Make Your Own Massage Oil

There is very little in life better than a great massage. It can relax, invigorate and restore you as your blood flow is stimulated. Massage oils and lotions can make a great massage even better, as certain scents can further soothe or energize. Here are some simple recipes for massage oils that are easy to make at home, most with ingredients that you will most likely already have. Any of these oils can also be used as a body oil after a shower or bath as well. Each recipe makes around four ounces of finished oil. In order to use any of these, simply put a small amount of the finished oil on your hands, rub your hands together, and either apply the oil to your own skin or massage into the skin of a willing participant.

In all of these recipes, I suggest using glass or properly sealed ceramic container for mixing and storing. Other materials might absorb the oil or scents. They could also degrade or contaminate the completed oil. For storage of your oil, I highly suggest colored glass, and keeping the sealed bottle in a cool, dark location to maximize the shelf life of your oil. If properly stored, these oils can last up to two years. I also use the term "light oil" in most of these recipes, which means that you get to chose the oil. It is best to use the lightest unscented oil possible; canola is actually a reliable choice. Almond, olive, grapeseed, canola, apricot kernel, sesame seed and castor oils seem to be the most popular for making massage oils.

Herbal Oil
Ingredients:
½ cup of light oil
1 tablespoon of fresh herb(s)

Instructions:
1. Choose the herbs you want to use by scent and mood you want to bring through massage. Rosemary, oregano and mint are energizing herbs while chamomile, basil and lavender are soothing herbs. You can use one tablespoon of a single herb or blend a few together to fill up the tablespoon. I like rosemary, peppermint, and lavender the most but make your oil to your preference.
2. Mix the oil and herbs together. Heat the mixture on the stove top or in the microwave, generally high for two minutes or so will do the job. You do not want he oil to boil, just to heat enough in order to release the properties and scents of your chosen herb(s).
3. Let the warm mixture cool completely. This typically will take up to a half hour. Although, it never hurts to give it a little extra time to allow the oil to fully absorb the herbal essences.
4. Line a funnel with a coffee filter or cheesecloth.
5. Pour the cooled oil through the lined funnel into a sealable jar or bottle.
6. Squeeze the herbs that are caught in the filter or cheesecloth, getting the last of the oil and herbal essences into the jar as well. These last bits will be the most strongly scented.
7. Seal the jar and store in a cool, dark location.

Spicy Cinnamon Oil
Ingredients:
½ cup of light oil
½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Instructions:
1. Place all of the ingredients in a glass or ceramic bowl and stir.
2. Let the mixed ingredients sit for a few hours to allow the oil to absorb the cinnamon and vanilla.
3. Line a small funnel with a coffee filter, in order to strain away and cinnamon solids from your oil.
4. Pour your oil through the filter-lined funnel into a sealable jar.
5. Seal your newly filled jar and store is a cool, dark place until ready to use.

Classic Scented Oil
Ingredients:
½ Cup of light oil
1 Cinnamon stick
2 Whole clove buds
½ Teaspoon dried orange zest
½ Teaspoon dried lavender

Instructions:
1. Put all of the ingredients in a clean, sealable bottle or jar.
2. Seal securely and shake the container gently.
3. Let the mixture sit for one to two weeks. This will let the oil completely absorb the scent and essential oils from the other ingredients.
4. If desired, you can now filter the solids from the oil with a coffee filter, or you can leave the oil as is. The look of floating lavender and other ingredients can be nice, so the choice is yours.

Citrus Oil
Ingredients:
½ Cup of light oil
½ Cup of citrus zest

Instructions:
1. Zest your favorite citrus fruit or fruits. Use orange, lime, grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, or any combination of the different citrus zests to create the scent you want.
2. Put the zests into a microwave safe bowl and cover with the light oil.
3. Heat the bowl for around two minutes on high. If you prefer to heat on the stove top, you can. However, if you are working on the stove it is best to heat the oil first, and then pour the oil over the citrus zest.
4. Let the oil cool completely, generally around thirty minutes. However, it never hurts to let the oil and citrus zest to sit longer.
5. Use a slotted spoon to remove all of the zest from the cooled oil.
6. Pour the oil into a sealable jar or bottle, seal, and store.

After getting the hang of these recipes, feel free to experiment and try your own favorite scents and blends, just remember to stick with safe concentrations of essential oils, that less is more, and to test for allergies or other adverse reactions before committing to the use of your creation. Nothing will kill the mood or purpose of a soothing massage than an allergic reaction, particularly a sever one that might include breathing difficulties. Know the ingredients that you are using, and research the properties and possible reactions to all of the ingredients you intend to use.