You do this by mixing a few drops of the essential oil with what’s known as a carrier oil—a fatty extract of a nut or seed. It might seem backwards to say that diluting a substance makes it more effective, but in this case it is true.”
If you apply essential oil neat, a few things may happen:
• Skin irritation – your skin may be sensitive to the concentrated oil, thwarting the healing benefits that you are seeking to create.
• Permanent damage – you may become sensitized to an oil if you don’t dilute with a carrier. A type of contact dermatitis, an allergic response may prevent you from ever using a particular oil ever again. You’ll know if this happens because you’ll experience a number of signs and symptoms every time you use a particular oil: headaches, itching, hives, nausea, or a number of other adverse reactions.
• Waste money– being “volatile,” essential oils quickly evaporate when applied on the surface of your skin. When you dilute, the fats in the carrier oil will help prevent this from happening and ensure that the essential oils will penetrate into your pores.
• Waste precious resources – as essential oil demand skyrockets, we have observed that the market is literally “consumerizing” plants to extinction .
By diluting in a carrier, you’re using less essential oil while getting the same therapeutic effect without the safety risks. Not to mention, you’re doing your part to help make sure your children and grandchildren can enjoy these wonderful gifts from nature that we all too often take for granted. It’s a win-win-win for everyone!
While there are some rare instances when neat is desirable—gentle oils like lavender and Roman chamomile, or oils used under the supervision of a trained professional—the best solution is to dilute essential oils in a carrier every single time.
How to Make Mama Z's Base Carrier Oil Video: