Massage oil guide

Almond base or coconut base

Three of our oils sit on sweet almond oil: lavender, orange blossom and geranium. Three sit on coconut oil and fractionated coconut oil: coconut, vanilla and unscented. Almond oil feels a touch richer under the hands. Fractionated coconut oil stays liquid at room temperature and feels lighter.

Every one comes in the same 16 fl oz black pump bottle, so the base and the scent are the whole choice.

Tree nuts: check every label, the unscented one too

Five of our six oils list a tree nut oil. Lavender has sweet almond. Orange blossom and geranium have sweet almond and macadamia. And the unscented oil, the one people often reach for when skin is touchy, has macadamia and sweet almond as well. Only coconut and vanilla list no tree nut.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says tree nut oils, which may contain nut protein, turn up in lotions and soaps, and that people allergic to tree nuts should avoid those products. Food Allergy Research & Education lists almond and macadamia among the tree nuts. If you or your partner has a nut allergy, these oils are not for you.

Coconut is a separate case. Since January 2025 the FDA no longer counts coconut as a tree nut for food labels, and FARE notes that a coconut allergy is uncommon but real. That food rule says nothing about skin, so if coconut has ever given you a reaction, skip the coconut, vanilla and unscented oils.

Do a patch test first

The American Academy of Dermatology describes a simple test for any new skin product: put it on a quarter-sized spot, such as the inside of your arm or the bend of your elbow, twice a day for 7 to 10 days. If the skin turns red, itchy or swollen, wash it off and do not use it again. The AAD adds that products labeled unscented may still hold fragrance-related ingredients.

For a massage oil the spot can be the inner forearm of the person who will be massaged. Our labels carry the same advice in one line: if irritation occurs, discontinue use and consult a physician.

Scent and the skin

The scented oils carry essential oils and fragrance compounds. Orange blossom lists d-limonene, linalool and citral, and geranium lists geraniol, citronellol and linalool: all five are on the European list of 26 fragrance allergens that the FDA reproduces on its page about allergens in cosmetics. The FDA also notes that essential oils have no legal definition and that cosmetics do not carry food-style allergen warnings, so the ingredient list is the place to check.

The National Cancer Institute adds two practical points. Long contact with essential oils can cause irritation or an allergic reaction, and citrus oils on the skin before going out in the sun can cause sun sensitivity, so give orange blossom and geranium (both carry orange oil) a shower before a day outside. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that lavender on the skin can cause allergic reactions in some people.

Massage oil and condoms

A massage oil is an oil, and oil weakens latex. The CDC lists baby oil, lotion and cooking oil among the products not to use with condoms, the FDA condom label wording names vegetable oil, and the World Health Organization names coconut oil. Keep the massage oil for massage, wash it off before sex with a latex or polyisoprene condom, and use a lube whose label says it has been tested with your condom.

How to use it

Pump a little into your palm and rub your hands together until the oil feels warm. Spread it in long, slow strokes and add more as the skin takes it in. Lay an old towel under the person you are massaging, since oil marks fabric, and wash it off with soap and warm water afterwards.

All six oils in the Nooky assortment are on the massage oils shelf, each with its full label.