Make your own massage oil
Massage oil is a gift that keeps on giving – and once you’ve done some massaging, you might just receive one as well!
It can be as simple or as sophisticated as you like.
Many massage therapists use almond oil alone, as it’s not only nice to use, but it’s great value. We have two high-quality almond oils:
- cold-pressed virgin certified organic sweet almond oil
- cold-pressed refined sweet almond oil
 
If you'd like to do something special, read on!
 
Massage oils are usually a blend of a couple of carrier oils, perfumed with one or more essential oils which bring healing qualities as well as fragrance.
 
While almond oil is an excellent base, grapeseed, jojoba, apricot and peach kernel oils are good too. Start with one or more of these, and add smaller amounts of oils with great moisturising or nourishing qualities.

1. Choose a container
What are you going to put your massage oil in?
A new bottle with an elegant black lotion pump? (A Go Native lotion pump looks fine on a 100ml bottle.)  Or a recycled Go Native bottle with a handmade label?
Or maybe you have a beautiful empty bottle in the back of the cupboard - I seem to collect blue glass ones.

2. Blend the base
It's easy to make an organic massage oil, as an organic option is available for many of our oils.
Here are suggestions for making the base for 100ml of massage oil:

• Start with say 60ml of a light, smooth, spreadable oil such as almond, apricot kernel or peach kernel – or a mix of any of these (the last two are great for sensitive skin).  
• Jojoba is wonderful in massage blends, so try to include some – it’s silky and nutritious and great for ‘glide’. 
  Sesame oil is widely used in the Ayurvdic tradition, and grapeseed is another alternative.
  Add 20ml, perhaps…
• Add 10 - 15ml of a rich or special oil: avocado, or macadamia, or your current favourite (mine is our kiwiseed oil).
• Leaving a bit of room for some fragrance, you may like to add a few ml of an oil that brings its own special qualities:
• It’s hard to resist adding some gently melted organic virgin coconut oil, with its evocative aroma.
• Our organic rosehip oil is full of nutrients to leave the skin feeling alive and cared for.
• Argan oil is wonderful for the skin.

I’ve tried many combinations of these oils, and all of them were great for massage. I think I can safely say it’s hard to go wrong with these kind of proportions! (Of course, this assumes you are using fresh, top-quality oils.)
 
3. Add fragrance
Fragrance will make your gift memorable. And if you are the one doing the massaging, you get to enjoy it too.
Maybe you delight in blending perfumes, or maybe you’d like to keep it simple, with just a few drops of something that smells wonderful.
 
Therapeutic grade essential oils: These bring healing qualities as well as fragrance. Here are some that most men (and many women) enjoy:

• Bergamot is extracted from a member of the citrus family, but with a relaxing warm richness. Avoid just before sun exposure.
• Frankincense has a clean, spicy aroma and a wide range of healing properties.
• Ylang ylang's exotic perfume soothes away stress.
• Palmarosa comes from a plant related to lemongrass, and also has stress-relieving properties.
• West Indian Sandalwood is relaxing and calming.
• Australian Sandalwood is refreshing yet sensuous – and brings its sensual qualities into any blend.
• Patchouli's fragrance is a bit exotic. It brings stress levels back to normal and encourages relaxing sleep.
• Vetiver is earthy and warm, relaxing and comforting.

 
Cosmetic grade essential oils: These provide high-quality fragrance, but without the healing properties of the therapeutic grade oils.
Rosewood and Yuzu are likely to appeal to men, and a touch of Vanilla can be great in fragrance blends. 
 
Fragrance oils: Coffee, chocolate… a bit wacky in a massage oil??
There are also a host of fruity fragrances, all with subtlety and depth.
 
Here's another way of thinking about fragrance: what effect do you want?

Sensuous:  Sandalwood, vetiver, ylang ylang, amyris, patchouli, rose
 
Energising:  Citrus (lemon, tangerine…), mint (peppermint, spearmint), rosemary
 
Relaxing:  Lavender, clary sage, bergamot

Now all that's sorted, make a label (include the expiry date of the ingredient with the shortest life) and wrap it up!