Almond, Sweet

Botanical Name: Prunus amygdalus var. dulcus
Aroma: Light, slightly sweet and nutty
Texture: Slightly oily and absorbs semi-quickly
Color: Virtually clear with a tinge of yellow
Notes: Sweet Almond oil is a good all-purpose carrier oil and is moderately priced.  It is cold pressed from the almond itself. Conditioning, emollient, softens and smoothes skin.
   

Apricot Kernel

Botanical Name: Prunus armeniaca
Aroma: Faint
Texture: Somewhat oily and absorbs semi-quickly
Color: Virtually clear with a tinge of yellow
Notes: The semi-oily texture makes this oil helpful in massage blends. 
   

Avocado

Botanical Name: Persea americana
Aroma: Medium. Somewhat sweet, fatty and nutty.
Texture: Thick 
Color: Deep olive green
Notes: It may overpower a blend if not used in a small dilution. High in vitamins A, D, and E. It softens skin and aids in cell regeneration. It is often used in products for sensitive skin.  
   

Borage

Botanical Name: Borago officinalis
Aroma: Light and sweet
Texture: Thin to medium
Color: Light yellow
Notes: It is excellent in treating many skin conditions. Borage oil is expensive and is usually blended in a small dilution with other carrier oils (often 10%). It goes rancid rather quickly.
   

Cocoa Butter

Botanical Name: Theobroma cacao
Aroma: Unrefined cocoa butter is rich and very sweet . It has a chocolate/cocoa aroma. The cocoa aroma is less noticeable in refined cocoa butter.
Texture: Solid and hard to work with at room temperate. Breaks into pieces.
Color: Yellowish tan.
Notes: Cocoa butter needs to be blended with other materials/oils to be workable. Suitable for use in lotions and creams. It is from the cacao bean and is used to hold moisture in the skin.
  

Evening Primrose

Botanical Name: Oenothera biennis
Aroma: Light and sweet
Texture: Thin
Color: Medium yellow.
Notes: Evening Primrose is excellent in treating many skin conditions. It is expensive and is usually blended in a small dilution with other carrier oils. It goes rancid quickly.
  

Grapeseed

Botanical Name: Vitus vinifera
Aroma: Light, slightly sweet with a hint of a nutty aroma.
Texture: Thin
Color: Virtually clear and has an almost unnoticeable tinge of yellow/green.
Notes: Unlike most other carrier oils, grapeseed oil is solvent extracted and may have trace amounts of chemicals remaining. It has a lower shelf-life and goes rancid rather fast.  Grapeseed oil should be stored in an amber bottle and in a cool dark area to reduce the chance of rancidity. 
  

Hazelnut

Botanical Name: Corylus avellana
Aroma: Light, nutty, somewhat sweet.
Texture: Thin
Color: Light yellow.
Notes: It is a good choice for those with oilier skin.
  

Jojoba

Botanical Name: Simmondsia chinensis
Aroma: Light to medium in aroma, not as sweet as the nut oils. The aroma is distinct but pleasant.
Texture: Light and silky. Absorbs well.
Color: Yellow.
Notes: Jojoba "oil" is actually a wax. It is a more expensive oil and is frequently blended in a small dilution with other oils. It has a very long shelf-life and is the closest to the skins own naturally occurring oils.
  

Kukui

Botanical Name: Aleurites moluccana
Aroma: Light, sweet, pleasant, nutty.
Texture: Thin, absorbs well
Color: Clear with a hint of yellow.
Notes: It is excellent in treating many skin conditions. It is a more expensive oil, but tends to go rancid rather quickly.
  

Macadamia Nut

Botanical Name: Macadamia integrifolia
Aroma: More fragrant than many other nut oils and has a very sweet, nutty aroma.
Texture: Thick
Color: Clear with a tinge of yellow.
Notes: It may overpower a blend if not used in a small dilution.
  

Olive

Botanical Name: Olea europaea
Aroma: Typical aroma of olive oil used in cooking (smells somewhat like olives). 
Texture: Heavy and rather oily.
Color: Light to medium green.
Notes: It may overpower a blend if not used in a small dilution. It is cold pressed from the olive itself and is great to retain your own natural moisture. Is an excellent softener for the skin. 
  

Peanut

Botanical Name: Arachis hypogeae
Aroma: Very light in aroma with a slight fatty, nutty quality.
Texture: Thick
Color: Virtually clear.
Notes: Peanut oil should not be used by anyone that has an allergy to peanuts. Because of it's oiliness, it is a good choice in massage blends. 
  

Pecan

Botanical Name: Carya pecan
Aroma: Very light in aroma with a slight fatty, nutty quality.
Texture: Medium thickness
Color: Virtually clear.
Notes: May go rancid quickly. It should be stored in an amber bottle and in a cool dark area to reduce the chance of rancidity. 
  

Rose Hip

Botanical Name: Rosa mosqueta
Aroma: Mild, earthy aroma.
Texture: Light
Color: Virtually clear.
Notes: It is excellent in treating many skin conditions. It is expensive and is usually blended in a small dilution with other carrier oils. It goes rancid rather quickly.
  

Sesame

Botanical Name: Sesamum indicum
Aroma: Medium with a distinctive sweet, nutty sesame scent. 
Texture: Mildly thick
Color: Light yellow.
Notes: Sesame oil may overpower a blend if not diluted with another carrier oil.
   

Shea Butter

Sunflower

Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus
Aroma: Faint and sweet.
Texture: Thin
Color: Virtually clear with a tinge of yellow.
Notes: When choosing sunflower oil, strive to get unrefined oil.