Rollers are my favourite way to use essential oils topically. Having your oils in rollers means they’re:
💧Pre-diluted and ready to use
💧Blended to create the specific oil you need
💧 Mess-free
💧 Waste-free in two ways: no more accidentally using more oil than you need + the roller tops and bottles can be reused
💧 Cost effective – you get way more bang for your oily buck when you dilute and use a roller top
Rollers can be diluted to the right essential oil quantity for various members of the family and diluting them with a fatty carrier oil means they can’t evaporate as quickly so your body has a better chance of assimilating them.
There are a number of key differences between essential oils and carrier oils, and as such, their uses are highly varied.
While essential oils are distilled from leaves, roots, bark, rhizome and flowers of plants, carrier oils are usually cold-pressed from the fatty part of a plant – nuts, seeds and kernels.
While carrier oils can be and are used for their own purposes and benefits, when used in conjunction with an essential oil, in topical application, the carrier oil’s purpose is to help dilute and transfer the essential oil.
Carrier oils don’t evaporate quickly like essential oils, have only a light odour (if any) and don’t require further dilution.
There are dozens of carrier oils. Here is a break-down of just some of the more popular carrier oils and how to use them.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil closely mimics the wax that human skin produces and can help to keep the skin smooth and supple. It is absorbed rapidly and penetrates deeply into the skin, making it ideal for facial moisturisers. It’s high in Vitamins A, D and E as well as Omega 3. I use jojoba in my daily moisturiser.
Coconut Oil
When using coconut oil, it’s important to choose the correct type for the purpose. Regular coconut oil is good for DIY products that you want to re-solidify (for example a chest rub or body butter), but for rollers and most other products that need to be rolled on/sprayed, you’ll definitely want to use fractionated coconut oil as it won’t solidify. Fractionated coconut oil is also generally scent-free whereas regular coconut oil will have a distinct coconut scent. Note: fractionated coconut oil is much “thinner” than the other oils listed here.
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil has anti-inflammatory properties so is a nice one to blend with lavender and frankincense for helping sooth insect bites.
Rosehip Oil
Traditionally considered a legendary anti-ageing oil, rosehip has predominantly been recommended for the face. It can be used exclusively on the face as a moisturiser but is quite heavy so you may want to blend it with a lighter oil such as sweet apricot or jojoba.
Apricot Kernel Oil
Oil from apricot kernel is high in Vitamin E, making it a fabulous moisturiser and skin soother. Being light and non-greasy, it is often used interchangeably with jojoba oil.
Essential Oil Dilution Ratios
There are wide variations in the recommendations surrounding dilution ratios. It can vary between essential oil manufacturers and even between qualified aromatherapists. These recommendations come from the Australia College of Aromatherapy.
💧Babies 0-3 months: maximum of 0.2% dilution which is approximately 1 drop of essential oil in 20-30 mL of carrier oil
💧Babies 3-24 months: maximum of 0.5% dilution which is approximately 1 drop of essential oil in 10 mL of carrier oil
💧Children 2-6 years: maximum 2% dilution which is approximately 6 drops of essential oil in 10 mL of carrier oil
💧Youth 6-15 years: maximum 3% dilution which is approximately 9 drops of essential oil in 10 mL of carrier oil
💧15 years+: maximum 5% dilution which is approximately 15 drops of essential oil in 10 mL of carrier oil
Safety Notes
💧Always patch test before applying more widely
💧Never apply to broken skin
💧Do not apply where there is a skin condition present
💧Do not apply oils that are contraindicated with any medications you currently take (check with your healthcare professional)
💧Do not apply citrus oils topically before going outside
💧Never use essential oils containing menthol (such as peppermint) on the chest/neck of children under the age of 3
