Fatty Acids Typically Found in Carrier Oils
This is not necessarily a complete list...
Short Chain Fatty Acids
- C3:0 Propionic Acid
- C4:0 Butyric Acid
- C5:0 Valeric Acid
Medium Chain Fatty Acids
- C6:0 Caproic Acid
- C7:0 Enanthic Acid
- C8:0 Caprylic Acid
- C9:0 Pelargonic Acid
- C10:0 Capric Acid
- C11:0 Undecylic Acid
- C12:0 Lauric Acid
Long Chain Fatty Acids
- C13:0 Tridecylic Acid
- C14:0 Myristic Acid
- C15:0 Pentadecylic Acid
- C16:0 Palmitic Acid
- C16:1 Omega-7 Palmitoleic Acid
- C17:0 Margaric Acid
- C18:0 Stearic Acid
- C18:1 Omega-9 Oleic Acid
- C18:1 Omega-7 Vaccenic Acid (Trans)
- C18:1 Omega-9 Elaidic Acid (Trans)
- C18:2 Omega-6 Linoleic Acid
- C18:2 Ximenynic Acid (Trans)
- C18:3 Omega-3 a-Linolenic Acid
- C18:3 Omega-6 gamma-Linolenic Acid
- C18:4 Omega-3 Stearidonic Acid
- C19:0 Nonadecylic Acid
- C20:0 Arachidic Acid
- C20:1 Omega-7 Paullinic Acid
- C20:1 Omega-9 Gondoic Acid
- C20:3 Omega-6 Dihomo-Omega-linolenic Acid
- C20:3 Omega-9 Mead Acid
- C20:4 Omega-6 Arachidonic Acid
- C20:5 Omega-3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid
- C21:0 Heneicosylic Acid
Very Long Chain Fatty Acids
- C22:0 Behenic Acid
- C22:1 Omega-9 Erucic Acid
- C22:4 Omega-6 Docosatetraenoic Acid
- C22:6 Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid
- C23:0 Tricosylic Acid
- C24:0 Lignoceric Acid
- C24:1 Omega-9 Nervonic Acid
Sources:
- Len Price with Shirley Price, Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy & Massage 4th Edition (United Kingdom: Riverhead, 2008).
- Wikipedia List of Saturated Fatty Acids
- Wikipedia List of Unsaturated Fatty Acids
For introductory information regarding essential fatty acids and their role within the diet and skin/hair care, see AromaWeb's article entitled What Are Essential Fatty Acids?
Important Information
The information provided on AromaWeb is for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.
General Safety Information
Use caution when trying any new ingredient, including carrier oils on the skin or in the hair. Those with nut allergies should consult their medical practitioner before coming into contact with nut oils, butters or other nut products. Do not take any oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Safety information can be found by visiting the Safety Information page. For very in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand.
Carrier Oil Book Suggestions
Click on a book's title to view details and read a full review for the book. Visit AromaWeb's Books area to find details about many other essential oil and aromatherapy books.
The Carrier Oil Palette: Fixed Oils, Butters, Herbal Oils, and CO2 Extracts of the Carrier Oil Palette
Authors: Jade Shutes & Sherilyn Siegmund-Roach
Power of the Seed: Your Guide to Oils for Health & Beauty
Author: Susan M. Parker
Carrier Oils for Aromatherapy & Massage
Authors: Len Price with Ian Smith & Shirley Price