Difference Between Carrier Oils and Essential Oils

We have witnessed the extensive value of essential oils and carrier oils in Ayurvedic medicines and aromatherapy practices. Backed with mechanical advancement, we are again finding the extensive use of these natural oils in skincare and haircare practices.

Essential oils and carrier oils are both natural plant liquids with enomorous therapeutic and health benefits. But what actually forms Carrier Oils and Essential Oils?

Are they both the same oil?

If not, what makes them different from one another? Why does carrier oil fly faster while essential oil leaves lasting footprints on skin?

To help you understand, we have crafted this guide to highlight all the differences between carrier oil and essential oil in detail. But first, let’s begin with understanding them from roots.

So why are they both called oils?

For any substance to be qualified as oil, it needs to stand on these three bars effectively. 

• Fat-friendly

• Oils best friend

• Stubborn water enemy

Fulfilling all three regulations, an oil can be easily mixed up with natural fats. Beside this, it should easily befriend other oils and dissolve completely in each other without any restraint. However, the compounds of oil are majorly insoluble in water and any other liquid that is not oil. Both essential oils and carrier oils satisfy this criterion effectively and are found in liquid composition at room temperature; hence, they are called oils.

Now you must be wondering why one is known as an essential oil while the other is being called a carrier oil. To understand this, we need to first study: what are these oils?

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are natural scents extracted very carefully and gently from fragrant plant compounds like leaves, flowers, seeds, bark, and wood. Some common examples of essential oils include lavender essential oil, rosemary oil, betel leaf oil, etc.

They are obtained using the steam distillation method or pressed gently to preserve the nutrition of natural plant extracts. This provides major healing and therapeutic benefits for the mind and body. Co2 extracts are also a type of essential oil that are extracted through supercritical extraction and are more potent than traditional essential oils.

Why are essential oils called essential oils?

To understand the symphony of essential oils, we need to trade through the history from which these oils emerged.

In ancient Ayurveda and pharaonic studies, plant extracts are widely used for harnessing many healing benefits. Till that time, there was no concept of essential oils; they are simply known as liquid plant extracts or fragrant tools.

However, with the emergence of Greek philosophers and alchemists during the early 16th century, these potent plant liquids gained immense popularity. They are termed the'soothing soul spirits of plants’ because of the rich flavor and   fragrances.For example, bakuchi oil was extensively used to fight early signs of aging, and vetiver essential oil was used to cool the nervous system down in extreme heat.

The advent of modern society came with immense popularity of these aromatic compounds in medications, aromatherapy massages, and natural skincare products prevailing to the name 'essential’, something that carries the true essence of the plants.

What are essential oils made of?

Essential oils are potent liquids extracted from the botanical components of plants. They are made up of components like hydrocarbons, terpenes, ketones, essential acids, cineol, and other essential compounds.

High-grade, pure essential oils do not contain any chemical preservatives or artificial fragrances. They are raw and natural plant extracts with small molecular structures and low density. Each essential oil carries different properties along with the essence of their genetic plant.

• PLUS: For understanding, lemon essential oil carries the citrusy aroma of Citrus Limon L. Burm. Meanwhile, jasmine essential oil smells like a fresh bouquet of jasmine flowers, along with a strong aroma and rich orange color. 

What are carrier oils?

Carrier oils contain a huge amount of antioxidants as they are extracted from vegetable plant compounds. They help dilute the concentrated essential oils to neutralize their overpowering effects on the skin without disturbing their original effects. It also enables the deep absorption of essential oils in the skin cells. Nevertheless, unlike the aromatic scent of essential oils, carrier oils usually contain a very mild and slight aroma.

Methods of Extraction:

Some of the most popular and productive methods to obtain carrier oils are:

• Bleaching & Filtering: In the bleaching process, natural oils are passed through bleaching agents like clay or fuller’s earth to remove the impurities and improve the natural color of carrier oils. 

• Cleaning & Hulling: It is used to separate large plant particles and substances that depel the smooth texture of oils. In simpler terms, it is the removal of plant residues to improve the natural profile of oils. 

• Cooking & Tempering: At first, the nuts and seeds of plants are soaked in a liquid solution for long hours. For entire nutritional advantage, it is boiled at different temperatures to soften the outer layer of the seeds. The mixture is then passed through a filtration unit to remove the unwanted and large particles from oils. 

• Degumming: In this process, the oils are purified using acids, water, and dry degumming substances for better color and thick texture. 

• Deodorizing: In this method, the extra substances are removed using high temperatures of steam for long durations. The oil is heated to eliminate the excessive aroma, which results in a major nutritional loss. This method is the least effective way of extracting pure carrier oil and is generally used to acquire food oils like palm oil and cashew nut oil. 

• Expeller Pressing: Expeller-pressed oils are widely popular as cold-pressed carrier oils. It is considered the best method of extracting therapeutic-grade, pure carrier oils. Delicate pressing of fruits and nuts without any solvent or chemicals ensures no nutrient loss and provides raw and undiluted goodness of natural plant extracts. 

• Refined: Carrier oils are refined using steam or chemicals in order to remove impurities, harmful toxins, and overfertilizing odors. This helps in improving the texture and lifecycle of these natural oils. 

• Solvent extracted: To preserve the essential nutrients and fat compounds, sometimes it is necessary to use solvents. Oils like coconut carrier oil are extracted by using hexane. Later on, the solvent (hexane) is filtered out, but a small quantity always lasts in the oil. 

• Winterized: Oils are cooled down and preserved at a low temperature (-degree) to remove larger solid particles or unwanted plant materials.

Key Differences Between Carrier Oils and Essential Oils

Carrier oils and essential oils complement each other very well and have drastic healing benefits for the mind and body. But that doesn’t mean they are the same; both have different molecular and nutritional compositions, along with different fragrances of the parent plant. To understand the difference between carrier oil and essential oil, let’s understand there source.

The aromatic parts of plants, like flowers, leaves, bark, etc., provide essential oils, while carrier oils are obtained from vegetable plant compounds like fruit, seeds, and nuts. Essential oils are strong in nature, so we use carrier oils to neutralize their overpowering effects. The mild aroma of carrier oil perfectly diffuses the highly aromatic fragrance of essential oil and neutralizes it to prevent sensitivity.

Carrier oils are composed with vitamins, minerals, and essential fats, which makes them useful for various food-based industries. Essential oils, on the other hand, are popular among aromatherapy experts and are used to manufacture luxury soaps, expensive perfumes, scented candles, and diverse cosmetic products. 

Essential Oils vs Carrier Oils for Skin

Both are natural oils for skincare, but one is used in more quantity than the other. 

In the case of essential oils, more in less—a very small amount of oil can have a high impact on the skin. To solve this concern, it is necessary to dilute them along with some mild carrier oil like virjin coconut oil before applying them to the skin. However, you can directly apply carrier oils to your skin without any fear of side effects and reactions.

Best Carrier Oils for Diluting Essential Oils

Each essential oil has different compositions and effects. For adequate usage, it is necessary to search for its ideal companion. While jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and sweet almond oil are the 3 best carrier oils for diluting essential oils, the ultimate selection depends on the application.

In the wide range of carrier oils available out there, I have listed some profound ones that you can use in your skincare recipes, haircare products, diffusers, and aromatherapy massage oils.

• Carrier Oils for Skincare: Dilute 2 tsp of tea tree essential oil along with 20 ml of virgin coconut oil in a glass bottle. Apply the mixture as night serum after toning your face with rose water for a spotless natural glow.

• Carrier Oils for Haircare: Massage your scalp twice a week with nourishing carrier oils like rosehip oil or castor oil for long and shiny hairs. You can also make hair serum at home by combining 2 tsp of jasmine essential oil with 10 ml of argan oil for a glossy natural finish. 

• Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy: Make soothing aromatherapy oil by mixing rose essential oil in mild carrier oils like almond oil or grapeseed oil for a perfect aromatic experience.

How to Use Carrier Oils with Essential Oils?

To make the perfect blend of essential oil and carrier oil, make sure to dilute them in ideal proportions. Always keep the nature and effects of oils in mind to get an appropriate idea of their dilution ratio.

For safe use, it is best to dilute 2-3 drops of essential oil with 2 tsp of carrier oil. The same idea goes for higher proportions. While using for children, make sure to reduce this amount to 1-2 drops of essential oils for 2 tsp of carrier oils.

Conclusion

Summing up, the diverse characteristics of carrier oils and essential oils ideally complement each other to make natural flavors and aromas. The mild nature of carrier oil perfectly calms the overpowering effects of essential oils. Before making the use of concentrated essential oils, it is necessary to dilute them with carrier oils and vice versa.

• Pro-tip: Ensure to purchase the true goodness of nature from a trusted essential oil supplier. A bulk essential oil supplier will provide you with a better understanding of the diverse usage and application of these organic products.