Essential Oils Vs Carrier Oils: Understanding The Difference
Although essential oils and carrier oils are called oils, there is a necessary and intrinsic difference between the two. Basically, essential oils are aromatic extracts derived from the aromatic extracts of medicinal or aromatic parts of a plant. On the other hand, carrier oils are lipids squeezed out of a plant's seeds. The purity of essential oil can be judged by the fact that it generally feels very light and non-greasy to the touch and is most likely to evaporate quickly. A carrier oil is usually heavier and oilier and is expected to sit longer on the skin without evaporating. While the difference between the two is evident, one may wonder why both are called 'oils.' If we look at the chemistry of the oils, we will be able to understand that the molecules of both oils behave similarly around water. Neither of the oils will dissolve or mix in water and continue to remain separate from it. This means that they act in a non-polar manner near water, which is why they ar...