Glossary
A carrier oil is a fatty plant oil used to dilute essential oils before topical use and help spread them more evenly across the skin.
What Carrier Oil Means
Carrier oils are usually pressed from seeds, nuts, kernels, fruits, or other oil-rich plant parts. Unlike essential oils, they do not evaporate quickly and are not highly concentrated aromatic extracts. They provide texture, glide, and dilution.
Why It Matters
Carrier oils make essential oil blends more practical for skin use. They lower the concentration of essential oil, help the blend spread evenly, and influence how the finished product feels: light, silky, rich, slow-absorbing, or dry-feeling.
Example in Essential Oil Use
Fractionated coconut oil, jojoba, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, grapeseed oil, and avocado oil can all be used as carriers, depending on the blend, skin type, allergies, and desired texture.