When it comes to aromatherapy, coconut essential oil is often a term used for the fragrance oil. The oil from coconut is used as a carrier oil and has very little coconut scent.
You may already be using coconut oil in your cooking. And if you’re on a keto diet, you may even be making bulletproof coffee with it.
But is coconut oil an essential oil? The fractionated version is one of the most popular carrier oils used as a base to dilute essential oils before applying to the skin.
Fractionated coconut oil is common in aromatherapy. It’s also common in massage therapy. It “carries” the essential components onto the skin. That’s why it’s known as a carrier oil. It carries other plant oils like lavender essential oil.
Potential Benefits
Without a doubt you need to eat coconut oil to get most of the benefits. For example, it’s a dietary fat that can actually help you burn body fat, especially if you follow a ketogenic lifestyle. In addition, it can kill bacteria and viruses.
However, you simply can’t enjoy those benefits by rubbing massage oil with coconut. Furthermore, the oil used with essential oils differs from the kind that you eat.
Specifically, the fatty acids are not the same. That is because the coconuts go through a refinement This refinement is known as fractionation. Fractionated coconut oil is missing lauric acid which is the key component of monolaurin.
Lauric acid is the main essential fatty acid in dietary unrefined coconut oil. Still, there are some benefits. One major benefit: relaxation.
Fractionated coconut oil mixes well with essential oils. But it’s not necessarily the coconut that’s making you feel the relaxation. It’s primarily the other plant components.
But the simple act of smelling coconut fragrance can make you relax. However, after refinement the fractionated kind typically has no smell. Therefore, coconut oil aromatherapy relies on oils with an added coconut fragrance.
Organic Coconut Essential Oil
The label “organic” coconut essential oil is a bit misleading. At least it is most of the time. Remember, to extract oil from coconut requires a refining process. As such, there’s really no such thing as a pure, organic essential oil of coconut. It’s not pure like other plant essential oils. Instead, most are really “Coconut Fragrance Oil.”
An aromatherapy massage with coconut fragrance oil can be very relaxing. The smell of the oil often makes it feel like you’re on a tropical vacation. Because of the pleasant smell, coconut fragrance is often added to cosmetics, soaps, suntan oils and other personal care products.
Dietary coconut oil is solid when the air temperature is below 72 degrees. When it’s warmer, it becomes liquid. But fragrance oil is always liquid. You never have to worry about it getting solid. This is due to the chemical processing of it.
CO2 Extracted Coconut Oil
But perhaps there is a true organic essential coconut oil after all? There’s a method of extraction that uses carbon dioxide (CO2).
This method takes the white, fleshy ‘meat’ and transforms it into a liquid. Technically speaking, CO2 is a chemical. But, so, too, is water. Therefore, don’t be afraid of all chemicals.
However, there is one downside to this product from organic CO2 extraction. It becomes solid once the ambient temperature drops below the low 70s. That makes it difficult to use as an essential oil.
Coconut Essential Oil Aromatherapy
There are many therapeutic effects of inhaling essential oils. Getting a good whiff of certain scents can calm blood pressure and help you relax.
Even if you can’t live the island life, coconut fragrance can give you that feeling. You can add any coconut fragrance oil in a diffuser to help you to relax. Regular coconut oil, or any carrier oil, should not be used in a diffuser.
Additional essential oils can help stimulate brain activity. However, keep in mind that the aromatherapy benefits are mostly coming from the essential oils (like lavender, ylang ylang, etc.) and not the coconut fragrance itself.
Essential Oil Recipes to Try
This botanical website sells organic essential coconut oil made from the CO2 extraction process. The website also lists a few recipes. You can select one of them depending upon which of the following three outcomes you want to achieve: anti-aging, energizing, and improving gut health.
The anti-aging recipe calls for
- 1 oz. Argan Oil
- 2 drops Coffee EO (essential oil)
- 3-4 drops Coconut EO
- 4 drops Lavender EO
- 4 drops Geranium EO
Mix the oils and apply to clean, dry skin twice a day.
And here’s the recipe for an energizing blend:
- 1 oz. Pomegranate EO
- 3-4 drops Cedarwood EO
- 4 drops Coconut EO
- 4 drops Frankincense EO
First, mix the oils. Next, rub the blend onto your chest and to the back of your neck.
Finally, the website claims that this next coconut essential oil recipe might be helpful for those with candida. Candida is an overgrowth of fungus.
The recipe calls for the following essential oils:
- Manuka
- Coconut
- Oregano
Without doubt, there are better ways to eliminate the yeast. However, it wouldn’t hurt to give this coconut essential oil recipe a try.
Simply combine a few drops of each oil in a diffuser. It’s not clear how this recipe works. But it’s certainly an interesting way to use it.
