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Bottle of homemade massage oil with towels and lavender.
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Relaxing Massage Oil

This simple massage oil recipe is great for healing and relaxing. Feel free to vary the oils used to better suit your needs.
Keyword massage oil
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 100 g
Author Tracy Ariza, DDS

Equipment

  • kitchen scale for weighing out ingredients
  • jewelers scale for weighing out vitamin E and essential oils
  • syringe for measuring by volume instead
  • dark glass jar for storage

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Mix the sunflower oil, the macadamia nut oil, and the castor oil. This can be done directly in the storage bottle or in a separate container.
  • Add the essential oils and vitamin E. Use a jeweler's scale for more accurate measurement if measured by weight.
  • Seal the bottle and gently swirl the oils together to ensure they are thoroughly mixed.
  • To use the oil, warm it between your hands and then apply it to the area you want to massage. Use smooth, gentle strokes for a relaxing effect or firmer pressure for working through muscle tension.

Video

Notes

  • This recipe is forgiving and can be measured by weight or volume. Be consistent, though, and use the same type of measurement for all ingredients. Aim for around 1% essential oils and around 0.5% of vitamin E if you're using it/them. 
  • For the carrier base, you don't need to use a combination of carrier oils. If you prefer, use one of the lighter oils like sunflower oil instead. Choose oils that match your skin type. (For help choosing, see the table in the post.)
  • Always conduct a patch test first to ensure there is no allergic reaction to the blend.
  • Store your massage oil in a cool, dark place to maintain the integrity of the oils.
  • Certain essential oils can degrade some plastics - so it's best to use glass containers.
  • Massage oils can stain fabrics, so use towels that you don't mind getting a little oily.
  • The shelf life can be estimated by looking at the best-by date on all of the ingredients and using the one with the shortest shelf life as a reference.
  • This is an oil-based product that does not need a preservative. Keep water and moisture out to ensure it isn't contaminated. 
  • The following cold-pressed oils can cause photosensitivity, meaning that they can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This increased sensitivity can lead to a greater risk of sunburn, skin irritation, or discoloration when the skin is exposed to sunlight or UV rays after applying or using the essential oil.: (Use distilled instead to avoid issues.)
    • Bergamot  
    • Lemon  
    • Lime
    • Bitter orange
    • Grapefruit (Distilled may also cause photosensitivity.)
    Apart from the citrus oils, some other oils, like petitgrain, marigold, lemongrass, and verbena, among others, may also cause photosensitivity.
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