How I Make My Own Nail Oil (Because Most Store-Bought Ones Irritate My Skin)

I love nail oil — but I can’t use most of the ones you’ll find in stores.

Like a lot of people, I have a fragrance allergy. Even light scents and essential oils can irritate my skin over time, especially when they’re applied daily around the cuticles. Unfortunately, fragrance shows up in many nail and cuticle oils — even ones marketed as “natural.”

After reacting to more than a few blends, I stopped trying to make store-bought options work and started asking a simpler question:

What does a nail oil actually need to do?

Once I understood that, making my own fragrance-free nail oil became surprisingly easy.

This post isn’t about saying store-bought nail oils are bad. It’s about sharing what worked for me when fragrance wasn’t an option — and how you can do the same if you have sensitive skin.

Why fragrance matters in nail oil

Cuticles and the skin around your nails are thin and sensitive. Nail oil is usually applied daily, sometimes multiple times a day, which means repeated exposure to whatever ingredients are in the bottle.

For some people, fragrance and essential oils are fine. For others, they can cause:

• Redness or itching around the cuticles

• Dryness that seems to get worse over time

• A “tingly” or burning sensation after application

The tricky part is that irritation doesn’t always show up right away — it can build slowly with repeated use.

For me, removing fragrance entirely made the biggest difference.

What actually matters in a nail oil

A lot of nail oils focus on scent or long ingredient lists. In reality, the real work is done by the carrier oils — the oils that nourish the nail plate and surrounding skin.

A good nail oil should:

• Penetrate the nail plate (not just sit on top)

• Help nails stay flexible (less peeling and splitting)

• Support healthy cuticles

• Be gentle enough for daily use

You don’t need dozens of ingredients to do that. Fewer oils, chosen intentionally, often work better — especially for sensitive skin.

(If you want a full breakdown of different oils and what they do for nails, you can read my guide here: The Best Oils for Nail and Cuticle Care: What to Use and Why It Works.)

The simple, fragrance-free nail oil formula I use

After a lot of trial and error, this is the minimal, gentle formula I make for myself. No fragrance. No essential oils. Just oils that actually support nail health.

A simple DIY nail oil recipe

Golden Jojoba Oil — 70%
Jojoba is the backbone of this blend. It closely mimics the skin’s natural oils and absorbs easily, helping oil reach the nail plate instead of just coating the surface.

Tsubaki (Camellia Japonica) Oil — 20%
This lightweight oil supports nail flexibility and helps reduce peeling. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t feel greasy.

Castor Oil — 10%
Castor oil helps seal moisture in and adds a protective layer. A small amount goes a long way — keeping it under 10% prevents the blend from feeling thick or sticky.

That’s it. Three oils. Nothing extra.

How to make it

You don’t need special tools or heat.

1. Measure the oils using the ratios above

2. Add them to a clean bottle (a cuticle brush or small dropper works well)

3. Gently swirl or shake to combine

That’s all there is to it.

Small-batch example (10 mL)

• 7 mL jojoba oil

• 2 mL tsubaki oil

• 1 mL castor oil

How to use nail oil (this part matters)

• Use once daily, ideally at night

• Apply a small drop to each cuticle and bare nail

• Massage gently — this helps circulation and absorption

Consistency matters more than quantity. A little oil used regularly does far more than occasional heavy application.

Using nail oil with nail wraps

If you wear nail wraps (including real nail polish wraps or semi-cured gel wraps), oil is still an important part of your routine — you just need to use it at the right time.

A few tips:

• Wait at least 24 hours after applying wraps before using oil

• Make sure your wraps are fully sealed with top coat

• Avoid applying oil if any edges are lifting, as it can cause them to release sooner

Once wraps are properly set, oil helps keep your cuticles healthy and your natural nails happy underneath.

Because I’m careful about what I put around my nails, I’m just as picky about what I use on them — which is one of the reasons I gravitate toward nail wraps as part of a gentler nail routine.

DIY vs store-bought nail oil

Making your own nail oil isn’t about doing things “the right way” — it’s about finding what works for your nails and your skin.

For me, that meant removing fragrance and focusing on a few oils that actually support nail health. For someone else, a store-bought blend might be perfect. Both approaches can exist side by side.

The goal isn’t more products or more steps — it’s comfortable, consistent care that your nails can tolerate long term.