Just a quick comparison of 3 types of oils:
*Essential Oils
*Carrier Oils
*Fragrance Oils
Let's start with ESSENTIAL OILS:
Essential oils are produced from plants. Yes, there is much more that goes into the actual manufacturing process, but essential oils actually requiring the plant in order to have the scent created.
Essential oils are pure extracts from plant parts. They retain the natural smell and flavour, or essence, of their plant source.
#1: Essential oils are volatile - they turn to vapor. Essential oils smell because they convert to vapour at room temperature - and our nose senses those vapors.
#2: Essential oils are mainly used for their aromatic qualities, which work on mind and body alike. Some of them have specific skin care qualitites. They are not meant to be emollient, moisturizing, or nourishing in nature.
#3: Essential oils work more by the action of the vapours than by their direct action on skin-of course, with some exceptions.
#4: Essential oils have high irritation potential - so it's good to be cautious while working with them. Always patch test, check for your pets' compatibility, and never use undiluted. Particularly if you have sensitive skin, you have to be really, really careful with these.
#5: Essential oils should never be used without carrier oils. Because they are so concentrated, essential oils should be diluted to at least 5% (and often lower) with carrier oils before using on skin.
#6: Essential oils are derived through distillation of plant parts (heating to separate the vapor part of the plant extracts). This could come from roots, stems, leaves and fruits. This gives them the aromatic quality.
CARRIER OILS:
On the never-ending quest for the perfect essential oil recipes, you’ve probably come across the phrase “carrier oil” a time or two. Typically, these are used to dilute essential oils. Carrier oils are commonly employed in skincare, cleaning products, aromatherapy and diffuser recipes, and are good to have on hand if you want to apply oil to your skin directly or dial back a specific oil’s scent or intensity. All EOs should be diluted in a carrier oil before applying to your skin.
1. Carrier oils (usually) aren’s scented—While some carriers, like tamanu oil and rosehip oil, do have a scent, they generally won’t drastically alter the scent of your essential oils. Think of most of these oils as neutral-smelling, so they work well in many applications.
2. Carrier oils make essential oils less irritating —Safety is a prime consideration when it comes to working with essential oils. Carrier oils can improve the safety of certain recipes by making them less volatile so they reduce any risk associated with directly applying them to the skin and other surfaces.
3. Carrier oils don’t evaporate—Another thing to know about essential oils is that they may evaporate and may not fully absorb into the skin. On the other hand, carrier oils are known as “fixed oils” because they stay fixed on the skin and allow for more absorption.
4. Carrier oils alter consistency—No matter if you’re making an essential oil face mask or an all-natural cleaning product, consistency matters. Carrier oils basically blend with essential oils and will help you make formulas thinner or thicker, depending on the type of carrier oil.
5. Carrier oils have a shelf life—Because they’re high in essential fatty acids, carrier oils do have a shelf life. Depending on the type of oil, it may last between six months and two years, so proper storage is important. Many should be stored in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature. Some carrier oils, like meadowfoam carrier oil, last much longer than others.
6. Carrier oils are amazingly varied—Just like aromatic essential oils, carrier oils vary in terms of qualities, benefits and sources. They may be produced from nuts, seeds, stems or kernels. Because they differ in consistency, color, smell and benefits, there’s usually one that’s perfect for your specific applications.
FRAGRANCE OILS:
Fragrance oils are by definition, synthetic and man-made. They're created with a mix of aroma chemicals and natural ingredients like essential oils, extracts, and resins. ... You're not limited to natural sources that produce essential oils.
51 USES FOR FRAGRANCE OILS
1) Use as is on the skin for perfume
2) Put in water for a air freshener spray
3) Use a little behind your pet’s ear
4) Put on silk flowers or trees
5) Put on fabric softener dry sheets
6) A few drops on your pillow
7) A drop on your cold light bulb to scent a room
8) Keep a cotton ball with fragrance oil under your car seat
9) Throw some in your bath water
10) Refresh old potpourri
11) Add some to a gift package bow
12) On a hanky in your purse
13) Dresser drawer sachets
14) Add to plain lotion
15) Put in oil for massage
16) Use on a paper towel and tuck in stored shoes
17) Pour a smidgen down a funky drain overnight
18) In water for a cooling personal spray
19) Put on a doorway
20) A little on a sunny windowsill
21) Hide some in a linen closet
22) Add to lingerie wash water
23) In your wood stove water pan
24) On your heat vents
25) Under trash can liners
26) On a love note
27) Freshen a stale basket
28) Use in soap making
29) Add to a wooden necklace
30) Put on a bed headboard
31) Add to a burning candle
32) Put in bath oil
33) Add to stored blankets
34) Use in aroma burner (with water)
35) Under the collar of a jacket
36) In a gym bag
37) On an artificial Christmas tree
38) Add to holiday ornaments
39) Perk up old sachets
40) Put some on a high traffic rug ( under )
41) Use for meditation
42) Put in old sneakers
43) Use in a one minute manicure
44) Refresh car air fresheners
45) Put some in a pencil cup to scent pens etc.
46) For aroma jewelry
47) In water on stove top
48) In cornstarch for a scented powder
49) Pour in the jacuzzi
50) On a tent when camping
51) Add to live flowers with no scent
Now, start creating!