Essential Oil Education

The whole purpose of carrier oils is of course “to carry” or act as a vehicle for administering essential oils to the skin or to take them internally.  Some essential oils are simply too “hot” for the skin and should be safely diluted to prevent redness and burning. Or if an essential oil is used in a massage, it is very helpful to first dilute it so that the whole body can receive the benefits of the essential oil. Otherwise, you will use too much essential oil which is simply not necessary and may not be safe. 

If taking an essential oil internally is desired, it is also helpful to put a drop of a carrier oil in the vegetable capsule first or the essential oil may dissolve it before you can swollow it!

Some Dilution Tips

If you are desiring to make a massage oil to deliver an essential oil, you can make a 1%, 2% or at most a 5% dilution. The dilution will of course depend on what essential oil you are choosing to use in a massage. The hotter oils such as basil (a good anti-spasmodic oil) can be used in a 1 or 2% dilution whereas frankincense which is not a hot oil could be used in a 5% dilution. To make a 1% dilution, use 1 drop of essential oil in a teaspoon of carrier oil. But for a massage, a teaspoon won’t go very far. You could then make up a larger quantity by adding 20 drops of your chosen oil to 100 ml of a carrier oil.

To make a 5% dilution you could add 5 drops of your essential oil to one teaspoon of carrier oil and for a larger quantity like 30 ml, you could add 30 drops of your essential oil.

PS: Want to learn more about safe use of essential oils? Go to http://www.ISHAaromatherapy.com to find an aromatherapy educational course near you.