What are fixed or carrier oils?
Aromatherapy is not only about essential oils. Aromatherapy, especially in massage, involves the use of fixed oils. In aromatherapy, vegetable oils are called “fixed” or “carrier” oils. These are the names given to vegetable oils usually expressed from the seeds, fruit, or nuts of a plant. These oils are not volatile and are fatty. Examples are olive, safflower, and sweet almond. Fixed oils, by themselves, have their own set of values and therapeutic properties, and can be used with or without essential oils. If you blend essential oils with fixed oils, the fixed oils should constitute the bulk (90-95%) of your blend.
