil to use essential oils in a diffuser or reed diffuser. See Essential Oils 101 and our DIY reed diffuser guide.
3. How to dilute: drops per spoon
Easy measures for mixing at home. 1 teaspoon is 5 ml, 1 tablespoon is 15 ml.
| Strength | Best for | 1 teaspoon | 1 tablespoon | 30 ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 to 1% | face, sensitive skin, older adults; ask a doctor first for pregnancy or children | 1 drop | 3 drops | 6 drops |
| 2% | everyday body and massage oil for healthy adults | 2 drops | 6 drops | 12 drops |
| 3% | a small area, short-term, such as shoulders after a long day | 3 drops | 9 drops | 18 drops |
Mix in a clean glass bottle, shake gently and label it. Our 120 ml carrier oils are the perfect size to blend straight into: add your drops, close and shake.
4. Choosing by what you want to do
5. Our carrier oils at a glance
All our carrier oils come in 120 ml bottles.
| Oil | Feel | Lovely for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jojoba | light, silky | face, body, blending | technically a liquid wax; very stable |
| Sweet Almond | light, smooth | massage, body | tree nut |
| Argan | light, dry finish | face, hair ends | tree nut |
| Rosehip Seed | light | face oil at night | use within about a year |
| Grapeseed | very light | massage, oilier skin | use within about a year |
| Apricot Kernel | light, soft | massage, body | kernel oil; check if you have nut allergies |
| Coconut | rich; solid below about 24°C | hair, body | can feel heavy on the face |
| Castor | very thick | brows, lashes, scalp blends | mix with a lighter oil |
| Avocado | rich | very dry skin, body | best blended with a lighter oil |
| Olive | rich | body, DIY soap | noticeable scent |
| Macadamia Nut | rich, cushiony | body, hair ends | tree nut |
| Black Cumin Seed | medium | scalp, body blends | strong, spicy scent |
| Sesame Seed | medium | warming massage | seed allergy: avoid |
| Evening Primrose | light | face and body blends | use within about a year |
Also in our range: aloe vera, baobab, camellia seed, green tea seed, hazelnut, hemp seed, moringa seed, neem nut, safflower seed, shea nut, walnut, wheat germ. See all carrier oils.
6. Face oils and skin type
Some oils sit more heavily on skin than others. As a rough guide:
- Oily or breakout-prone skin: choose lighter oils such as safflower, grapeseed, argan, and use just 2 to 3 drops.
- Normal or combination skin: jojoba, rosehip, sweet almond work well for most people.
- Dry skin: richer oils such as avocado, macadamia, olive, best on the body or blended with a lighter oil for the face.
Heavier oils such as coconut, olive, avocado and wheat germ are wonderful on the body but can feel too rich on the face for some people. Everyone's skin is different, so start small.
7. Shelf life and storage
- Most carrier oils keep well for 1 to 2 years once opened.
- Very stable: jojoba and coconut last longest.
- Use sooner (about a year): rosehip, grapeseed, evening primrose and hemp seed.
- Keep bottles tightly closed, away from heat and sunlight. In Singapore's heat, a cool cupboard is better than a sunny windowsill.
- If an oil smells sharp, bitter or like old crayons, it has gone off. Replace it.
8. Patch test and allergies
- Patch test first. Rub a little of your blend on the inner arm and wait 24 hours. If you see redness or itching, wash it off and do not use it.
- Nut allergies. Avoid oils from tree nuts, such as sweet almond, argan, hazelnut, macadamia, walnut and shea nut, and check with your doctor about kernel oils such as apricot kernel.
- Not for eating. Our carrier oils are for skin and hair care.
- Children, pregnancy and health conditions: use lower strengths and ask your doctor before using essential oils on skin. See our kid-friendly guide.
Carrier oils are for cosmetic use. If you have a skin condition, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.