What role does a carrier oil play in aromatherapy?

In aromatherapy, a carrier oil plays a crucial role by diluting essential oils, which allows for safe topical application. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can cause skin irritation or sensitization if applied directly to the skin. By using a carrier oil, practitioners can reduce the potency of essential oils to safer levels, making them suitable for use on the skin while still retaining their therapeutic properties.

Carrier oils also provide additional benefits; they can enhance the absorption of essential oils into the skin and help transport the aromatic compounds more effectively. Common examples of carrier oils include sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil. These oils are used not only for their dilute properties but also for their nourishing and moisturizing characteristics, which can complement the effects of the essential oils being used.

The other choices relate to various misconceptions about the functions of carrier oils. For example, the idea that carrier oils enhance the aroma of essential oils does not reflect their main purpose. Instead, they serve to temper and balance the strong scents of concentrated oils. Furthermore, carrier oils do not serve to solidify essential oils, as they remain liquid. Lastly, while some carrier oils may remain stable over time and could potentially influence the shelf life of a blend, their primary function is not preservation but