Table of Contents
Updated November 2026
Fractionated coconut oil (FCO) is the carrier I use most often in rollers. It stays liquid, has no scent, sinks in without a greasy feel, and keeps well on the shelf. Below you’ll find what makes it different from regular coconut oil, the fractionated coconut oil uses I like best, how to dilute essential oils with it, and two easy rollers. Jump to the recipes.
FCO is one of the 25 oils in my list of carrier oils, where you can compare it with the others.
What Is Fractionated Coconut Oil?
Regular coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) is solid at room temperature and only melts when it’s warm. Fractionated coconut oil has been processed to remove the long-chain fatty acids, leaving mostly medium-chain triglycerides, so it stays liquid at any temperature. That makes it easy to pour into roller bottles and mix with essential oils.
The other big difference is the smell. While I love the smell of coconut oil, I know some people don’t. Fractionated coconut oil is odorless, so your essential oils are the only scent.
Read more: FCO vs virgin coconut oil
Fractionated Coconut Oil Quick Facts
| FCO | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Cocos nucifera |
| Made from | Coconut oil, with the long-chain fats removed |
| Scent | None |
| Color | Clear |
| Texture | Always liquid, light, and non-greasy |
| Absorption | Fast |
| Comedogenic rating | 2 |
| Shelf life | Keeps well, much longer than most carriers |
Fractionated Coconut Oil Benefits
Here’s why fractionated coconut oil (affiliate link) is a favorite in my rollers:
- It’s a quick, easy way to dilute essential oils for skin.
- It stays liquid in any season, so a roller works the same in winter and summer.
- It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy feel.
- It has no scent, so it won’t change the aroma of your blend.
- It’s clear, so it’s less likely to mark clothes.
- It keeps well, while many carrier oils go rancid quickly.
- It stretches your essential oils, since a few drops go a long way in a roller.
Why Dilute Essential Oils?
Essential oils are very concentrated. Diluting them in a carrier oil lowers the risk of redness, irritation, or a skin reaction that can last for good, and it lets you use far fewer drops. Everyday adult blends use 2 to 3%, and full-body massage oils 1 to 2%. See my dilution chart and calculator.
FCO is one of my favorite carriers because it makes my blends easy to apply, it doesn’t leave me feeling greasy, and it lets me use fewer drops of essential oil, which saves money.
Hot Oils That Need Extra Care
Some essential oils are called “hot oils” because they can sting, burn, or irritate skin. These have low limits, or don’t go on skin at all:
| Oil | Max on skin |
|---|---|
| Cassia | Diffuser only |
| Cinnamon bark | Diffuser only |
| Clove bud | 0.5% |
| Oregano | 1.1% |
| Thyme (thymol type) | 1.3% |
| Wintergreen | 2.4%, adults only |
Learn more in essential oil burning your skin? and my maximum dilution list.
One time I used cassia essential oil on my wrists and forgot to dilute it first. It irritated my skin, and I felt burning and stinging. These days I keep cassia in the diffuser only.
If an oil stings or burns, wipe it off with a plain carrier oil like FCO or olive oil, then wash with mild soap and cool water. See a doctor for blistering, swelling, or a spreading rash.
Mixing Fractionated Coconut Oil With Essential Oils
For a quick, single use, mix 1 drop of essential oil into 1 tsp of FCO (about 1%) in a small glass dish, then apply. For blends you’ll use again, a roller bottle is easier and keeps the dilution the same every time. Check out my roller bottle recipes using FCO and essential oils, or compare fractionated coconut oil vs jojoba for rollers.
Fractionated Coconut Oil Roller Recipes
1. Frankincense Orange Roller
Roller · Ages 12+ · 3%
A warm, sunny roller for wrists and the back of the neck.
- 3 drops frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- 3 drops sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
- Fractionated coconut oil to fill a 10 ml roller
Directions:
- Add the frankincense and sweet orange to your empty roller bottle.
- Top it off with FCO, leaving a little room at the top.
- Press in the roller ball, cap it, and gently roll the bottle between your hands to mix.
- Label it with the name, the date, and “3%.”
Little Sunshine Roller
Roller · Ages 2+ · 0.5%
A sweet, cheerful orange scent, made gentle for little ones.
- 1 drop sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
- Fractionated coconut oil to fill a 10 ml roller
Directions: Make it the same way as the grown-up roller. Roll a little on the back of the neck or the bottoms of the feet. Keep the bottle out of reach and do the rolling yourself.
Note: Label it with your child’s name and the dilution, and check with your pediatrician before using it on ages 2 to 4. See my kid safe essential oils list for more.
A Few Safety Basics
• Keep essential oils away from babies under 2, including diffusing in a room they’re in.
• Always dilute oils before they touch skin, and patch test a new blend on your inner forearm for 24 to 48 hours.
• Check the age on each recipe. Kids 2 to 4 use only six starter oils at 0.5%, after checking with your pediatrician. Kids 5 to 11 stay at 0.5 to 1%.
• If you’re pregnant, check with your doctor or midwife first. For the first 16 weeks I use only six oils, and only in a diffuser or inhaler: lavender, sweet orange, lemon, ginger, cedarwood (Virginian), and frankincense. After that, skin blends stay at 0.5 to 1%.
• Never put oils on pets, and diffuse with a door open so they can leave. Cats are especially sensitive, including to tea tree, citrus, peppermint, eucalyptus, pine, wintergreen, cinnamon, clove, and ylang ylang.
• Never swallow essential oils. If someone does, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
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More Carrier Oil Posts
- List of Carrier Oils: 25 Best Carrier Oils
- Fractionated Coconut Oil vs Virgin Coconut Oil
- Jojoba Carrier Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil Uses and Benefits
Ready to make your own blends? Browse my roller bottle kits and my free essential oil guides.
