So you just got a brand new essential oil diffuser for your home and are ready to get your place smelling amazing with some essential oils. But before dropping those precious oils into your diffuser, you must know about good carrier oils.
Carrier oils dilute essential oils to be safely and effectively used in diffusers. Not all carrier oils are created equal, though. Some are better for diffusing than others based on factors like viscosity, aroma, and absorption.
Knowing which best carrier oils work can help you get the most out of your essential oil diffuser experience. In this article, we’ll discuss the best carrier oils for diffusing essential oils to enhance the scent of your home.
What Is a Carrier Oil and Why Do You Need It for Essential Oils?
A carrier oil is a type of oil made from plants. Carrier oils dilute essential oils so you can use them on your skin or in diffusers without them being too strong. Essential oils are very strong and can hurt the skin if used directly. Carrier oils help to spread the oils and make them absorb better.
Best carrier oils for essential oil diffusers include:
1. Fractionated coconut oil: Odorless, colorless, and lightweight. It has a long shelf life and won’t clog diffusers. Great for most essential oils.
Fractionated Coconut Oil Massage Oil Carrier Oil for Essential Oils Mixing
2. Sweet almond oil: Affordable, absorbs quickly, and has a mild nutty aroma. Use for citrus or floral essential oils.
Pure Cold Pressed Sweet Almond Oil – Big 32 fl oz Bottle – Unrefined &100% Natural
3. Jojoba oil: Similar in structure to natural skin oils, so it moisturizes and nourishes. Has an indefinite shelf life. Works with woodsy, earthy essential oils.
To use a carrier oil in your diffuser, first determine how many drops of essential oil you want to use. Generally, 3-5 drops of essential oil for every ounce of carrier oil is a good start.
Mix the carrier oil and essential oils in a bottle and add the mixture to your diffuser according to the instructions. Some diffusers require you to apply the oil directly to the pads, while others have a reservoir you fill.
Using carrier oil in your diffuser helps the essential oils last longer since the oil won’t evaporate as quickly. It also makes the fragrance softer and less overpowering.
You can safely enjoy essential oils’ aromatic and mood-boosting benefits throughout your home.
5 Benefits of Using a Carrier Oil With Essential Oils
Using a carrier oil with your essential oils helps maximize their benefits. Here are the top 5 reasons to add a carrier oil to your diffuser:
1. Enhanced Diffusion
Essential oils are super concentrated, so dilute them before diffusing them at home. That’s where carrier oils come in – they help distribute the essential oils nicely into the air.
Essential oil droplets can be too big to hang in the air for very long. But carrier oils help break down the essential oils into tinier molecules that stay floating around longer. It lets the aroma spread all through your home.
2. Skin Health Benefits
Many carrier oils like coconut, sweet almond, and jojoba oil nourish the skin and provide antioxidants. When you diffuse essential oils diluted in a carrier oil, you can enjoy these skin-loving benefits. The oils moisturize the air, and your skin absorbs them, giving you a healthy glow.
3. Cost-Effective
Essential oils can be pricey, especially for the excellent quality oils you want to diffuse in your home. Using a carrier oil to dilute the essential oils allows you to use less essential oil while still achieving the desired aroma in your space. You get more mileage from your essential oils with an affordable carrier oil.
4. Safer for Pets and Kids
The concentrated nature of essential oils can irritate pets and children when diffused in high amounts. Diluting essential oils in a carrier oil before diffusing helps ensure the aroma is gentle enough for the whole family. Always do a patch test on the skin first and diffuse in a well-ventilated area.
5. Customized Aroma
You can make your diffuser blends by trying different carrier oils and essential oil combinations.
The carrier oil provides a base that complements and enhances your chosen essential oils. Through a bit of experimentation, you’ll soon create your own unique fragrances!
Choosing the Best Carrier Oil for Your Essential Oil Diffuser
Choosing the right carrier oil for your essential oil diffuser depends on several factors. The ideal oil will complement your essential oils’ scent, not overpowering them.
It should also have a neutral odor and light, non-greasy feel. Based on these criteria, here are some of the best options to consider:
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a popular choice for essential oil diffusers. It has a light, tropical scent works well with most essential oil fragrances.
Coconut oil also has a creamy texture that helps essential oils diffuse evenly into the air. Best of all, coconut oil is naturally antimicrobial, which helps prevent the growth of bacteria and mold in your diffuser.
Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil is virtually odorless and colorless, making it an excellent neutral base for essential oils. It is lightweight, absorbs quickly, and helps essential oils diffuse efficiently into the air.
Grapeseed oil also has mild antioxidant properties to help prevent oils from going rancid in your diffuser.
Jojoba Oil
Like coconut and grapeseed oil, jojoba oil has a minimal scent and light texture. It is moisturizing but non-greasy and helps extend the life of essential oils. Jojoba oil is also naturally high in vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps prevent oxidation of oils.
It makes it a great choice if you plan to keep the same essential oil blend in your diffuser for an extended period.
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet almond oil possesses a subtle nutty scent and a smooth, silky feel. It absorbs slowly, helping to extend the diffusion time of essential oils. Sweet almond oil naturally contains high levels of vitamins A, B, and E, acting as antioxidants that prolong the freshness of oils. This versatile, skin-friendly oil works well in most essential oil diffusers.
The carrier oil you choose depends on preference based on scent, texture, and essential oil compatibility. Try a few options to find one that perfectly complements your favorite essential oil blends.
With the right carrier oil, your home will be filled with fragrance for days.
Read Also: 10 Best Smelling Essential Oils for Home
Our Top Picks for Best Carrier Oils for Essential Oil Diffusers
The oil you use in a diffuser can greatly affect your experience with essential oils. Some of the most popular options for home diffusers include:
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Fractionated coconut oil is lightweight, odorless, and liquid at room temperature. This makes it an excellent choice for essential oil diffusers. It helps distribute the essential oils evenly in your diffuser and the air. Fractionated coconut oil also has a long shelf life and helps preserve essential oils.
PURA D’OR 16 Oz Organic Fractionated Coconut Oil – 100% Pure & Natural USDA Certified
Fractionated Coconut Oil is ideal as a base oil or carrier oil to any of your favorite essential oil.
Plant Therapy Fractionated Coconut Oil for Skin, Hair, Body, Diluted Essential Oils
100% Pure, Natural Moisturizer, Massage & Aromatherapy Liquid Carrier Oil 4 oz
Handcraft Fractionated Coconut Oil – 100% Pure & Natural Premium Grade Coconut Carrier for Essential Massage Oil
Moisturizing Hair Oil & Body Oil – 16 fl. Oz
Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil is another lightweight, neutral-smelling oil that works well in diffusers. It has a high smoke point, so it can handle the diffuser heat without breaking down.
Grapeseed oil pairs nicely with essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, or pine for an energizing aroma. The natural grapeseed base helps enhance and carry these crisp, woodsy scents.
Handcraft Grapeseed Oil – 100% Pure and Natural
Premium Therapeutic Grade Carrier Oil for Aromatherapy, Massage, Moisturizing Skin and Hair
PURA D’OR Organic Grapeseed Oil, 100% Pure USDA
Cold Pressed Carrier Oil, Light & Silky, Helps Moisturize, Clarify & Brighten for Full Body Massage, Hair, Skin & Face
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is considered by many to be the ideal carrier oil for diffusers. It is rich in fatty acids that moisturize the air and leave no oily residue.
Jojoba oil has antioxidant properties to help preserve essential oils and a mild nutty aroma that complements most essential oils. Whether you want an uplifting citrus blend or a calming lavender scent, jojoba oil helps round out the fragrance.
BodyJ4You Jojoba Oil – Organic USDA 100% Pure Natural
Moisturizing Oil Face, Hair, Skin Nails – Cold Pressed, Unrefined, Anti-Aging – Men Women All Skin Types
SOULSATION Non-GMO Jojoba Oil
For Skin, Hair & Face (6oz) | 100% Pure, Natural Cold Pressed
No matter which carrier oil you choose, use high-quality, 100% pure oil. The quality of your carrier oil affects its effectiveness and longevity in your diffuser, just like essential oils.
Choose an oil specifically for aromatherapy or diffuser use for the best results. Your essential oil diffuser can fill your home with pleasant fragrances for hours with the correct oil.
How to Use Carrier Oils With Essential Oils in Diffusers
Essential oils make your home smell nice, but the diffuser needs carrier oil to work well.
Carrier oils help dilute essential oils so they’re safe to diffuse and help the aroma last longer. The most popular carrier oils for home diffusers are:
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Fractionated coconut oil is lightweight, odorless, and works great in diffusers. It helps essential oils diffuse more evenly and prevents clogs.
Fill your diffuser with fractionated coconut oil and add 5-10 drops of your chosen essential oil.
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet almond oil has a mild nutty aroma and is excellent for reed diffusers and essential oil diffusers. Its viscosity helps essential oils soak into reeds better, resulting in a stronger, longer-lasting fragrance.
Fill your reed diffuser or essential oil diffuser 2⁄3 full with sweet almond oil and add 10-15 drops of essential oil
Safflower Oil and Grapeseed Oil
Both safflower and grapeseed oil are neutral-smelling oils that work well in diffusers. They have a thinner consistency than sweet almond oil, so that they may require a few extra drops of essential oil. Either can be used in place of fractionated coconut oil.
Using a carrier oil with essential oils in your diffuser will elevate your home’s aroma safely and naturally. Start with a few drops of essential oil and add more as needed, considering that less is more.
Carrier oils make essential oils last longer, so you can enjoy your scent for 1-2 weeks before refilling your diffuser.
With some experimenting, you’ll find an essential oil-carrier oil combo that turns your place into an aromatic sanctuary.
Carrier Oil and Essential Oil Blend Recipes for Diffusers
Regarding essential oil diffusers, carrier oils help disperse and dilute the essential oils, allowing their fragrance to fill your home. Some of the best carrier oils for diffusers include:
Safflower Oil
Safflower oil has a light, neutral scent and is ideal for diffusing citrus or floral essential oils. Add 3-5 drops of safflower oil to your diffuser for every 10 drops of essential oil. The safflower oil helps the essential oils last longer and disperse more evenly in the air.
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Fractionated coconut oil is a lightweight, odorless coconut oil that works great as a carrier oil in diffusers. It helps essential oils like lavender, lemon, or peppermint distribute better in the air.
Add the same ratio of 3-5 drops of fractionated coconut oil for every 10 drops of essential oil. The coconut oil also leaves your home smelling faintly like coconut, which complements many essential oils.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil has a mild nutty scent and is a popular carrier oil for woodsy essential oils like cedarwood, sandalwood, or patchouli. For every 10 drops of essential oil in your diffuser, add 3-4 drops of jojoba oil. The jojoba oil helps moisturize the air and leaves a subtle, nutty undertone behind.
You can also create custom essential oil diffuser blends by combining multiple carrier oils and essential oils. For example, try 5 drops each of lavender, lemon, and peppermint essential oils with 3 drops each of safflower oil and fractionated coconut oil.
Or blend 4 drops of cedarwood and 6 drops of patchouli essential oils with 5 drops of jojoba oil for an earthy aroma.
The possibilities are endless when you start customizing essential oil diffuser recipes with complementary carrier oils and fragrant essential oils. Your home will smell amazing, and you’ll benefit from the oils’ therapeutic properties.
Mixing Essential Oils With Carrier Oils - Ratios and Tips
When using essential oils in your diffuser at home, carrier oils help extend their aromatic and therapeutic benefits. Carrier oils dilute the essential oils and allow them to cover more area. The most familiar carrier oils for diffusers are:
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has a mild coconut scent and a long shelf life. It blends well with citrus and tropical essential oils. A good dilution ratio is 5-10 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of coconut carrier oil.
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet almond oil moisturizes and is odorless, allowing the essential oils to shine. It works with most essential oils and is a great all-purpose carrier oil. Use 3-5 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of sweet almond oil.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil is a liquid wax ester that closely resembles the natural oils in our skin. It has a mild nutty aroma and is rich in vitamins and fatty acids. Start diluting 2-3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of jojoba oil.
Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil is lightweight, absorbent, and neutral in scent. It works well for essential oil blends that uplift mood or ease stress. A 2% dilution, about 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of grapeseed oil, is an excellent place to start.
Tips for mixing essential oils and carrier oils:
- Always follow the recommended dilution ratio for the specific essential oils you want to use. Generally, a 1-2% dilution (1-2 drops of EO per teaspoon of carrier oil) is a safe place to start for most topical applications.
- Gently stir or swirl to combine the essential oils and carrier oil. Do not shake vigorously.
- Test the blend on a small skin patch first to check for any irritation before diffusing.
- Label and date your blend so you know how long it will stay fresh. Most last 3-6 months.
- You can adjust the amounts to your liking. Add more essential oil for a stronger scent or more carrier oil to lighten the fragrance.
Mixing essential oils with carrier oil at the proper dilution lets you safely enjoy their aromatherapeutic benefits at home. Be sure to follow all usage guidelines and warnings for the specific essential oils in your blend.
Safety Tips When Using Carrier Oils for Diffusers
Taking proper safety precautions is important when using essential oils in your home diffuser. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can irritate the skin if misused. You can safely enjoy their aromatic benefits by diluting them in a carrier oil.
Choose a High-Quality Carrier Oil
For diffusing, fractionated coconut oil is an excellent choice. It has a light, neutral scent and won’t overpower your essential oils.
Sweet almond oil also works well and helps condition the air. Avoid heavy oils like castor oil, which can clog diffusers. Look for organic, cold-pressed carrier oils.
Follow the Proper Dilution Ratio
Generally, use 3 to 5 drops of essential oil for every ounce of carrier oil. This creates a safe dilution of 2% or less. Start with a lower amount, around 1 to 2 drops per ounce. You can always add more essential oil for a more aromatic scent, but you can’t remove it once it’s added!
Test on a Small Area First
Even when adequately diluted, essential oils can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some people. Test the diluted oil on your inner forearm to check for any negative reactions before using it in your home.
Run the Diffusers in Intervals
Wait to run your diffuser continuously for 2 to 4 hours. Give your space at least a 30-minute break between cycles. This will prevent the oils from overpowering and allow you to ventilate the room properly.
Keep out of Reach of Children and Pets
If ingested, essential oils and the carrier oils you dilute them in can be toxic to children and animals. Always keep diffusers and bottles of essential oils well out of the reach of little hands.
By following these tips, you can safely enjoy essential oils’ calming and refreshing benefits in your home.
Storing and Shelf Life of Carrier Oils for Diffusers
Essential and carrier oils have a shelf life, so proper storage is vital to keeping them fresh and compelling. As oils age, they lose potency and can go rancid, which reduces their aromatherapeutic benefits and may even cause skin irritation.
Storing Carrier Oils
Keep your carrier oils in a cool, dark place away from direct heat or sunlight. Separate storage space is good for keeping things away from appliances. Glass bottles with tight-fitting lids are best for storing carrier oils. Plastic containers can leach chemicals into the oils.
Most carrier oils have a shelf life of around 18 months to 2 years. Carrier oils high in unsaturated fatty acids, like sweet almond or apricot kernel oil, may only last 6-12 months.
To maximize freshness, buy carrier oils in smaller sizes within the recommended time.
Once opened, carrier oils will last 6-12 months. Check for bad smells, color changes, or dirt in the oil before using it to see if it’s gone wrong. If it has, throw it away and buy a new bottle.
Storing Essential Oils
Essential oils should also be kept in a cool, dark place away from heat or sunlight. Amber or cobalt glass bottles are ideal for storing essential oils. Plastic bottles do not provide an adequate barrier for the volatile compounds in essential oils.
Most essential oils have a minimum shelf life of 2-5 years if stored properly. Citrus essential oils usually last 6-18 months, while patchouli and sandalwood can last 5 years or longer. Check each bottle for the specific shelf life to ensure maximum freshness and benefits.
Once opened, essential oils will stay fresh for at least 6-12 months. Before using, check the smell and look of the oil to see if it is still fresh. Replace if it has lost aroma, changed color, or developed debris.
Follow these tips to store your essential oils and carrier oils. This will keep them fresh and help you get the most out of your aromatherapy diffuser blends. Please record when you bought and opened oil cans to ensure you use them before expiring.
Conclusion
So there you have a few of the best carrier oils for your essential oil diffuser at home. You have good choices for oils that make essential oils smell better, last longer, or are cheaper.
Test a few and find the best one, making your home smell great. When you refill your diffuser, choose one of these carrier oils and prepare to improve your surroundings.