Best Carrier Oils for Perfume

With the general public’s renewed interest in using more natural lifestyle products, you might have noticed a shift in the perfumers' preferred base oils for making perfumes. Using carrier oil for perfume is not just based on trend hopping, but it is a choice for making sophisticated scents that not only last long but are pocket friendly too! Choosing the right oils that define the quality of your perfume is vital, which is why Aromachology oils introduces its top 7 picks of the best carrier oils for perfumery. 

What is a Carrier Oil and Why is it Essential for Perfume?

If you were wondering what carrier oils were, here is a simple way to explain it. 

Carrier oils are nothing but oils that are extracted from the seeds or the nuts of the plant through the cold pressed method. These oils have been given the said name because their purpose is to carry the essential oil so that it can benefit the skin without burning it. Think Coconut oil or even Almond oil- those are some of the most common carrier oils you could be using daily without even realising. In the world of perfume making, these same oils have a transformed use. They do not mask or fade the scent of essential oils- No, it is quite the opposite. Carrier oils balance all the notes together and allow you to make a custom fragrance without much hassle. 

How to Choose the Right Carrier Oil for Your Perfume

Now that we’ve understood the appeal of using carrier oils in perfumes, let’s look at the things to consider for choosing the right ones;

1. Keep your carrier oils light or neutral scented. Think about it, you can choose a carrier oil with a beautiful and rich fragrance. But when you’re already using a sharp scented essential oil like eucalyptus essential oil, adding such oils to the mix will only result in a headache inducing scent. This would beat the whole purpose of why you’re adding carrier oils in the first place.

2. Sometimes, even a tiniest spritz of perfume can be enough for a lasting scent. This holds true if you are using natural perfume oils that get absorbed slowly in the skin. 

3. If the oddly sticky formula of certain budget-friendly or knockoff perfumes irritate you, try using lightweight carrier oils for making DIY perfumes. The non-comedogenic nature of these carrier oils will only satisfy your skin’s needs while being of true value for money.

Top 7 Best Carrier Oils for Perfume Making

1. Jojoba Oil

Love taking care of your skin? Well, so does Jojoba oil. Lightweight yet emollient, this oil helps make perfumes suitable for all forms and weathers.

2. Fractionated Coconut Oil

If you live in a humid or hot climate zone, Fractionated coconut oil perfumes just might be what you were searching for. Using it as the base oil will make your perfumes non-sticky and quick absorbing.

3.Sweet Almond Oil

Perhaps the sweet in its name hints towards the sweet and delicate smell of this oil. As one the OG carrier oils, Sweet almond oil is well known for its skin and hair healing properties. For essential oil perfumes it helps the blend even out and settle well making it perfect for use on sensitive skin.

4. Grapeseed Oil

Gently cold-pressed pure Grapeseed oil not only makes hydrating perfumes, but it gives them an extensive shelf life and a fragrance that will stand the test of time.

5. Argan Oil

Whoever said Argan oil is only good for hair must not know any better. Now used in the art of perfumery, it gives the perfumes an air of grandeur. For the scent part, the mild nutty scent of this oil blends seamlessly within to let the notes of the perfume shine through. 

6. Apricot Kernel Oil

As an all rounder carrier oil, Apricot kernel oil has all the properties to be a skin care must have. It is anti-inflammatory, non-comedogenic, rich in fatty acids, contains vitamins A and E and is also mildly scented. In short words, it makes an impeccable perfume making ingredient. 

7. Avocado Oil

The rich liquid of Avocado oil holds onto the essential oil and other scented oils fairly well making perfumes that last all day long. A few sprays on pulse points will leave your skin feeling soft and smelling positively delightful. 

How to Blend Essential Oils with Carrier Oils for Perfume

Following our simple blending guide, you can blend essential oils with carrier oils for perfume making without a hitch. Here are the steps to begin-

1. Picture out what your perfume smells like. Does it smell like a rose bouquet but with a spicy edge of clove? Doing this will help you decide on the top notes, heart notes and the bottom notes. You can check out our guide on essential oils perfume notes for clearer understanding of how to select the notes.

2. Gather your perfume making ingredients to prevent a last minute jumble. You will need essential oils, carrier oil, glass spray bottle, dropper and a measuring spoon. 

3. Here is a sample perfume blend just to explain things better- take 5 drops of Tangerine essential oil, 7 drops of Cinnamon bark essential oil and another 8 drops of Vanilla essential oil. Before shaking the bottle, add 4 ml of Grapeseed oil using the measuring spoon. Now shut the bottle tightly and shake the bottle really well. And voila, your perfume blend is ready! 

Carrier Oil vs. Alcohol-Based Perfume: Which is Better?

Still feeling unsure about trying out carrier oils being better for your perfume? Then this section of our blog can help you decide which thing is better suited for your perfume making journey. 

1. Carrier oils play the long game. They spread slowly but have a better scent retention. For this reason alone, carrier oils make the perfect base for solid perfume bars that can be carried anywhere and everywhere. 

2. Carrier oils give perfumes a more natural and personal finish that is not too strong on the senses. Since, the scent is not in your face, you can wear these perfumes all day long, even when you’re just chilling in your house and you want to smell your best.

3. As opposed to the skin drying nature of alcohol based perfumes, carrier oil perfume roll-ons will provide that extra bit of moisture during the cooler months of the year and help you power through the winter gloom. 

4. Most importantly, these naturally scented body oils are simply better for our environment and are generally more sustainable in the long run. 

Storage Tips to Preserve Your Natural Perfume

There is no denying that even the most carefully prepared perfume can spoil in a matter of months if not stored properly. If you’re a DIY enthusiast, you must be aware that in the end it always, always comes down to storage. Keeping your natural perfume away from the sun can only do it so much good. There are some other factors to consider- like what is the material of the container you’re storing it in, is the spray bottle capped tightly enough, is it being stored in a cool cabinet and so on.

My observation? Using a glass spray bottle over the plastic one helps. Plus, it gives your handmade perfume a premium look. Another tip that honestly works is sticking a label mentioning all the ingredients on the back of the bottle. This gives you an idea about how much time you have before the product spoils. 

Final Thoughts: Which Carrier Oil is Right for You?

Between the two of us, let me tell you a secret; there is no such ‘right choice’ for carrier oil in perfume making. From the above mentioned list, there are some carrier oils that like grapeseed oil that give the perfume a lighter feel than the others and then there are some carrier oils that have a stronger scent and such. You can obviously choose a carrier oil depending on what you want from your perfume. But you can also use any carrier oil without worrying too much about how the perfume is going to turn out. A little different in properties, all these oils are great and affordable options to begin your perfume making journey.