Carrier Oils: How They Work and Which One to Choose

Carrier oils are gentle vegetable oils suitable for everyday care of skin, body and hair. They serve as a base for diluting essential oils and you can use them for massages, make-up removal and home aromatherapy. Discover light and nourishing carrier oils that give the skin softness and support your natural rituals.

In short: Carrier oils are cold-pressed plant oils that form 95–99% of a blend with essential oils, and they also work alone for massage, makeup removal or hair care. For facial oils use 1–2 drops of essential oil per 5 ml of carrier oil; for massage 3–5 drops per 10 ml. Opened oils keep 6–12 months.

Share of carrier oil in a blend	95–99% of total volume
Facial oil dilution	1–2 drops essential oil per 5 ml carrier oil
Massage oil dilution	3–5 drops per 10 ml carrier oil
Body oil dilution	5–8 drops per 10 ml carrier oil
Shelf life after opening	6–12 months, depending on type
Fast-absorbing oils	Jojoba, papaya (oily and combination skin)

Carrier Oils: Complete Guide for Natural Skincare and Aromatherapy

Carrier oils are among the most important and versatile helpers in natural skincare, body care and hair care. In aromatherapy, they serve as a gentle base for diluting essential oils, but you can also use them on their own – for massage, makeup removal or daily after-shower care. Each carrier oil has its own specific properties, texture, absorption rate and suitability for different skin types. In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn how carrier oils work, how to use them in everyday life and how to choose the most suitable one for you.

You'll also find practical tips, an overview of the most commonly used oils and recommendations on which essential oils to combine them with. Whether you're just starting with aromatherapy or looking for a natural alternative to conventional cosmetics, carrier oils are an excellent foundation that brings softness, gentleness and natural comfort to your skincare routine.

What are carrier oils?
Why use carrier oils?
How to choose the best carrier oil?
Overview of the most popular carrier oils
How to use carrier oils in practice?
How to properly dilute essential oils?
What to combine carrier oils with?
Safety and storage
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Carrier oils in a nutshell: What to keep in mind

What are carrier oils?

Carrier oils are natural plant oils that are cold-pressed and serve as a base for diluting concentrated essential oils. They play a key role in aromatherapy – they help disperse the fragrance, soften the overall skincare experience and enable comfortable application to the skin.

Unlike essential oils, they don't typically have such an intense fragrance. They are gentle, nourishing and often rich in vitamins, antioxidants and fatty acids. Thanks to these properties, they're perfect for daily skincare, body and hair care – both on their own and as a base for homemade natural cosmetics.

Did you know that… in homemade blends with essential oils, carrier oils typically make up 95–99% of the total volume? They're the ones that determine how the blend feels on your skin.

Why use carrier oils?

Carrier oils have wide-ranging uses and are practically irreplaceable in natural cosmetics. They offer:

softness and comfort – they give skin a feeling of smoothness and elasticity,
safe "dilution" of essential oils before applying to skin,
versatile use for massages, facial oils, balms, makeup removal and hair care,
natural composition without silicones, synthetic fragrances or unnecessary chemicals.

Each oil has slightly different properties – some are lighter and absorb quickly, while others create a pleasant protective film on the skin. This allows you to choose one that suits your skin type and specific care ritual.

Relaxation during massage with natural oil – gentle body care in a harmonious wellness environment.

💡 Practical tip: If you're not sure where to start, reach for universal jojoba or almond oil. They usually suit most skin types and combine easily with other oils.

How to choose the best carrier oil?

When selecting a carrier oil, it's worth considering several factors: your skin type, purpose of use, and what feeling you prefer on your skin (fast vs. slower absorption).

1) Skin Type

Dry skin: avocado oil or argan oil – both are among the more nourishing oils that feel richer and provide the skin with a sense of luxurious, intensive care.
Oily and combination skin: jojoba oil or papaya oil – lightweight and quickly absorbed oils that don't feel heavy on the skin and support its natural balance.
Mature skin: prickly pear, argan, camellia – often chosen where a more luxurious oil care is desired.
Skin prone to sensitive reactions: calendula, mullein, aloe vera or gentle oils like daisy or orchid – gentle oils popular in everyday delicate care for sensitive skin.

💡 Quick tip: If your skin reacts sensitively to new products, always start with a smaller amount of oil and test it first on a small area of skin.

2) Purpose of Use

For diluting essential oils for regular skincare: jojoba, papaya, chia, avocado – lightweight oils that are easily absorbed and work well as a base for homemade blends.
For body massages: marula, kalahari melon – glide well and spread pleasantly.
For makeup removal: jojoba, avocado, mongongo – can handle even long-lasting decorative cosmetics.
For hair and scalp: marula, shea oil, kalahari melon – often chosen for wraps and oil masks.

3) Absorption Speed

Some oils are dry, lightweight and quickly absorbed (for example jojoba or papaya), while others leave a slightly more pronounced protective film on the skin (for example avocado). What feels most pleasant is very individual.

Oil	Absorption	Skin Type
Jojoba	Very fast	Oily, combination
Argan	Medium	Mature, normal to dry
Avocado	Slower	Very dry skin

💡 Tip: During the day, you can choose a lighter oil (such as jojoba) and in the evening a richer one (such as avocado or argan). This way, your skin receives comfortable care throughout the day.

Overview of the Most Commonly Used Carrier Oils

Carrier oils come in many forms – from light, fast-absorbing oils to more nourishing oils suitable for evening rituals. Below you'll find an overview of the most frequently used ones and their main benefits:

Jojoba oil – universal helper for skin and hair, popular among beginners.
Argan oil – often chosen for mature skin care and evening rituals.
Marula oil – lightweight oil ideal for hair oils and wraps.
Papaya oil – light, quickly absorbed, suitable where you don't want a heavy greasy feeling.
Kalahari melon – oil that works well for combination skin and daily care.
Avocado oil – richer oil especially appreciated by very dry skin.
Infused calendula, carrot, aloe vera – gentle infused oils popular in delicate natural skin care.

💡 Get inspired: Check out our article on essential oils in cosmetics, where you'll find simple recipes and ideas on how to combine carrier and essential oils in home care.

Various types of natural carrier oils in bottles – avocado, grape seed, olives and other ingredients

How to use carrier oils in practice?

1) Standalone as facial oil

Just a few drops of carrier oil gently massaged into slightly damp skin on the face or body. This helps the oil spread better and keeps the skin pleasantly soft.

2) As cleansing oil

Apply a small amount of jojoba or avocado oil onto a cleansing pad or into your palms and dissolve makeup with circular movements. Then rinse with lukewarm water or finish cleansing with a gentle gel.

3) For hair and scalp

Carrier oils can also be incorporated into hair care – as a pre-wash wrap or a few drops on the ends after washing for smoothing. Particularly popular are oils like marula, argan or kalahari melon.

4) For making homemade cosmetics

Carrier oils form the base of homemade body oils, scrubs, lip balms or oil serums. You can easily combine them with essential oils according to your mood and the scent you love.

💡 Try this: Mix 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil and 1 tablespoon of argan oil. This creates a simple blend that you can use as an evening facial oil or for your neck and décolleté.

How to properly dilute essential oils?

Essential oils are highly concentrated and must always be mixed with a carrier oil before applying to skin. This disperses the fragrance and makes the blend more pleasant to apply.

Use	Recommended dilution
Facial oils	1–2 drops of essential oil per 5 ml of carrier oil
Massage oils	3–5 drops of essential oil per 10 ml of carrier oil
Body oils	5–8 drops of essential oil per 10 ml of carrier oil

💡 Recommendation: For sensitive skin, always start at the lower end of the recommended dilution range. You can gently adjust the concentration later based on how the blend suits you.

What to combine carrier oils with?

Carrier oils can be excellently combined with essential oils depending on the atmosphere or ritual you want to create. This allows you to easily change fragrances and the overall character of the blend.

For relaxation: blend of carrier oil with lavender or chamomile – suitable for evening body oils, for example.
For a feeling of freshness and energy: a few drops of lemon or peppermint in carrier oil for morning body care rituals.
For calming the atmosphere in a room: combination with essential oils such as frankincense or geranium in a diffuser, while using pure carrier oil or gently diluted blend on the skin.

💡 Practical tip: When mixing blends, always start with a smaller number of drops of essential oils. You can easily add fragrance, but you can't take it away.

Glass bottle of oil – inspiration for combining carrier and essential oils in home care.

Safety and Storage

Store in a cool, dark place, ideally in a well-sealed bottle.
Use the oil within the recommended time after opening (usually 6–12 months depending on the type).
For children and very gentle skin care, choose primarily milder infused oils. Use blends with essential oils on children only in low dilution and according to expert recommendations.
Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes. In case of discomfort or skin redness, discontinue use of the blend.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the difference between carrier and essential oil?

Carrier oil is a gentle vegetable oil suitable for direct contact with the skin and serves as a base for blends. Essential oil, on the other hand, is an aromatic, highly concentrated substance that must always be diluted in carrier oil before use on the skin.

Which carrier oil is best for beginners?

A very versatile choice is jojoba or almond oil. They spread well, suit most skin types, and easily combine with other oils.

Can I combine different carrier oils together?

Yes. Blending carrier oils is a common part of natural care. For example, jojoba with argan creates a balanced facial oil that can be adjusted depending on whether you want a lighter or richer consistency.

How long does an opened carrier oil last?

Most carrier oils last 6–12 months after opening, provided they are stored in a cool, dark place and tightly sealed. Infused oils or oils with higher content of unsaturated fatty acids may oxidise more quickly.

Carrier oils in a nutshell: What's good to keep in mind

Carrier oils are the quiet foundation of all natural care – without them, most blends with essential oils couldn't be used comfortably at all. Thanks to them, you can tailor your care to your skin type, favourite scents, and whether you currently need a gentle facial oil, massage blend, or hair wrap.

Start calmly with one more universal oil, such as jojoba or avocado, and gradually try others depending on what feels most comfortable. In our range of carrier oils, you can easily choose one that fits into your daily ritual of caring for skin, body, and hair.

Carrier Oils from A to Z: How They Work and Which One is Best for You?