Best Way to Dilute Essential Oils with Carrier Oils

Essential oils ate often mixed into ‘carrier’ oils before use. When the essential oil is being used as a cosmetic or for massage, sweet almond is the preferred carrier oil, as it is least apt to be allergenic. Other good carrier oils include sunflower, grapeseed, walnut, hazelnut, olive, evening primrose, and jojoba oils. Make sure that any oil you intend to apply to the skin has been produced naturally and ideally has been cold-pressed rather than subjected to a heat treatment, which alters the chemical balance and the smell. Such oils turn rancid more quickly, so purchase in small quantities and store unused oils in the refrigerator. If they solidify, they will return to liquid form when they warm to room temperature.

To dilute an essential oil, measure out the carrier oil, and pour into a glass bottle. Carefully add the essential oil or oils by dropper to produce a 1 to 3 pet cent solution of essential oil in carrier oil (1 to 3 parts essential oil to 100 parts carrier oil). A simple way to produce this dilution is to use up to four drops of essential oil per tablespoon (14ml) of carrier oil.

If in doubt, keep to a low concentration. A minority of commercially available essential oils such as bergamot and other citrus oils, lemongrass, and some spice oils should not be used in a solution above 1 per cent, since they can cause irritation. Be very careful when you are using essential oils with children: consult a qualified professional who has experience with children, and use a dilution a quarter of the adult strength.

Some oils have been found to harmonize well in combinations. For example, lavender is one of the best mixers, happily producing balanced scents with any of a range of other oils including chamomile, fennel, basil, rose, calendula, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree, yarrow, and sage. As you collect more oils, follow your own nose: change the oils and blends you use to suit your moods and needs.