The main difference between carrier oil and essential oil is that carrier oil can be used directly on the skin while essential oil cannot be used directly on the skin.
Essential oils, which are natural oils obtained from parts of plants, are highly concentrated and too strong to be applied directly to the skin. Carrier oils are oils that we can use to dilute essential oils so that they can be safely used on the skin.
Key areas covered
1. What is carrier oil - definition, nature, use 2. What is essential oil - definition, nature, use 3. Difference between carrier oil and essential oil - comparison of the most important differences
key terms
Base Oil, Carrier Oil, Essential Oil, Oil
What is carrier oil?
Carrier oil is a vegetable oil with little or no fragrance that helps dilute essential oils. They are also known as base oils or solid oils. We call them carrier oils because they have the ability to transport essential oils into the skin. They help essential oils spread more evenly on the skin. In addition, the absorption of the essential oil will depend on the thickness of the carrier oil. Also, the dilution of the essential oil depends on the type of oil the oil is applied to, as well as the size and health of the person.
Carrier oils are typically extracted from the fatty parts of a plant such as seeds, kernels, or nuts. Coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, hemp oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, hazelnut oil, and flaxseed oil are some examples of carrier oils.
Figure 1: Olive Oil
There are several factors to consider when choosing the carrier oil that will best suit you, such as: B. Your skin type, where you apply the oil and whether or not you have allergies. To find the carrier oil that suits you best, you can experiment with a patch test with a few oils. Then you can see how your skin is reacting and choose the best carrier oil for you.
What is essential oil
Essential oil is a natural oil with the characteristic scent and taste of the plant or other source from which it is obtained. In other words, it captures the "essence" of the plant from which it was extracted. They carry the essence of flowers, leaves, seeds, roots and other parts of plants. These oils are obtained by distillation or mechanical processes such as cold pressing. Lavender oil, orange oil, tea tree oil, sandalwood oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, cinnamon oil, and lemon oil are some examples of essential oils.
Figure 2: Lavender Oil
It is important to understand that essential oil is made from a single type of plant (lavender oil is made from lavender) and that not all plants produce essential oils. You can also find essential oils that are sold in raw form and bottled in tinted glasses. You can also find them in products like soap, perfume , cream , lotion , shampoo , bath salts, and candles.
Essential oils are highly concentrated and volatile. They are too strong to be applied directly to the skin. That's why we first dilute them with a carrier oil before applying them to the skin.
Difference Between Carrier Oil and Essential Oil
definition
Carrier oil is a vegetable oil with little or no fragrance that helps dilute essential oils, while the essential oil is a natural oil with the distinctive scent and taste of the plant or other source from which it is obtained.
odor
While carrier oils are lightly perfumed or not perfumed, essential oils are heavily perfumed.
application on the skin
Carrier oil can be applied directly to the skin, while essential oil cannot be applied directly to the skin.
nature
In addition, carrier oils are not very strong / potent or volatile, while essential oils are highly concentrated, strong, and volatile.
source
Carrier oils are typically extracted from the fatty parts of a plant such as seeds, kernels, or nuts, while essential oils are extracted from flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, and other parts of the plant.
Examples
Coconut oil, sweet almond oil, sesame oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil are some examples of carrier oils, while rosemary oil, lavender oil, orange oil, sandalwood oil, and cinnamon oil are examples of essential oils.
price
In addition, carrier oils are cheaper than essential oils.
diploma
Essential oils, which are natural oils obtained from parts of plants, are highly concentrated and too strong to be applied directly to the skin. Carrier oils are oils that we can use to dilute essential oils so that they can be safely used on the skin. Therefore, the main difference between carrier oil and essential oil is that carrier oil can be used directly on the skin while essential oil cannot be used directly on the skin.
Reference:
1. Wong, Cathy. “The Most Popular Types of Carrier Oils.” Verywell Health, Dec 6, 2019, available here .2. West, Helena. "What Are Essential Oils and Do They Work?" Healthline, Healthline-Medien, available here .
Image courtesy:
1. “968657” (CC0) via Pixabay 2. “Lavender oil” by Giantera - Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
