Essential oils are very potent and should seldom be used on your skin without first being diluted in a carrier oil. A carrier oil is a fragrance-free or very lightly fragranced oil that blends well with essential oils. We reccommend oils such as fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil and avocado oil. The carrier oil also acts as an ‘anchor’ for the oils, which are very volatile and evaporate quickly. When added to a carrier oil, they stay on the skin for longer and have more time to be absorbed. There are several ways to blend essential oils with carrier oils, including:
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Drop-by-Drop Method: In this method, add 2-3 drops of essential oil to one teaspoon of carrier oil, mix well, and use it for massage or aromatherapy.
- Percentage Method: In this method, you can mix 1-5% of essential oil to your chosen carrier oil. For example, if you want to make 10ml of blended oil, you can add 6-20 drops of essential oil to 10ml of carrier oil. It is important store the blend in an amber or other tinted glass bottle to prevent exposure to sunlight, which can shorten the lifespan of the blend.
The easiest way to apply this is by using a roller bottle with a stainless-steel roller (we don’t recommend using plastic rollers, as many essential oils can break down the plastic and absorb the chemicals into the blend).
- Synergistic Blends: Combine two or more essential oils with complementary therapeutic properties and blend them with a carrier oil. For example Lavender and Peppermint oil can be combined with sweet almond oil to help alleviate headaches.
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Pre-Made Blends: You can buy pre-made
blends of essential oils that are already diluted with carrier oils. These should always state if they are suitable for adults or children and have the appropriate ratio of oils to carrier. If you are using a 100% pure concentrated blend that has not been mixed with a carrier oil, dilute it as per the Percentage Method Dilution guide above.
- Lotions, washes bath bombs and bath salts: Essential oils can be added to a fragrance-free base lotion to both natural fragrance and for the added therapeutic benefits – the skin will absorb the oils in the lotion and you will inhale some from the fragrance. You can also add essential oils to Epsom salts (we recommend approximately 20 drops of oils for every cup of salts). Mix these together and leave for a few minutes to allow the salts to absorb the oils. Add a handful to a warm bath and store the rest in an airtight container (preferably glass and not plastic).
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Shampoo, conditioner and treatments: Essential oils are an excellent addition to your hair routine and a few drops can be added to your
shampoo and/or conditioner before you wash, or mixed with a carrier oil to make a hair treatment/serum or you can make your own with fragrance free base shampoo and conditioner. Excellent oils for hair are rosemary, spearmint and clary sage.
Essential oils are amazingly versatile and many have a ton of different uses, so it can be difficult to know which oils to use. Some of our favorite oils to blend are:
🌸 Calming: Lavender & Frankincense
😌 Stress Relief: Bergamot & Cedarwood
⚡ Energy Boost: Peppermint & Mandarin
🌬️ Respiratory Support: Eucalyptus & Lime
🧠 Focus Enhancement: Rosemary & Spearmint
💪 Pain & Inflammation Relief: Copaiba & Blue Tansy
You can add these oils together into your diffuser (without a carrier oil) and inhale them or blend them with a carrier oil and apply them to your skin. A good rule of thumb is to apply the blends to your pulse points (wrists, throat, base of the skull), to your temples (always avoiding going too close to the eyes), to children’s spines and feet or directly to the area of concern if it is a topical issue, such as pain and inflammation.
Whichever method you choose, it's important to use high-quality carrier oils and 100% pure essential oils and to dilute essential oils properly before using them on the skin.