Before you start to make your own aromatherapy massage oil, there are a few simple rules to remember. Please remember that some essential oils are very potent and some are even toxic; essential oils should always be diluted with base/carrier oil *. Adding more of the essential oil does not give you any added benefits and could make your feel ill or irritate the skin. When using essential oils, less is more.

* Lavender and Tea Tree essential oil can be used directly on the skin, but you must limit the amount of time you do this.

How Do I Make Massage Oils?

When mixing massage oil, always measure your essential oils in drops using a dropper or pipette and remember to use a clean pipette for each oil you use. When mixing your oils, try to do this quickly as the oils evaporate very quickly.

The general mixing ratios for creating your own massages oil are:

15ml of Base carrier oil - 3-5 Drops of essential oil
30ml of Base carrier oil - 7-10 Drops of essential oil
60ml of Base carrier oil - 15-20 Drops of essential oil

First choose a base carrier oil (see list below) which is suitable for the body parts you are going to massage. Pour out the required amount of base carrier oil into a glass measuring cup, and add the required amount of essential oil to the glass measuring cup and mix well.

If you are making aromatherapy massage oils to store or you need to transport the oil, pour the carrier base oil into one of our glass amber bottles, add your essential oils and mix well. Then replace the bottle cap to store the oil. We have a range of storage and mixing bottles, in our aromatherapy accessories department.

Aromatherapy massage oil should be stored for no longer then six months. To help preserve the oil, you can add a teaspoon of wheat germ oil.

Which Base Oil Should I Use?

Different base oils, work best on different parts of the body. These oils are shown below:

Body - Sweet Almond, Sunflower and Grapeseed.
Face - Sweet Almond, Wheat germ, Peach Kernel, Apricot Kernel, Avocado and Jojoba.
Skin Problems - Apricot Kernel, Evening Primrose, Sunflower, Sweet Almond, Wheat germ and Olive Oil.

Massage Oil Recipes

Here are some simple massage oil recipes you might like to try, before creating your own unique blends.

Relaxing Back Massage - 60ml Grapeseed base carrier oil, with 7 drops of Neroli and 7 drops of Jasmine Dilute essential oil. Massage oil into the back.

Problem Cellulite - 60ml Sweet Almond base carrier oil, with 4 drops of Juniper, 4 drops of Rosemary and 4 drops of lavender essential oil. Massage oil into problem areas.

Headache - 15ml Grapeseed base carrier oil with 2 drops of Marjoram essential oil, 2 drops of Lavender and 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil. Massage oil into neck, shoulders and the upper part of the back.

Uplifting Body Massage - 30ml Grapeseed base carrier oil, with 4 drops of Lavender, 5 drops of Black Pepper and 6 drops of Benzoin essential oil. Massage oil into the back and legs to help relieve tense muscles.

More recipes are available on our aromatherapy recipe page.

We hope these recipes inspire you in the creation of new and wonderful blends. Please let us know how you get on.

** Always remember to use caution when using essential oils. When used correctly they are perfectly safe for home use, but if you’re unsure you should seek advice from a qualified aromatherapist.