Fixed Oils
Fixed Oils (see list of oils) are most commonly used in aromatherapy oil blends, toiletries, food and industry. Fixed Oils are not volatile, they do not evaporate. A Fixed Oil is often referred to as an aromatherapy carrier oil, aromatherapy base oil, or vegetable oil.

Fixed Oils, whether used with aromatherapy essential oils, as massage base oils, or as plain vegetable oils are generally of vegetable origin, extracted from seeds or nuts. There are various methods of extraction: unrefined, cold pressed, expeller pressed, and refined.

Unrefined Oils
A mechanical extraction process, coupled with screen filtering. The resulting oils are the most natural and, therefore, of the highest quality. Unrefined oils are rich and wonderful for both food and cosmetics.

Cold Pressed and Expeller Pressed Oils
A mechanical extraction process where the oil is literally pressed out of the seeds or nuts! The only heat produced is caused by friction which is kept to a minimum thereby helping the oil maintain a natural state. This is a very popular but expensive form of extraction which produces extremely high quality oils. All cold pressed oils are expeller pressed oils but if the frictional heat ranges above about 120 degrees Fahrenheit it could be said that the resulting oil is not “cold pressed” so it should just be called “expeller pressed”. The resulting oils are popular choices for cosmetics and extremely high quality food grade oils. It is these oils that are usually used as bases for organic aromatherapy oils.

Refined Oils
This process of extraction exposes the oil to many methods of refining. The oil can be put through temperatures ranging from -30 degrees Fahrenheit to as high as 450 degrees Fahrenheit together with processes which remove the natural odor and the natural color of the oil. This refinement is performed on a large enough scale that it creates very economical low grade oils for food, industry, cosmetics and toiletries.

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