Using carrier oils can also help your essential oils last longer, as their benefits can be spread over a larger area without wasting a lot of product. Some of the most popular carrier oils for topical use are: Jojoba oil. Sweet almond oil.
Essential oils are super potent. Using them directly on your skin can lead to irritation, redness, or even burns because they contain a high concentration of active compounds. That's why carrier oils are so important. Carrier oils help dilute the essential oils, creating a safe and enjoyable experience.
When it comes to blending essential oils by note it is a good idea to follow the 30/50/20 rule. This makes it easier to find the right balance between the oils used in your blend, with 30% being top note, 50% middle note and 20% base note.
You can use something like jojoba, fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil ... There's a lot of options. And to be quite honest with you, in a pinch you can use any type of oil to dilute an essential oil, even like cooking oil from the kitchen. You might smell like a salad, but it works just fine when you need it.
Using a 2% essential oil dilution is generally considered a safe guideline for topical application of essential oils on adults when an essential oil has a dermal maximum of 2% of higher as provided within the second edition of Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.
For this reason you should not use more than 5-6 drops of essential oil in your aroma diffusion system according to the size of your room. The excessive amount of essential oils will result in a fragrance that is too strong and this is certainly not a suitable solution for small spaces.
These highly concentrated and potent essential oils can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The inhalation of VOCs commonly has negative effects on the respiratory system. Individuals can have different reactions to essential oils, just like they might to other medicines, products, allergens or irritant triggers.
Another important reminder when mixing essential oils with carrier oils is that less is always more. Typically, you'll be using between 1-5 drops of any essential oil, and these drops would be mixed with up to 10ml/0.3 fl oz. of carrier oil prior to application.
Expectorant, vulnerary, sedative; frankincense can be applied 'neat' to the point, without a carrier oil. Frankincense lifts the spirit, thus it is good for meditation, and treating mental distraction or the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Asthma attacks: While essential oils may be safe for most people to inhale, some people with asthma may react to breathing in the fumes. Headaches: Inhaling essential oils may help some people with their headaches, but inhaling too much may lead to a headache in others.
Final thoughts. Carrier oils play an essential role in protecting your skin from the potential side effects of essential oils.
Oils rich in linoleic acid, including Prickly Pear (62%), Blackberry Seed (65%) and Grape Seed (70%), are renowned for their thin texture and for being absorbed as easily as deeply by the epidermis.
DON'T Overdo It
Even when diluted, an essential oil can cause a bad reaction if you use too much or use it too often. That's true even if you're not allergic or unusually sensitive to them.
What happens if I add too much oil to my diffuser? Learning how many drops of essential oil in diffuser to use is extremely important. Overexposure to essential oils can lead to some unpleasant side effects like dizziness, red or irritated eyes, and headaches.
Some of the most commonly used carrier oils are grapeseed, jojoba, coconut and apricot kernel oils, as these oils are typically similar in structure to our skin's natural sebums and therefore absorb easily and don't cause clogged pores or breakouts.
Some Essential Oils are not suitable for diffusion.
They are contraindicated or unpleasant in diffusion. They can be irritating to the mucous membranes (e.g. Ceylon cinnamon, oregano, clove, mountain savory, common thyme, wintergreen to name the main ones). Other essential oils are neurotoxic (e.g. hyssop, sage).
Examples of essential oils that are effective in anti-aging are Frankincense, Lavender, Rose, Neroli, Geranium, Sandalwood, Citrus, Carrot seed, Ylang Ylang, and Rosemary.
According to many aromatherapy practitioners, Lavandula angustifolia, Melaleuca alternifolia, Helichrysum italicum, and Chamaemelum nobile are the only essential oils that can be safely used undiluted.
What Oil Is Best for Aging Skin? Rosehip oil is one of the best oils for aging skin due to its high content of vitamins A and C, which help to improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Discover the benefits of Rosehip Oil.