Relaxing Massage
When choosing a massage oil, just a glance at the vast selection of natural massage oil ingredients on display at your favorite spa shop, health food store, or skin care product retailer's shelves can give you a headache. But you can make your own, and by defining the results you wish to achieve, you'll be able to narrow the choices down to a much more manageable level. All you'll need is a good "carrier" oil and your choice of two or three essential oils.
Choosing Carrier Oils
A carrier oil, the main ingredient in your massage oil, is a vegetable oil. It's used to dilute the concentration of the chosen essential oils. Carriers serve to reduce essential oil evaporation from the preparation, and aid in skin absorption of the massage oil.
The important qualities of a good massage oil are simple and few, and are determined by the properties of the carrier oils used. It's desirable for the product to be unlikely to irritate skin or cause adverse reactions. It shouldn't leave the skin feeling greasy following its use. Nor should it tend to turn rancid quickly, taking on an unpleasant odor. A good massage oil should allow the hands to glide effortlessly over the skin. It should also be absorbed fairly quickly, yet not so much so that you'll need to keep reapplying it constantly.
Grapeseed, apricot kernel, kukui nut, and fractionated coconut oils all possess these most desirable properties.
About Essential Oils
Essential oils are distilled from the flowers, leaves, bark, stems, seeds, berries, or roots of plants. They're highly concentrated extracts, so a little goes a very long way. Though they're referred to as "oils," these liquids don't really feel oily. The main types of essential oil fragrances are citrus, floral, green, spicy, and woody.
Don't make the mistake of confusing essential oils with "fragrance" or "perfume" oils, which are not natural but have been created artificially or contain manmade substances. These don't offer any of the therapeutic benefits of essentials.
Essential oils are typically retailed in very small bottles and can vary tremendously in price. They're available as single fragrances or as blends of two or more different essential oils. The best way to store your essential oils is in dark blue or brown glass jars or bottles with tight-fitting lids. Keep them in a cool, dark location for maximum shelf life, and well out of the reach of children.
These oils are meant to be used for their fragrances only, and should never be taken internally. Medical attention should be sought immediately if essential oils come into contact with the eyes. Pregnant women and children under 2 years of age should not use essential oils. Avoid sun exposure for at least 8 hours after using lemon, bergamot, ginger or orange oils because skin irritation can result.
Natural Massage Oil Recipes
Natural massage oil recipes are as individual as their creators. But they're all made with the same simple technique, which is nothing more than adding fragrance to carriers. There's no right or wrong order in which to add ingredients, and any recipe can be customized by the nose that is making it. Although you may use any carrier oil you prefer, these recipes all work especially well with grapeseed oil.
For a natural citrus massage oil, add 2 drops lemongrass, 2 drops orange blossom, and 2 drops neroli essential oils to 8 teaspoons of carrier oil.
Create a heady, provocative floral massage oil by adding 2 drops jasmine, 6 drops lavender, and 2 drops rose essential oils to 6 teaspoons of carrier oil. If the fragrance is overpowering, add as much as another 2 teaspoons of carrier to the massage oil.
A delightfully minty-fresh green massage oil requires 2 drops peppermint, 3 drops eucalyptus, and 4 drops rosemary essential oils added to 10 teaspoons of carrier.
Blend a spicy Oriental massage oil from 2 drops myrrh, 6 drops sandalwood, and 2 drops jasmine essential oils added to 6 teaspoons of carrier oil. If the jasmine tends to be a bit overwhelming, calm it down a little with up to 2 more teaspoons of carrier oil.
For a woodsy masculine tone, combine 2 drops cedar wood, 2 drops chamomile, and 5 drops rosewood essential oils with 10 teaspoons of carrier oil.
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