Carrier oils get their name because they “carry” the essential oils through the pores into the skin.
Essential oils are “volatile” meaning they quickly turn into a gas when exposed to the air. This is why you get that wonderful scent wafting through the air when opening a bottle of essential oil. The carrier helps counteract this volatility, allowing the essential oils to be absorbed by the skin instead of vaporizing.
It is worth noting that applying essential oils to the skin “neat” (full strength, without dilution) is not recommended. Skin sensitivity, or skin sensitization (a type of allergic response), can occur when essential oils are not properly diluted. This can lead to a permanent allergic reaction to the essential oil. This is why our blends include carrier oils.