Nut free oilers

If you have been diagnosed with a peanut or general nut allergy, trying to pick out essential oils and carrier oils can be a bit challenging. Some people can handle almonds and coconut, while others can’t. It’s very important that if you have a nut allergy to know how serious the allergy is (some irritation versus lethal) and how extensive the allergy is (one nut, all tree nuts, all nuts and seeds). Your doctor will be the best source for this!

For those who can still handle almond and coconut oil, as well as shea butter, your options won’t be very limited. The number of products out there made with peanut oil are very few. For those who have problems with these common carrier oils, you are going to struggle more and will need to do some serious investigating before applying different products.

Here’s a list of the products at Young Living that contain almond oil:

• 3 Wise Men™
• Acceptance™
• Boswellia Wrinkle Cream™
• Cel-Lite Massage Oil™
• Cinnamint Lip Balm™
• Dragon Time Massage Oil™
• Genesis Hand & Body Lotion™
• GeneYus™
• Grapefruit Lip Balm™
• Hope™
• Into the Future™
• KidScents® Lotion
• KidScents® Tender Tush
• Lavender Lip Balm™
• Lavender Volume Shampoo™
• MindWise™
• Oola Field™
• Ortho Ease® Massage Oil
• Ortho Sport® Massage Oil
• Present Time™
• Protec™
• Reconnect™
• Relaxation Massage Oil™
• SARA™
• Sensation Hand & Body Lotion™
• Sensation Massage Oil™
• Slique Bars™
• V-6 Advanced Vegetable Oil Complex™
• White Angelica™
• Wolfberry Eye Cream™
• Wolfberry Crisp™
• YL Oola Grow™

This is a very small portion of the products that Young Living produces. There are some more products, including several blends, that may have coconut oil. Always read the ingredients list to see if it’s safe for you if you react to coconuts (it will be listed).

So what if you’re one of the unlucky ones who can’t use coconut oil or butter in your DIY projects? Well, there are solutions for you.

1. Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil is one of my favorite oils to work with. It’s pretty inexpensive, especially compared to coconut or even almond oils. It also absorbs fast into the skin and has a low chance of clogging pores. I use this in nearly all of my roll-ons and personal blends of oils.

2. Mango butter

Wanting to make luxurious body butters, but coconut may just kill you? Grab it’s alternative–mango butter. It has a light fruity smell that can be easily covered with oils if you desire, or you can amplify its own sweetness with some citrus oils. It’s a pricey one to be sure, usually around $18/pound, but it goes a super long way. You can make a whipped body butter with mango and grapeseed to stretch it out more.

3. Olive oil

While not my favorite, virgin or extra-virgin olive oil can be useful for essential oil dilution. My concerns with this oil are three-fold. First, there’s the scent. While it may blend okay with some of your essential oils, you’ll have a hard time truly covering the earthy olive scent. Second, it’s thickness. Olive oil can be very thick and hard to get out of roller-ball applicators. Also, it has a tendency to clog pores, so you have to use it sparingly and I wouldn’t recommend it for the face. Third, it’s absorption. Olive oil takes a l–o–n–g time to absorb into the skin, leaving you feeling greasy for a while. If you need a good massage or have some serious cracked heels to deal with, this oil isn’t a bad choice, but you may need to towel off the excess after a few minutes before getting dressed. However, it is a viable option for many people who cannot use nut-based products.

4. Jojoba oil

This is another expensive oil, but it has a lot of awesome benefits.  Jojoba tends to be safe for those with nut allergies (reactions are pretty uncommon) and is amazing for the face. It’s absorption rate is about the same as grapeseed, and like grapeseed, it’s odorless so it is a great base for essential oils. It can be a little difficult finding a source for this oil unless you live in a larger city or shop online, and some retailers don’t stock the better-quality oil (it can turn). Both grapeseed and jojoba have shorter shelf lives than nut-based oils, so buy in reasonable amounts rather than in bulk.

5. Cocoa butter

This is another product that is generally safe for those with nut allergies. I absolutely love this stuff as it’s way more heat-stable than coconut oil (it’s melting point is much higher), so it won’t leak into your purse on summer days. That benefit can also be a disadvantage, though, if you’re looking for a spreadable product, such as a carrier oil stick or a body lotion. However, you can get past this by melting coconut butter with mango or grapeseed oil. It’ll lend much-needed heat stability to your overall mix while still being malleable. Most good types of cocoa butter will smell like white chocolate or a slightly nuttier version. Don’t want this scent? It’s not that hard to cover with essential oils, especially those using more earthy/woodsy scents. I tend to pick lighter oils that work well with the chocolate scent, such as orange or ylang ylang. Then again, I’m a chocoholic.  This oil does take a bit to melt down, so be patient and try breaking it up into smaller chunks. If you’re planning on making a lot of recipes with it, it might be worth the time to melt your whole bag into small, pre-measured chunks. I recommend a silicone ice cube tray or silicone molds for this as it can be a little tough to get out of the traditional plastic ones.

6. Pumpkin Seed Oil

Before some of you go, “PUMPKIN!” and start chanting like you do every fall, hold on a second. This medium-weight oil is usually odorless, although you can get some kinds from different sellers that will have a nutty/roasted smell to it. It’s a very dark oil, but it will not stain your skin. It absorbs better than olive oil, though not as well as grapeseed or jojoba. It also has a slight acidic quality, which would be great for those struggling with skin PH or with flaky scalps.

7. Avocado oil

And all the Californians rejoiced!  This is a thick oil, definitely on the fatty side, which makes sense considering the qualities of a whole avocado. It’s aborption is therefore on the slow side, and you’ll want to be careful dressing afterwards if you haven’t worked it in enough or given it a little time. However, it can lengthen the time you can smell the oils you put on your skin, and some people with very dry or damaged hair will love the conditioning effects. I find that even the better brands do have some smell to them, so I’d use stronger/more earthy oils with this one.

8. Hemp oil

Don’t go getting nervous–hemp oil does not have the active properties of marijuana, so you won’t pop positive on a drug test while using this oil.  That being said, it’s not always available in all areas due to its source, so be sure you know if there are any legal issues involved before you invest in a big bottle. It’s very similar to avocado oil in color, thickness, and absorption, and does have a bit of a plant-like smell. Again, this may be better for stronger, earthy oil combinations.

9. Sunflower oil

Sunflowers just make you happy, right?  These seeds, beyond being delicious and a popular snack, also provide a very healthy oil. It is more on the fatty side, though not as much as olive or avocado, and has no scent in the better brands. It’ll work well for most of your blends, but if you have sensitive skin (particularly on the face), this may be just thick enough to cause some pore blockage.

10. Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed is a little pricier and thicker than grapeseed, but it has nearly the same qualities otherwise. It’s good for the skin except for the most sensitive people (use it sparingly if you’re concerned), is odorless, and the price point isn’t too bad. It’ll work well with roller-ball applicators and many recipes.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it’s a good start on the options you have as someone with a nut allergy. Be sure to ask your doctor if your allergy includes seeds, as many of these oils are seed-based.

I hope this helps you get “carried” away with your essential oils in a safe manner!