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The 11 Best Massage Oils for Deep Relaxation and Hydrated Skin, According to a Massage Expert
With options from Elemis, Maude, L’Occitane, and more.
Byrdie
Nothing dissolves stress like a good massage—don’t you think? And while going to a fancy spa to get pampered is truly luxurious, going consistently can incur a hefty price tag. Arguably, the best alternative is giving yourself or your partner one at home, which is where massage oils come in. Using different techniques—think lymphatic drainage, depuffing, and more—you’ll allow yourself to slip into the ultimate self-care mood and unwind from everyday stressors like work and relationships, plus ease aches and pains and sore muscles.
The best part? Utilizing massage in your everyday routine is simple. All you need is a high-quality massage oil to make a day at home feel like an opulent spa experience. “A good quality massage oil turns a simple massage into a moment of deep connection,” explains Paola Spiga, clinic owner of Glam & Glow Beauty Lab. “It helps the hands to move with ease, melting tension without pulling the skin. I choose oils that do more than glide. They should nourish, calm, and elevate the experience with natural scent without overpowering the room”. Spiga says she looks for ingredients like arnica to ease muscle tension, vitamin E to repair and protect the skin, and calendula, bergamot, or chamomile to soothe inflammation and calm the senses.
To find the best massage oils, we conducted hours of research—evaluating each product based on its active ingredients, aromatherapeutic properties, scent, and more. We also spoke to experts to find out what types of oil they recommend. So, without further ado, here are the picks that made it into our shortlist.
Top Picks
Elemis Massage Oil at Amazon$65$44
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Maude Burn No. 1 Massage Candle at Amazon$32
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SheaMoisture Bath, Body & Massage Oil at Amazon$11$9
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Chanel Body Massage Oil at Chanel.com
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MAJESTIC PURE Massage Oil with Arnica Extract at Amazon$22$14
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L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Supple Skin Oil at Amazon$53
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Weleda Muscle Massage Oil at Amazon$18
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Kate McLeod Sleep Stone at Anthropologie
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M3 Naturals Anti Cellulite Massage Oil Infused at Amazon$34$20
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Honeydew Massage Oil at Amazon$13
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Best Overall
Elemis Massage Oil
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Bottle lasts a long time
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Nongreasy
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Great floral smell
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Not pregnancy-safe
Key Ingredients: Rosewood essential oil, melissa essential oil, marjoram essential oil, geranium essential oil, rosemary essential oil, lavender essential oil | Skin Type: All | Size: 3.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Leave relationship woes and taxing workdays behind with a few kneads of this rich massage oil. Infused with rosemary and geranium, it’ll provide instant relief and relaxation with just one whiff. But to really garner the full benefits of it, apply three to four drops to your palms and massage into your skin while breathing in the scent. In the end, both your mind and body will feel rejuvenated.
Best Overall, Runner-Up
Maude Burn No. 1 Massage Candle
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Doubles as candle and massage oil
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Comes in a fragrance-free version
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Creates relaxing ambiance
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Small size
Highlighted Ingredients: Jojoba oil | Skin Type: All | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
What could be more relaxing than a massage oil that doubles up as a candle? Perfect for a romantic evening with your partner (or some much-needed me time), all you need to do is light the candle, wait about 15 minutes for the oil to melt, and then apply the warm oil to the skin to begin your massage. The base is jojoba oil, which is deeply hydrating and soft on the skin. We also appreciate that it comes in three different scents and a fragrance-free version.
Best Drugstore
SheaMoisture Bath, Body & Massage Oil
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Affordable
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Softens the skin
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Smells good
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Bottle can leak easily
Key Ingredients: Organic shea butter, lavender, wild orchid extract | Skin Type: Dry | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’re looking to calm down after a particularly stressful day, this drugstore find is your best bet. Created with an all-natural blend of shea butter,it’ll leave your skin soft and hydrated with each use. However, the best part is that you can use it in the bath on days when you’re super short on time. Plus, the fragrant lavender scent smells just like a spa.
Best Splurge
Chanel Body Massage Oil
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Luxe packaging
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Smells good
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Moisturizing
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Comes in a fragile glass bottle
Key Ingredients: Helianthus annuus flower oil | Skin Type: All | Size: 8.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
No lineup of the best massage oils would be complete without mention of this super luxe version from Chanel. This pick is infused with sunflower oil that nourishes, moisturizes, and revitalizes the skin. To apply, massage the oil onto your body in circular motions for a spa-like experience at home. And, we’d be remiss not to mention the scent with hints of gourmand vanilla and sweet musk over a woody base that smells sweet and luscious. It’s perfect for treating yourself or your partner to a small dose of luxury.
Best for Sore Muscles
MAJESTIC PURE Massage Oil with Arnica Extract
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Reduces muscle pain
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Pump bottle
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Affordable
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Smell can be too strong for some
Key Ingredients: Lavender essential oil, chamomile essential oil | Skin Type: Dry | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
If you’ve hit the gym hard and have a serious case of DOMS, aid your recovery with this Sore Muscle Oil from Majestic. Using sweet almond oil to hydrate and arnica (a botanical known to have anti-inflammatory properties) to reduce pain, this massage oil soothes sore muscles by helping to release tension. It’s worth it, trust us.
Best for Dry Skin
L’Occitane Almond Smoothing and Beautifying Supple Skin Oil
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Moisturizing formula
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Smells beautiful
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Pump bottle
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Bottle comes with small amount of product
Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, sunflower seed oil | Skin Type: Dry | Size: 3.3 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Massage oils are great mediums for creating glide between your hands and body during a massage, but they can also be excellent for quenching dry skin. This one from L’Occitane is great for people with dry skin because it’s made with 50% sweet almond oil, which is rich in nourishing fatty acids. The luxe texture glides across the skin easily, absorbing after a few minutes and leaving skin looking healthy and feeling hydrated. Plus, the almond scent is out of this world delicious.
Best Warming
Weleda Muscle Massage Oil
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Warming sensation
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Affordable
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Pump bottle
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Bottle comes with a very small amount
Key Ingredients: Arnica oil, sunflower oil, olive oil | Skin Type: All | Size: 3.4 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Looking to up your at-home massage game? Try using this warming muscle massage oil. Apply before a big workout, hike, or eventful day, as it’s an infusion of lavender and rosemary essential oils that will help prep your muscles for rigorous activity. But it’s also great for everyday usage (especially during cold weather) as its warming effects feel as if you’re immersed in a warm bubble or steaming sauna.
Best Mess-Free
Kate McLeod Sleep Stone
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Mess-free application
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Easy to control amount of product applied
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Nourishing formula
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Pleasant herbal scent
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Takes some warming up
Key Ingredients: Cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, and apricot kernel oil | Skin Type: Dry, balanced, oily | Size: 3.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Okay, so this is technically a solid body moisturizer, but hear us out. After warming it up in your hands and pressing it against the skin, it melts on contact, dispersing nourishing oils across the body. The texture on the skin truly feels like a body oil rather than a lotion, but we love that the solid format makes for a mess-free application. It’s packed with cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, and apricot kernel oil to deeply hydrate the skin, and it has a subtle herbal scent that’s reminiscent of a spa.
Best Anti-Aging
M3 Naturals Anti Cellulite Massage Oil Infused
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Contains a blend of nourishing ingredients for elasticity
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Moisturizing
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Easy-to-use pump bottle
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Can feel a little greasy
Key Ingredients: Collagen, stem cell, grapeseed oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon oil, grapefruit oil | Skin Type: Dry | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
With important ingredients like grapefruit oil and lemon oil, this pick from M3 helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite and promote elasticity. We also appreciate that it’s full of nourishing ingredients, like collagen, fatty acids, and antioxidants to hydrate the skin and protect it from environmental stressors. All in all, you’ll get tons of benefits from this one bottle.
Best for Couples
Honeydew Massage Oil
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Has great staying power
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Highly absorbent
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Sweet, fragrant smell
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Can leak from bottle easily
Key Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil | Skin Type: Dry | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
We love this option for couples, as it smells divine and isn’t too sticky. Formulated with a blend of sweet almond, jojoba, and coconut oils, it glides across the skin and lasts through even a lengthy massage session. It’s intended for intimate use, but it does contain fragrance, so keep this in mind if your skin is sensitive.
Best Organic
Viva Naturals Organic Massage Oil
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All-natural ingredient list
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Lightweight but hydrating consistency
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Easy-to-use pump bottle
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Nongreasy
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May absorb into the skin too quickly for some
Key Ingredients: Organic jojoba oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil | Skin Type: Oily | Size: 8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
All you need are a few drops of this oil to experience all it has to offer. Formulated with natural oils like jojoba oil, coconut oil, and sweet almond oil, it’ll glide on smoothly and feel soft against your skin. Plus, its organic and all-natural ingredient list is great for those who prefer to use products that are certified organic.
What to Look for in a Massage Oil
- Ingredients: Because the massage oil is absorbed by your skin (the largest organ in our bodies), being aware of what ingredients are in each formula is crucial, explains Massage Envy senior manager Stacy Stevens. “You may want to consider any allergies, how often you will use the massage oil, and other skin benefits you may like to receive from using the massage oil.”
- Viscosity: Consider what type of massage you plan to do. If you plan to give yourself a massage with more pressure, you’ll want to use an oil blend that allows for more grip to get deep into the muscle, explains Stevens. Whereas for a massage that requires more glide, you’ll want something that moves smoothly.
- Rate of Absorption: Along the same lines as viscosity, the rate of absorption is a significant factor in your decision, says Stevens. “You don’t want the oil to be absorbed into the skin too fast, resulting in applying a lot of product.”
Meet Our Experts
For this article, Byrdie consulted the following expert:
- Stacy Stevens is a senior manager at Massage Envy based in Connecticut.
- Paola Spiga is a clinic owner at Glam & Glow Beauty Lab based in the UK.
Why Trust Byrdie
Alyssa Kaplan is an editor covering all things makeup, skincare, fragrance, and haircare for Byrdie since 2022. She holds a BS in Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing from The Fashion Institute of Technology.
Catherine Hufton is a London-based lifestyle journalist and has been a contributing writer and editor for Byrdie since 2022. She delves deeply into all things fashion and beauty to uncover the very best shopping must-haves. She spoke to a massage specialist to get further insight for this story.
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