Aromatherapy Massage Oil for Self-Love

Create a space for intimacy and self-love

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, we would like to highlight the simple power of creating your own space of romance, intimacy and self-love at home. Sometimes the most meaningful moments are the ones we make for ourselves with what we already have. So it is the perfect time to bring a little warmth to your home-space and heart-space with this DIY aromatherapy massage oil, infusing the sensual aromas of rose, ylang-ylang and frankincense.

Get to know your ingredients

Rose essential oil

This recipe for self-love draws on the beauty of rose flower and rose essential oil. Rose has long been celebrated as a symbol of love, romance and beauty, woven through the great literature of our time. From Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to Ancient Greek mythology, where Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, was said to have created the red rose from her tears and the blood of her lover Adonis, this sensual flower has come to represent love until death. Beyond folklore and symbolism, rose otto essential oil offers a soft, soothing and uplifting aroma that is traditionally cherished in aromatherapy.

Ylang-ylang essential oil

Ylang-ylang essential oil has an uplifting yet relaxing character, making it a wonderful aroma for self-love. In Indonesia, ylang-ylang is a flower associated with romance and celebration, and the blossoms are traditionally scattered on the beds of newlyweds in the hope of bringing happiness. Its sensual, heady fragrance is a lovely, calming addition to your aromatherapy massage oil.

Frankincense essential oil

Frankincense essential oil offers a grounding, warming fragrance that beautifully ties rose and ylang-ylang together. Frankincense resin has long been a staple of ceremony across many traditions, from Muslim customs of prayer to Catholic and Orthodox churches, Sufi ceremonies, and perhaps your own home. The burning of frankincense resin has traditionally been seen as a way of clearing a space and inviting a sense of calm.

Folklore and tradition often carry a quiet thread of truth within them. Symbolism and storytelling are simply the language earlier cultures used to describe what they felt and observed. In short, frankincense essential oil is a wonderful aroma to add to your aromatherapy massage oil for self-love, thanks to its soothing, stabilising and grounding qualities.

DIY aromatherapy massage oil for self-love

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sweet almond oil (caution for those with nut allergies)
• 1/2 cup jojoba oil
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup rose petals
• 2 drops rose absolute essential oil
• 2 drops ylang ylang essential oil
• 2 drops frankincense essential oil
• Optional: 2 ml vitamin E

Directions

1. Prepare your herb-infused oil by one of two methods. Option A: grind the rose flowers in a mortar and pestle, then place them in a sterilised canning jar. Top with your carrier oils, cover with a lid and mix until blended. Label and store the jar for 3 weeks to 2 months for optimum infusion. Option B: for a quicker method, place the canning jar in a makeshift double boiler by positioning it in the centre of a stainless steel pot. Cover with 1 to 2 inches of water and gently heat at the lowest temperature for 4 to 8 hours. Make sure no water enters the jar of oil and flowers.
2. Strain the rose flowers from the oil infusion and compost the spent petals.
3. Add the essential oils to your oil infusion and stir to combine.
4. Optional: add vitamin E, which helps protect the oil from turning rancid.
5. Pour the oil into an amber glass bottle, label it and store in a cool, dark cupboard.

How to use your massage oil

Pour a little oil into your hands and massage your body from head to toe (for grounding) or from toe to head (for an uplifting feel). Use long, soothing strokes, alternating with lighter, faster movements where it feels good, especially around the heart. Light a candle, diffuse your favourite sensual oils, prepare a cup of tea, and take your time anointing your body with love.

Safe use of essential oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated and for external use only. Always keep dilution gentle, patch test on a small area before wider use, and avoid sensitive areas. Sweet almond oil is not suitable for those with nut allergies. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or managing a health condition, seek professional advice before use, and never ingest essential oils.

FAQs

Why infuse the oil with rose petals as well as using rose essential oil?

Infusing the carrier oil with rose petals adds a soft, natural floral note and a sense of ritual, while the essential oil brings a more concentrated aroma. Together they create a richer, more rounded scent.

How long does the massage oil keep?

Stored in an amber glass bottle in a cool, dark place, the oil typically keeps for several months. Adding vitamin E helps slow oxidation. Discard it if the scent turns off or rancid.

Can I use a different carrier oil?

Yes. If you have a nut allergy, swap the sweet almond oil for more jojoba, or try grapeseed or fractionated coconut oil. Jojoba is light and absorbs well, making it a lovely choice.

Is this massage oil suitable for sensitive skin?

Keep the dilution low and always patch test first. If your skin is reactive, you may wish to reduce the essential oil drops further or leave them out and enjoy the rose-infused carrier oil on its own.

Can I give this massage oil as a gift?

Absolutely. Decant it into a pretty amber glass bottle with a handwritten label listing the ingredients and date made. It makes a thoughtful, personal gift for Valentine's Day or any occasion.