Essential Oil and Carrier oil. What's the difference?

You might have heard talk about essential oils and carrier oils and wondered, "What's the difference?". They are both made from plant matter, they are both natural, they are both valued for their qualities and attributes for the body.  Given all these similarities, how do they differ?

Let's dive in.

An Essential Oil captures the essence or scent of a plant and is made using some kind of plant matter. That plant matter could be fruits, roots, leaves, flowers, wood, seeds, resin or peel. The most common extraction method used to produce what we call "Essential Oils" is steam distillation. This is the process where steam is injected, at high pressure, into the bottom of a sealed container with an amount of the desired plant. The steam rises up through the plant matter, bursting the cell walls and in this way the plants oil is released and collected.* The oil that is produced is considered Volatile and will evaporate in open air.

Another common way essential oil is obtained is by cold pressing aka expression. In this case the raw material is subjected to mechanical puncturing and pressure. This method is typically employed for the rinds of citrus fruits like Grapefruit, Lime, Blood Orange, Lemon and Bergamot. Think of bending an orange peel until it emits a squirt of fragrant liquid. It is basically the same, but on a larger and more sophisticated scale. 

Aromatic oils have been used for centuries and were referred to as many as 200 times in the Bible. The modern term "essential oil" was not in used until much later, so, as a phrase, the term "essential oil" does not appear. What is mentioned are infused oils, scented oils, anointing oils, balms, spices, fragrant plants and fragrant resins. This also explains why two of the gifts given to the baby Jesus were Frankincense and Myrrh. Both of these substances were valued for strengthening the immune system of a baby, and were more valuable than the gold carried by the third wise man.=

Greek and Roman physicians learned of the use of essential oils from the Egyptians around 1800 BCE*. After the fall of the Roman Empire, pursuing the study of essential oils and their uses played a less prominent role and was, in part, lost to history.

Avicenna, a Persian scientist born in 980 CE, rediscovered the art of distillation and was the first person to distill rose oil using the refrigerated coil he invented. He was considered a prodigy, practicing medicine at 18 and broadly advocating for the use of all parts of the rose.+ With this essential oils came into use again.

Research on the effects of essential oils continued and in 1928 Rene-Maurice Gattesfosse coined the term aromatherapie. His family were perfumers and he began studying the therapeutic effects of essential oils after badly burning his hand in a laboratory explosion. He submerged his hand into a container of lavender oil to ease his pain, and would come to publish papers and books about the chemistry of perfumes and cosmetics.=

Essential oils are considered to have an effect on a persons mental state like mood, mindset, stress, anxiety, depression, grief and more. They are also known to have an effect on a persons physical state like wounds, burns, muscle and joint stiffness, acne, insect bites, respiratory illnesses, migraine, etc.=

Carrier oils are oils obtained from seeds, nuts, kernels or stones by cold pressing or expression. This method produces a fatty liquid oil, solid butter or wax that is the foundational ingredient in most body care products. In many cases these oils deliver essential fatty acids that the body is not able to produce on its own; they also deliver vital nutrients, vitamins and minerals that the human body requires to function properly. 

Collectively carrier oils are considered emollient or a substance that is known to moisturize, soften and smooth the skin, creating a moisture barrier while preventing water loss. Carrier oils deliver essential fatty acids (EFA's) like Omegas 3 & 6. They strengthen the skin, increase elasticity, reduce skin irritation and increase suppleness.

Liquid carrier oils vary greatly in viscosity and therefor use. Some oils are very thin like Argan, Chia and Grape seed oils while others are thick or highly viscous like Castor or Neem. Oils that don't completely absorb into the skin due to the size of the molecule, are considered occlusive. These oils form a protective layer on the skin which prevents dehydration, enhances protection while still allowing the skin to breathe. Examples of occlusive oils are Avocado, Olive, Sesame and Coconut. While these oils have wonderful qualities, it is recommended to use them either blended with other lighter oils, or on targeted areas of the body. Since they are unable to fully penetrate and absorb into the skin, oil will come off onto clothing, upholstery or other surfaces you come into contact with. 

 Butters are carrier oils that are solid at room temperature. Example of butters are Shea, Mango, and Cocoa. You may be thinking "What about Coconut?". Coconut oil is considered a soft butter and has a melting point of 76 degrees Fahrenheit. Since it can be either liquid or solid depending on its environment, it is in a league of its own. Other butters have a melting point between 86-113 degrees Fahrenheit.

Waxes are often thought of as a solid material, but Jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax. Jojoba oil is extracted from the seeds of a shrub found in the Sonoran desert in Arizona, California and Mexico. It has the unique characteristic of being most similar to your bodies own oil (sebum) and is readily absorbed by the skin. It has a longer shelf life than other oils and is an excellent choice for any skin type. Other waxes like Carnauba and Candelilla are plant based, while Beeswax is clearly brought to us by bees.*#

Now you know the difference between essential oils and carrier oils; how they're used and what they contribute.

References

*Aromatherapy: The Healing Power of Plants and Flowers. Anna Huete

--Comprehensive overview of essential oil extraction methods and traits like viscosity, color and chemical composition.

+The Aromatherapy Companion. Victoria H. Edwards

--Authoritative source for history of essential oil use and the life of Avicenna.

=Essential OIls: Natural Healing for the Body and Soul. Publications International. Ltd.

--Provides overview of how essential oils effect the body and how the brain processes scent.

*Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Sonoma Press page 11

*# Gail Francombe & Gareth Despres, Carrier Oils Workbook, Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation, School of Natural Skincare 2018