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What Is Sweet Oil?
Sweet oil is another name for olive oil, although the term also can refer to a light vegetable oil. It has many uses, from skin care to cooking. Several countries produce this oil, including Italy, Spain and the United States. The oil is used in place of other types of oil in cooking because of its health benefits, including a lack of harmful cholesterols. There are several grades of the oil, based on how it was extracted from the olives.
The different classifications of sweet oil help to define what use it should have in cooking. Extra virgin describes oil that was extracted from olives by pressing them once. It is the first oil the olives exude. Virgin olive oil is oil that comes from olives that have already been pressed at least once. The acidity of the different oil grades varies and affects the flavor, especially when eaten uncooked.
There are many uses for sweet oil in cooking. The extra virgin variety is often eaten uncooked in salad dressings or drizzled over bread or cheeses. It can be a healthy alternative when used instead of corn oil and other oils that contain harmful types of cholesterol, although olive oil has too low of a smoking point to be used for serious deep frying. Olive oil also can be placed in a bottle with herbs such as rosemary and aged for a time to create an infused oil that has the taste of the herbs in addition to the sweet and fruity natural flavor of the oil.
Medicinally, sweet oil has been used for a very long time as a treatment for problems with the ears. Swimmer’s ear, a condition characterized by water being trapped inside the ear canal, has been treated by placing a few drops of oil directly into the ear. It also can help to loosen wax in the ear and provides lubrication to the canal. In the past, the oil was used to treat cuts and other wounds to help prevent infection and promote healing.
For centuries, sweet oil has been used as a beauty product, especially for women. It can be used to moisturize the skin and is an ingredient in many modern cosmetic products. The oil also has been used as a treatment for dry hair by working it into the scalp, coating the hair in it and allowing it to stay in overnight.
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![Olive oil is also known as sweet oil.]()
By: Luis Carlos JiménezOlive oil is also known as sweet oil. -
![Balsamic vinegar and extra virgin sweet oil can be drizzled over a green salad.]()
By: Konstantin YuganovBalsamic vinegar and extra virgin sweet oil can be drizzled over a green salad. -
![Sweet oil may be used as a hair treatment.]()
By: darkfreyaSweet oil may be used as a hair treatment. -
![Extra virgin olive oil is sometimes drizzled over cheese as part of an antipasto platter.]()
By: manuartExtra virgin olive oil is sometimes drizzled over cheese as part of an antipasto platter. -
![Sweet oil can be used to loosen ear wax.]()
By: JackFSweet oil can be used to loosen ear wax. -
![Swimmer's ear can be treated by sweet oil in the ear canal.]()
By: MaridavSwimmer's ear can be treated by sweet oil in the ear canal.
Discussion Comments
I know that you can buy "sweet oil" at the pharmacy. Is there a reason why a person could not simply buy olive oil and use that to refill the "sweet oil" squeeze bottle?
@fBoyle-- Yea, that's a great, old remedy for earaches and ear wax. The oil used for it is olive oil. It's called sweet oil because when you cook something with olive oil, it makes the food slightly sweeter than other oils.
My grandmother would use this remedy when we had ear infections and wax buildup as kids. I also used it once as an adult when I got swimmer's ear one summer.
If you don't have olive oil, you can also use baby oil. But olive oil is better because it's natural and fragrance free.
My mom told me that I can use a few drops of sweet oil to remove ear wax. I forgot to ask her where I can get sweet oil. Does anyone know which type of oil is used for this?
I always refer to almond oil as sweet oil because it's made from sweet almonds. There is also a version made from bitter almonds.
I love sweet almond oil, it's one of the best oils out there for skin care. I use it regularly as a makeup remover and conditioner for my hair. I also use it to clean my eye makeup. It's very gentle for the skin around the eyes and it promotes eyelash growth!
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