First, Magickal oils are NOT “essential oils.” Essential Oils are a liquid (not necessarily oily) that has been distilled via steam or water from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, or roots of a plant. It takes a lot of an herb to create an essential oil. This is one of the reasons they are so expensive. They are highly concentrated, containing the true essence of the plant from which it was derived. They are also volatile, and are primarily used to make perfumes, flavorings, and to accentuate ritual and spiritual oil blends.
Magickal oils, on the other hand, are oils that have been infused with herbs or herbal combinations, most often for a specific purpose or ritual. Magickal (or Spiritual) oils have been used in ceremonies for thousands of years. They are often used to annoint the body, candles, and tools; in spells, as a sensory prop or an essential element of the spell’s intent, alone or combined with color magick, to turn crystals, amulet, talismans, etc., from mundane items to magickal ones.
Magickal oils are also used in rituals, thru annointing of the body or via aromatherapy. These can lead to ecstatic states or focused energy work. When annointing the body, however, care must be taken with the “carrier oil” for the scent. Some oils are much likely to cause skin irritations or rashes than others.