The list of carrier oils with high popularity includes coconut oil, castor oil, and argan oil. Most of them are extracted from nuts, seeds, and plants.
Each carrier oil is different. As a result, there can be no short answer to ‘what is the best carrier oil’ question. You can consider all of the options listed below if you’re making your perfume.
What are carrier oils?
Carrier oils are used to ‘carry’ essential oils. If you’re read the post on how to make perfume you know that essential oils evaporate quickly and that carrier oils don’t evaporate as they are less volatile. Most carrier oils are not aromatic and their odorless profile makes them a top choice for making perfumes.
Carrier oils in perfume
Cold-pressed, refined, and unrefined carrier oils are used to make perfume. With a generally neutral profile and reduced impact on essential oils, carrier oils are used to dilute pure perfume essence.
List of carrier oils
Almond oil – high in Vitamin A and E, almond carrier oil is popularly used in skincare and homemade perfumes
Apricot Kernel oil – used for perfumes made at home, it has a subtle version of almond oil with multiple skin benefits
Argan oil – widely used for hair benefits
Avocado oil – normally used with other carrier oils due to its versatility it works as a perfume carrier oil
Babassu oil – very similar to coconut oil sourced from South America
Black cumin seed oil – an aromatic woody oil
Black seed oil – antifungal used for hair benefits
Borage seed oil – light and sweet, borage seed oil can alter the scent of essential oils
Calendula infused oil – slightly aromatic and flora, the oil can be used with floral ingredients in perfumes
Camelia seed oil – rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E with a mild aroma
Castor oil – used for multiple health benefits
Coconut oil – odorless and widely available, the oil is a good start for perfume compositions
Cranberry seed oil – high in vitamins, the carrier oil can be bitter
Emu oil – made from the fat of the Emu bird, used for treatments
Evening primrose oil – mainly considered for its high gamma linoleic acid content
Grapeseed oil – slightly sweet, the carrier oil is not widely used in fragrances
Hazelnut oil – mainly used for oily skin cosmetics
Hemp seed oil – high in linoleic acid low in THC
Jojoba oil – the moisturizing oil can be used in aromatherapy and perfume making
Kukui nut oil – nutty in aroma, the carrier oil is best used for skin benefits
Macadamia nut oil – thick oil known for its 60% content of oleic acid
Meadowfoam seed oil – good for perfumes as it’s odorless
Moringa oil – very high 70% oleic acid content made by cold pressing techniques
Neem oil – not used in perfumery due to its bitter smell
Olive oil – a fatty type of carrier oil with multiple skin benefits
Peanut oil – balanced profile with 50% oleic acid content
Pecan oil – strong aroma, rarely used in fragrances
Pomegranate seed oil – used on irritated skin
Rosehip oil – used in combinations with other carrier oils and rosewater listed above high in alpha-linoleic acid
Seabuckthorn berry oil – mostly used in anti-aging products
Sesame seed oil – aromatic oil used in aromatherapy
Sunflower seed oil – used for a long shelf life homemade perfumes
Tamanu oil – rich in antioxidants, beneficial to the skin
Watermelon seed oil – nourishing oil which absorbs quickly
The list of carrier oils is always growing. As you can see above, not all of them can freely be used to make perfume. Some of them are aromatic while others are odorless. But you can experiment with mixing these oils with your essential oils to test out the longevity and overall texture for your next homemade perfume.