Almond Oil (Sweet)

Sweet Almond Oil: Uses, Benefits, and Blends

There are two types of Almond Oil used in skin care: Bitter Almond Oil is an essential oil, and Sweet Almond Oil is one of the most popular carrier oils.

In Islam, it was said that the Prophet Muhammed once said “There are two types of knowledge. Knowledge of religion and knowledge of the body.” He spoke of how to nourish the body often, and nuts featured highly in his teachings. 

Often though, by looking at religious teachings about a plant, we can determine some of the spiritual truths about its capabilities that have gotten lost over the centuries. 

None could be truer than the ancient teachings about Almonds, which feature in the creation and evolution stories of almost every religion, resoundingly speaking to a proof that divinity exists, that the deity is watching and will hear your prayer. This, perhaps, is why so many ancient recipes contain Sweet Almond Oil in their skin and body care. It’s like a sacred anointing that nourishes and protects. 

Perhaps most salient is the Almond’s place in Hebrew history. When G-d instructed that the Israelites construct the Tabernacle, he asked that they also manufacture a wondrous lamp, the Menorah; the candlestick, he told them should be formed to resemble the almond tree. 

The Hebrew word for Almond is Shakeid, which means “Watchful”, or “Wake”, and perhaps pertains to how the Almond blooms so early, at the end of February as if it heralds the rebirth of spring. After all have lain dead for months, it is the almond tree that seems to lead the blossom dance, with the cherry and pussy willows following, then the crocuses and the bees. 

The beautiful imagery really helps us to reconstruct how Sweet Almond Oil benefits the skin. Think of how the leaves have fallen from the trees, how the bark seems grey and rough, how the cold chaps the lips and makes the skin brittle and flaky. 

Now run a small amount of Sweet Almond Oil over the skin and see how the color re-emerges, how the skin goes smoother, more supple, and plumper as the oil repairs its barriers and pushes lipids into the skin's structural layer. 

Spring is restored and youthfulness is returned to the complexion, and just like any religious festival, its ritual should be observed. 

Remember Shakeid, Wakeful; it informs how we use the oil. Most oils are best left for the evening, and indeed, it does naturally have a warmth and sweetness that is nurturing, like a good cup of cocoa, that will help you to sleep but Almond is one of the few oils that will penetrate the skin well enough to be used in the mornings. 

Best used after a shower, half dry yourself, leaving enough moisture on the skin for the Almond Oil to push it into the pores, and trap the hydration beneath its healing barrier. Perhaps add invigorating Sweet Basil or Orange Essential Oils to give you a real pick-me-up! 

Think too, of those winter trees, rough, dull and lifeless. That also informs how we might choose almond oil to restore life to the complexion after someone has been ill, stressed for a long time or depressed. 

This oil is a little thick to use on its own for a full-body massage treatment. (Very little slippage. You feel like you have done two treatments for the price of one...) However, it adds a warming, cosseting and nurturing dimension to blends that are especially caring to very sad people. 

Somehow too, it’s not whether the Vitamin E and other components absorb into the skin, it’s more what the plant knows, what it whispers to the person receiving its goodness, its vibration. This is particularly true of Sweet Almond Oil.

Traditional Chinese Medicine perhaps explains this the best, how sweet the oil’s association with spring aligns with their wood energy. How life seems to spring from the dead, how fresh energy is curious and serpentine, shooting forth, wanting to feel the sunlight and explore.

How, after months of sitting by the cracking fire, watching Netflix and reading, we strip down to more revealing clothes and head off outside, eager to feel the sun on our skins. Sweet Almond Oil benefits for skin are easily seen here, but think too, how that shifts the energy of someone who is melancholy. 

This idea of Watchful also has one more layer. However, being alert makes us reactive, and indeed Almond Oil has a mild hypoallergenic action that makes it fabulous for conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Oddly, the part of the brain that is watchful, and that kicks off our stress response, is the amygdala. Almonds come from the Prunus Amygdala tree. 

Incidentally, Sweet Almond Oil benefits for eczema,  in particular, can be further increased by adding botanicals such as calendula to make macerations using a method called warm enfleurage. This is described fully in the Grapeseed oil product listing. Sweet Almond Oil has good thermal stability and makes brilliant lipophilic extractions. 

We have added a link to Formula Botanica at the end of this article, a company that provides free beginner training if you would learn how to use more fixed oils in this way. 

Sweet Almond Oil Benefits: Hair, Face, Skin, and Scars

Sweet Almond Oil for the Face

People have been using this oil for face treatments for around 5000 years. It is emollient, hydrating and smoothing. Although it is non-comedogenic, and should not block your pores, I would not recommend it for very greasy skins. Castor or Jojoba are much better alternatives. 

Sweet Almond Oil for Hair

Again, although Sweet Almond Oil is a classic treatment for hair care, given the choice, Argan Oil and Castor Oil are probably superior. However, when used in a treatment setting, Almond Oil is the classic choice for Indian Head Massage treatments, said to calm the nervous system and reduce stress. Almonds formed a huge part of the Roman diet, and whilst Pliny The Elder lists many uses for bitter Almonds, he stresses that Sweet Almond Oil is superior for treating headaches (which makes me think of the wakeful thing, and being on hyper-alert all the time!) 

Sweet Almond Oil for Skin

Rich, nourishing and hydrating, as already stated, use on skin that has come lifeless and coarse. To the usual dry skin list, we can add crusty elbows and knees, hard dry skin on the feet, chapped lips, nappy rash and shaving sores. 

Sweet Almond Oil for Acne

We prefer Castor Oil and Jojoba Oil over Sweet Almond Oil for acne. 

Sweet Almond Oil Uses: For Wholesale Purposes

Sweet Almond Oil Uses for Aromatherapists

First and foremost, must be the sentiment it adds to both facial and body massage oils. It adds a rich, luxurious feel to massage oil blends, and is warming, comforting and luxurious. 

Add to-face creams and ointments to add hydration and emollient aspects. The oil gives tenderness to diaper rash creams, salves for sore and inflamed skins and lip balms, however, do consider that Sweet Almond Oil is extracted from nuts and so must be listed as a potential allergen on preparations. Since some children can go for years without exhibiting symptoms perhaps use it with care in creams for diaper rash.

Sweet Almond Oil Benefits for Soapmakers 

Sweet Almond Oil has a sap value of 0.139

It is usually added to soap recipes to moisturize the skin. It makes a mild soap with a medium stable lather which is wonderful for sensitive skin. 

Sweet Almond Oil Blends: DIY Recipes

Almond, Rosehip and Melissa Lip Balm

• 15-20g  Beeswax

• 25-30g  Shea Butter (Vitellaria Paradoxa)

• 20ml  Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)

• 30ml  Almond Carrier Oil (Prunus Amygdala)

• 4 drops Melissa Essential Oil (Melissa Officinalis)

Melt your wax and butter together in a double boiler, then add in your oils and essential oils.

Stir gently to distribute them through the mix. 

Decant into your pot or tube.

Leave it to set overnight. Put the tops on after about an hour. 

Bath Melts

These are so pretty especially if you can coordinate them with your soaps to look very swish. They are just three simple ingredients. This will make about four small melts. Small flatter moulds work better for these. Perhaps a pretty flat flower? Feel free to add seeds, petals, glitters etc. as usual to the liquid mix.

• 50ml Cocoa Butter
• 1tbs Almond Oil (Prunus Amygdala)
• 10-15 drops Essential Oil

Gently melt the cocoa butter in a Bain Marie. Let the cocoa butter melt very slowly. (If it starts to boil it turns a nasty brown color so watch it closely)

Give it a stir with a wooden spoon.

Add a tablespoon of almond oil and then your essential oils.

Pour into your molds and leave to set for about three hours, but they are best left overnight. Store in a cool dry place

Safety: Sweet Almond oil should not be used on or near people who suffer from nut allergies.

Nurturing Hand Cream

• 100g Emulsifying Wax (E/W) You could try Beeswax or Lanette wax, for example.
• 500ml Distilled and filtered Water 
• 100ml Castor Carrier Oil (Ricinus Communis)
• 100ml Avocado Carrier Oil (Persea Gratissima)
• 100ml Grapeseed Carrier Oil (Vitis Vinifera)
• 50ml  Almond Carrier Oil (Prunus Amygdala)
• 10ml Glycerine
• 10ml Liquid preservative (See humblebee link for guidance on this below)
• 10 drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium Roseum x Aperum)
• 2 drops Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Angustifola)
• 10 drops Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria Zizanoides)

Place your E/W into a double boiler. Allow it to warm and melt in its own time over a medium heat.

Boil the kettle and measure out your boiling water into a jug.

Pour the meted E/W and water into a food processor, add the carrier oils and mix.

Watch your mixture. You want it well mixed, but not full of air otherwise it will sink when it cools. I find it easiest to pulse it.

Add Essential Oils and give one more quick blitz to ensure they are blended.

Use a jug to pour into sterilized jars/bottles.

Do not put the tops on until they are completely cooled, otherwise, you will have a mould outbreak.

Safety: Not suitable for use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy and not suitable for people with nut allergies. 

Why Choose VINEVIDA?

At VINEVIDA, we love botanicals and the planet they come from. We believe in stocking the best at affordable prices and supplying to the discerning, which is why we are also members of both the Alliance of International Aromatherapists and the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy. In recognition of our excellent standard of product, we are proud to hold a 2021 Certificate of Registration as a Cosmetic Products Establishment with the U.S. Drugs and Food Administration.

Our joy at seeing people make beautiful things means we stock from the smallest amounts to the largest. Our wholesale carrier oil prices begin with our smallest carrier oil of 120ml to our largest of 396lb, meaning any manufacturing company can afford to stock as many or as few oils as their business can accommodate without running the risk of spoilage of some of nature’s most precious commodities. Why not see if you can save money by buying your Sweet Almond Oil in bulk?

Don’t forget too, we like to look after our customers with reasonable prices and excellent customer service and reward the loyal ones with money-off discounts over the year. 

Flash Point

123°C

Conclusion

Why not check out if you qualify for our loyalty scheme and start saving today with an environmentally friendly choice of oil for skin, hair, massage oils and soap making.

Add VINEVIDA Sweet Almond Oil to your cart today. 

References: 

1. Best Oils for Botanical Infusions.
2. How Much Preservative Should I Add?.
3. How to Work Out Percentages In Your Product Formulation.
4. 75 Christmas Gifts Using Essential oils - Elizabeth Ashley.
5. Cable, Kelly. The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners: Do-It-Yourself Soaps Using All-Natural Herbs, Spices, and Essential Oils (p. 41). Althea Press. Kindle Edition.

Safety Data Sheet
Certificate of Analysis
GCMS Analysis