Massage oils can provide an array of benefits, from deeply moisturizing skin to relieving muscle soreness and tension. While you can purchase pre-made massage oils, creating your own custom blends at home gives you total control over the ingredients and aromas. Follow the steps in this guide to create your own massage oil recipes which will allow you to craft the perfect massage experience to target your specific needs.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about making your own DIY massage oils. You’ll discover the advantages of homemade blends, learn how to select the right carrier and essential oils, and find recipes for relaxation, pain relief, and more. With just a few simple ingredients and easy steps, you can become your own massage oil maker!
Why Make Your Own Massage Oils?
Purchasing massage oils from the store certainly works, but taking the time to craft your own massage oil recipes and therapeutic blends has some major upsides:
Total Customization
The key benefit of homemade massage oils is getting to decide the exact ingredients and essential oil scents that appeal most to your personal preferences. You have full control over choosing the carrier oils, selecting which essential oils to include, and perfecting the proportions to create your ideal aromatherapy massage experience.
Cost Savings
Buying ready-made massage oils, especially premium organic brands, can get expensive. Blending your own oils at home allows you to purchase ingredients like carrier oils and essential oils in bulk at lower costs. As long as you store them properly, these ingredients will keep for several months, saving you money in the long run.
Create Blends for Specific Needs
Everybody’s body and massage needs are different. By making your own oils, you can curate targeted blends designed to nourish your skin while also promoting desired effects like pain relief, relaxation, or invigoration. The possibilities are endless when you play around with combining various carrier oils and essential oils.
Avoid Unwanted Ingredients
When purchasing pre-made massage oils, you have no control over potential additives like preservatives, artificial fragrances, and other questionable ingredients. Making your own allows you to keep the ingredient list pure and natural.
Choosing the Right Carrier Oils
Carrier oils form the base of any great homemade massage oil. Their main purpose is to dilute essential oils while also nourishing and moisturizing the skin. Popular options like sweet almond, coconut, jojoba, and grapeseed oil each offer unique benefits and properties:
Sweet Almond Oil
- Light, silky texture that absorbs easily
- Delivers softening vitamin E
- Calming sweet almond scent
- Suited for all skin types, including sensitive
Coconut Oil
- Intensely moisturizing
- Soothing on skin
- Light tropical coconut aroma
- Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory
Jojoba Oil
- Mimics skin’s natural oils
- Rapidly absorbed, non-greasy
- High in antioxidants
- Long shelf life
- No scent
Grapeseed Oil
- Very high in antioxidants
- Lightweight, non-greasy finish
- Helps retain moisture in skin
- Minimally scented
- Rich in omega fatty acids
When selecting your carrier oils, think about skin type and the experience you want to create. For example, jojoba oil works well for acne-prone skin, while sweet almond oil provides a more luxurious feel.
Enhance with Essential Oils
Essential oils give DIY massage oils their aromatic and therapeutic qualities. Many popular options like lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus impart relaxing or invigorating properties. Always dilute essential oils properly with a carrier oil before applying them directly to skin.
Here are some top essential oils to consider using in your homemade massage oil recipes:
Soothing and Relaxing Oils
- Lavender: Promotes calm, eases anxiety, aids sleep
- Chamomile: Relieves stress, enhances relaxation
- Ylang Ylang: Reduces tension, boosts mood
- Clary Sage: Calms nervous tension, provides euphoric sensation
- Marjoram: Alleviates fatigue, tranquilizing effect
Invigorating and Uplifting Oils
- Peppermint: Energizes mind and body, improves focus
- Rosemary: Stimulates circulation, improves concentration
- Lemon: Uplifts mood, increases alertness
- Eucalyptus: Clarifies mind, alleviates headaches
- Grapefruit: Refreshing citrusy scent energizes senses
Pain Relief Oils
- Eucalyptus: Alleviates muscle aches, joint pain, and stiffness
- Peppermint: Cools and soothes sore muscles
- Ginger: Warms muscles to ease aches and soreness
- Clove: Temporary numbing agent for pain relief
- Wintergreen: Relieves muscle and joint discomfort when diluted properly in carrier oil
Sensual Oils
- Ylang Ylang: Aphrodisiac properties enhance sensuality
- Jasmine: Uplifts mood, stimulates feelings of passion
- Sandalwood: Promotes relaxation, soothes tension
- Rose: Enhances emotional wellbeing, reduces stress
- Neroli: Sensual citrus aroma stimulates senses
DIY Recipes for Relaxation and Pain Relief
Once you understand carrier oils and essential oils, it’s easy and fun to start blending your own signature massage oil recipes. Here are two samples to inspire you:
Relaxation Body Oil Blend
The perfect recipe to calm the mind and deeply nourish skin.
- 1⁄4 cup Sweet Almond Carrier Oil
- 5 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 3 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Muscle Relief Oil for Soreness
Target aching muscles and joints with this pain-fighting blend.
- 1⁄4 cup Jojoba Carrier Oil
- 4 drops Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- 3 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- 2 drops Wintergreen Essential Oil
Feel free to tailor these recipes to your personal preferences. For a more relaxing effect, add chamomile or marjoram essential oil. To further ease muscle tension, incorporate more peppermint and ginger essential oils.
Here are some more DIY massage oil blend ideas to try:
- Headache relief: Peppermint, lavender, marjoram
- Stress relief: Bergamot, ylang ylang, clary sage
- Energizing: Grapefruit, lemon, rosemary
- Sensual: Ylang ylang, jasmine, patchouli
- Respiratory: Eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree
- Muscle relief: Peppermint, clove, wintergreen
- Anti-cellulite: Grapefruit, cypress, juniper berry
- Sleep aid: Lavender, chamomile, marjoram
Ratio Guidelines for Blending Oils
When making your own massage oil recipes, follow these general guidelines for blending carrier and essential oils:
- Carrier Oils: Should make up 90-98% of your massage oil formula.
- Essential Oils: Limit to 2-5% total to avoid skin irritation.
- Number of Essential Oils: Aim for 2-4 essential oils in one blend.
- Essential Oil Drops: 5-12 drops per ounce of carrier oil is a standard amount.
These guidelines provide a safe starting point. Adjust ratios slowly based on scent preferences, skin reactions, and therapeutic benefits you want to achieve. Record your recipes to replicate favorite oil blends.
Medicinal Properties of Common Essential Oils
Beyond great scents and massage glide, essential oils used in DIY recipes also provide medicinal qualities:
Eucalyptus: Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, pain relief
Lavender: Calming, improves mood and sleep
Peppermint: Energizing, relieves sore muscles
Rosemary: Stimulating, improves circulation
Tea Tree: Antimicrobial, healing for skin
Lemon: Uplifting, anti-nausea, immune boosting
Clary Sage: Reduces anxiety, stabilizes hormones
Ylang Ylang: Lowers blood pressure, acts as aphrodisiac
Bergamot: Improves skin quality, stimulates lymphatic system
Chamomile: Relieves anxiety and irritability, reduces inflammation
Sandalwood: Hydrating and soothing for skin, calms nerves
Blend oils that complement each other based on desired effects. For example, blend stimulating oils like rosemary and lemon for an energizing massage oil.
Tips for Using Essential Oils Safely
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts, so proper usage and cautions are important when applying them topically to your skin. Keep these tips in mind:
- Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before use. A typical dilution is around 2% essential oil to 98% carrier oil.
- Perform a patch test on a small area of skin before wider application to check for allergies or reactions.
- Watch for signs of skin sensitivity or irritation, and discontinue use if any develop.
- Research any essential oil contraindications before using, especially related to pregnancy, allergies, or medications.
- Avoid contact around eyes, inner ears, and other sensitive regions.
- Store essential oils properly in dark glass bottles out of direct light.
Additionally:
- Use pure, high-quality essential oils from reputable suppliers.
- Keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets.
- Refer to dilution guidelines and do not exceed recommended amounts.
- Avoid sunlight after applying oils as they can increase sun sensitivity.
Using essential oils safely takes care and caution. But when done properly, they can be integral to DIY massage oil recipes.
Storing Your Massage Oil Blends
To maintain freshness and shelf life, store your homemade massage oils in sealed containers away from heat and light. Dark glass bottles work best to block sunlight. Date your blends so you know when they were made. With proper storage, most massage oils have a shelf life of 6-12 months.
Here are some extra tips for storing oils:
- Select bottles that protect against UV light.
- Ensure lids fit tightly to prevent oxidation.
- Keep away from direct heat sources like stoves.
- Ideal storage temperature is below 77°F.
- Place bottles in a cool, dry place out of humidity.
- Never reuse bottles without thoroughly cleaning.
- Check oils periodically for any changes in aroma, texture or color.
Proper storage helps preserve the therapeutic benefits of your essential oils and carrier oils for massage blends.
Equipment Needed for Making Massage Oils
One perk of DIY massage oils is that very little equipment is required! Here is the basic supplies list:
- Carrier oils: Sweet almond, coconut, jojoba, grapeseed, etc.
- Essential oils: Such as lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus
- Dark glass bottles: For storing finished oil blends
- Small glass jars: For mixing individual batches
- Funnel: For neatly transferring oils into bottles
- Glass dropper: For easily dispensing the massage oils
- Labels: For identifying your homemade blends
Optional handy items include:
- Mini plastic funnels for easier filling
- Small beakers or containers for mixing
- Fine mesh strainers to filter oils
- Small digital scale to weigh out oils
- Variety of amber or blue glass bottles
- Small tape labels and permanent marker
You likely have many of these supplies already at home. Purchasing just a few specialized pieces gives you everything required to begin crafting quality DIY massage oils.
Benefits of Regular Massage with Natural Oils
Integrating therapeutic massage and aromatherapy into your self-care routine provides advantages for both body and mind. Some perks of regular massage include:
- Alleviates muscle soreness and aches
- Reduces tension caused by stress
- Lowers anxiety and uplifts mood
- Promotes deeper, more restful sleep
- Improves circulation and stimulates lymph
- Hydrates, nourishes, and rejuvenates skin
- Strengthens bonds between massage partners
The soothing oils and power of human touch combine to create a soothing retreat of wellbeing and relaxation.
Here are some specific ways that regular massages with natural oils can benefit health:
- Lowers heart rate and blood pressure: Soothing massage promotes parasympathetic nervous system activity to reduce these measures.
- Decreases stress hormones: Massage therapy is shown to decrease cortisol and increase endorphins.
- Relieves back pain and arthritis: Massage oils penetrate deep to relax muscles and increase mobility.
- Improves posture: Massages help strengthen back and core muscles that support posture.
- Enhances immunity: The increase in blood circulation carries more oxygen and nutrients to enhance immune function.
- Promotes deeper sleep: Massage encourages overall relaxation making it easier to fall and stay asleep.
- Reduces headaches: Massaging pressure points on the back, temples, and shoulders can relieve headache pain.
Regular massage is an excellent addition to your self-care routine with wide-ranging health benefits!
Ready to Make Your Own Massage Magic?
Now that you’ve been armed with tips and recipes for crafting custom massage oil blends at home, what are you waiting for? Grab your favorite carrier oils and essential oils, and start blending the perfect aromatherapy massage experience.
Experiment with different ingredient combinations until you create your signature oils targeting your specific needs. Making your own massage oils allows you to relax and unwind entirely on your own terms.
While nothing beats a professional massage at the spa, these DIY aromatherapy blends come close. You’ll be able to enjoy luxurious, therapeutic massages in the comfort of your home using oils made with your own two hands.
Here are some final tips as you begin your journey as a massage oil maker:
- Take notes as you create different oil recipes so you can replicate successes.
- Source high-quality ingredients from reputable essential oil suppliers.
- Invest in proper storage bottles and equipment to create spa-quality blends.
- Learn the safety precautions for essential oil usage and dilution.
- Experiment with carrier and essential oil options tailored to your therapeutic needs.
- Give your homemade oils as gifts to share the DIY spa experience with loved ones.
- Be patient and have fun with the process – enhancing health through massage oils blended with purpose.
Now it’s your turn to become a massage oil mixologist! Blend, experiment, and unwind as you discover the magic of DIY aromatherapy massage oils.
Read Next: The Best Essential Oils for Back Pain
