WellnessCouncil After a long week at work and doing family and personal errands, the best gift you can offer your body is a relaxing full body massage.
You can make this experience even more pleasurable by using unique homemade massage oil.
When mixed right, these oils can promote stress relief, muscle relaxation, and also better mental health.
Making massage oil at home is one of the easiest DIY projects you can undertake. While there are many ready to use oils on the market, nothing can beat the experience of mixing your ingredients to create unique oils.
Essential ips for Mixing Massage Oils
Different people have different preferences when it comes to oil fragrance. It is important to consciously use your sense of smell when mixing your massage oil. Before mixing different oils, always test a drop of the oil and even create a drop mix to get an idea of what the final product will smell like.
It is also advisable to take the mixing process slowly. Mix the ingredients in bit by bit and allow them to blend and evolve into the final product.
This way, you will have time to make changes to your recipe if needs be. Ensure you keep track of the number of drops of oil used in the process and also the order in which you mix them. This will help if you find you love your new recipe and want to repeat it in the future.
Always be gentle with the mixing process. Avoid being too vigorous or forceful as it can damage the organic compounds that give the oils their therapeutic aroma.
Also, do not expose the mixture to direct light or heat as this, too, can affect the composition of the compounds making up the oils.
Always use ceramic or glass mixing tools when making massage oils. Avoid the use of metallic or wooden tools.
Massage Oil Carrier Oils
Carrier oils promote the absorption of essential oils and also prevent skin irritation. When picking a carrier oil, you need one that is skin-friendly, can mix easily with essential oils, and is smooth and silky to the touch.
Sweet almond – this has a wonderful smell, promotes soft skin, is a moisturizer, and is rich in oleic acid, which improves blood pressure and helps to reduce cholesterol levels, making it one of the best carrier oils for a standard massage oil.
Olive oil – This has a rich grassy aroma. It is rich in oleic acid, which improves blood pressure and helps to reduce cholesterol levels.
Cold-pressed coconut oil – This creates a massage oil with a sweet tropical aroma. It is a natural source of lauric acid. It is also one of the best oils if you want to promote healthy skin and hair.
Jojoba oil – This has a rich nutty aroma. This oil oxidizes slowly, giving it a longer shelf life than most plant-based oils. It is also rich in chemicals that are similar to those naturally produced by the skin. This gives it the ability to be absorbed quickly and leaves minimal residue.
Grapeseed oil – This oil has a very subtle scent. It dries faster than most plant-based oils because it is high in linoleic acid.
The average essential oil to carrier oil ratio is 25:30 drops for every 0.5 ounces of therapeutic blends and 25:30 drops per 2 ounces of full body massage oils.
Massage Oil Recipes
A warm spicy blend for mental clarity and mood enhancement
Ingredients
- 14 to 16 drops of sweet orange – which has a cleansing and uplifting aroma.
- 3 to 4 drops of cardamom – used in Ayurveda medicine as a mind and body invigorator. Ideal for easing tension in the nerves.
- 5 to 6 drops of cinnamon bark – a natural stimulant, anti-microbial, and promotes digestive health.
- 3 to 4 drops of coriander seed – a spice that stimulates the senses, aids digestion and soothes inflammation.
You can use almond, jojoba, or coconut as carrier oils.
A pain relief blend
Ingredients
- Roman chamomile – relieves inflammation and pain, relaxes the body and mind, and is a healing compound
- Australian sandalwood – a natural mood enhancer, promotes the senses and relaxation, and opens your airways
- Lemon – a natural cleanser, has anti-inflammatory properties, promotes regeneration of the skin
- Neroli – promotes mental health, has anti-inflammatory properties
Carrier oils to use include jojoba and grapeseed.
A deep forest blend for detoxifying and promoting healthy organ function
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 drops of rosemary – anti-fungal and anti-microbial, promotes pain relief, eases congestion and inflammation, and sharpens the mind.
- 10 to 12 drops of Atlas cedar wood – a natural relaxer and detoxifier, promotes regeneration of cells.
- 5 to 6 drops of oregano – anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, aids digestion, and helps to detoxify the body.
- 3 to 4 drops of Thuja – a natural stimulant and detoxifier, eases joint and tendon pain.
- 2 to 3 drops of grapefruit – promotes healthy skin, is an antioxidant, promotes cell regeneration, and clears and invigorates the mind.
Carrier oils to use include jojoba, grapefruit, or olive oil.
A oil blend for body soothing and digestive health
This blend can be used to relieve muscle spasms, muscle tension, nausea, and bloating.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 drops of ginger – an antioxidant, good for the stomach, and a natural ever reducer.
- 2 to 3 drops of cardamom – quells nausea, invigorates the body, promotes mental clarity, aids in detoxing, and soothes the nerves.
- 5 to 6 drops of frankincense – a digestive aid, natural soother, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant.
- 2 to 3 drops of Neroli.
- 2 to 3 drops of grapefruit – improves skin health, is an antioxidant, and promotes detoxification.
Carrier oils to use include jojoba, almond, and grapeseed.
Method
- Infuse the carrier oil with the dried herbs and strain to remove the herbs.
- Combine the carrier oil with the essential oils and stir to create a scent.
- Store the oil in a bottle for ease of use.
