The Big Question: To Dilute, or Not To Dilute Essential Oils
If you are new to the essential oil scene, you’ve probably heard lots of talk about the need to dilute essential oils with carrier oils. On the other hand, you will hear many saying that some of the oils can be used “neat”, or by themselves. So what is right?
If you are new to the essential oil scene, you’ve probably heard lots of talk about the need to dilute essential oils with carrier oils. On the other hand, you will hear many saying that some of the oils can be used “neat”, or by themselves. So what is right? The answer is, when in doubt, DILUTE! Always dilute essential oils if you have sensitive skin. Always dilute if you are putting oils on children. Always dilute “hot oils” like oregano, cinnamon, clove, thyme and cassia. These "hot oils" are common skin irritants and can cause skin sensitization. Initially, they can be tolerated being used neat, but then all of the sudden, cause a disproportionately strong dermatitis reaction. When the dermatitis has cleared, even a small amount can cause a reaction. Low quality, adulterated oils, even ones that say “organic” can cause skin sensitization as well due to the impurities that can be in the oil. So, always dilute "hot oils" to prevent this kind of reaction.
This is one of the main reasons why we only use essential oils that are Certified Pure, Therapeutic Grade (CPTG) to ensure that we are using the highest purity and quality of oils on the market.
So, what is the difference between essential oils and carrier oils?
Essential oils are the volatile liquids (they evaporate quickly) that are distilled from the plant’s seeds, bark, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruit, etc. They are not “oily” like carrier oils. Their molecular size is very small and they are lipid soluble and can easily penetrate the skin’s lipid bilayer. Essential oils contain the chemical constituents that allow them to be therapeutically beneficial. Within twenty minutes, essential oil constituents have entered the blood stream and have the potential to affect every cell in the body. In the cell, they have a therapeutic benefit, and then, metabolized like any other nutrient, unlike synthetic chemicals, that are not metabolized easily and tend to be stored as toxins in our bodies.
Carrier oils are vegetable oils derived from the fatty portions of the plant, usually the seeds, and they are used to “carry” the essential oil into the skin. These are full of fatty acids that also provide nutritive benefits to the skin. Unlike essential oils, carrier oils can become rancid so they need to be stored in cool places. They do not evaporate like essential oils so they can be used to dilute the essential oil and prevent it from evaporating too quickly allowing more essential oil to enter the body. It only takes a couple of drops of an essential oil to have a therapeutic benefit. The carrier oil allows the couple of drops of essential oil to be distributed over a greater part of the body and it also prevents wasting the essential oil. Because of their larger molecular size, the carrier oil does not penetrate enough to get into the blood stream like the essential oils. They penetrate the top layers of the skin and nourish it with their fatty acids and vitamins and minerals. There are so many carrier oils coming into the market that it is hard to decide which one is the best. They each have a different fatty acid profile and some are more suitable for dry skin and some are better for oily skin. So which ones do you choose? Play around with different oils and blend carrier oils that provide different benefits to the skin. First, make sure that you purchase carrier oils that are organic and cold pressed. These are the best to use on the skin. They are richest in vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that nourish the skin. Avoid using cooking oils that you typically buy at the grocery store. They are highly refined and may contain solvents and petroleum residues.