Supplements Sweet Oil: Health Benefits and Nutrition Facts Use Sweet Oil for Ears and Around the Home By Malia Frey facebook twitter linkedin Malia Frey is a weight loss expert, certified health coach, weight management specialist, personal trainer, and fitness nutrition specialist. Learn about our editorial process Malia Frey Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on May 23, 2018 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on October 14, 2019 Print Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is Sweet Oil? Nutrition Facts Uses For Earaches Sweet oil is another name for olive oil. This common product can be utilized around the home, but one of the most popular applications is using sweet oil for ears. The product has a long history as a treatment for ear infections and ear pain. Sweet oil should not be confused with sweet almond oil, another product that is often used to boost beauty and health. What Is Sweet Oil? Sweet oil is another name for olive oil. You might find sweet oil (with a label that says "Sweet Oil") online or in health food stores as a treatment for common ailments. But many people who use the oil as a health treatment simply buy olive oil. Herbalists and other alternative medicine specialists who use sweet oil generally recommend that you buy cold pressed olive oil to get a pure product. Sweet oil gets its name from the taste of the oil. Olive oil is considered to be sweeter than other types of oil like canola oil, or other vegetable oils. Olive oil has been used for dietary and health reasons for thousands of years. Olive oil is still one of the most common oils used for cooking in kitchens around the world. Nutrition Facts The following nutrition information is provided by the USDA for 1 tablespoon (14g) of sweet oil. Calories: 119Fat: 14gSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugars: 0gProtein: 0g Fats in Sweet Oil The fats in olive oil—or sweet oil—are considered to be good fats. Most of the fat in sweet oil is monounsaturated fat. Monounsaturated fats are considered "good" fats because they can help boost your HDL or "good" cholesterol levels. Experts at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommend that you choose foods with monounsaturated fat instead of saturated fat when possible. You'll also consume a small amount of polyunsaturated fat if you cook with or consume sweet oil. Polyunsaturated fats are also considered healthy fats. Polyunsaturated fat can help lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol. For that reason, health experts recommend that you get 3-10 percent of your daily calories from polyunsaturated fat. There is a small amount of saturated fat in sweet oil. This type of fat may increase your risk for heart disease, but experts are re-evaluating the role of saturated fat in a heart-healthy diet. There is no carbohydrate or protein in sweet oil. Uses Sweet oil is often used as a moisturizer or a softening agent. Most people are comfortable using the oil because sweet oil is olive oil—a product that they are familiar with. Consumers might use sweet oil for health and beauty applications including: Treatment for snoring when mixed with warm water and consumed before bedTo soften cuticles during a manicureTo soften and treat brittle hairAs a substitute for shaving creamTo reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles In addition to its health and beauty applications, you may see household uses for sweet oil promoted. According to fans of the product, sweet oil can be used to: Polish furnitureRestore color and luster to woodReplace other forms of fat ((such as butter or lard) when cooking The most widely known use for sweet oil, however, is the treatment of ear pain. For Earaches Many people use sweet oil for ear pain. Herbalists and those who practice alternative medicine have used warm sweet oil to treat ear infections for hundreds of years, with many people reporting success. The oil is usually warmed slightly then applied to the ear using a small dropper. Scientific evidence to support the use of sweet oil for ear infections is lacking. And medical organizations don't acknowledge or recommend its use. The University of Texas Department of Otolaryngology provides advice to patients who are suffering from ear pain. In a discussion about ear wax, they discuss the use of sweet oil and how it can cause problems in the ear. "Fungal infections can also be a complication of many of the home remedies. One home remedy calls for the use of sweet oil drops in the ear. Many times a fungus will grow on the sweet oil and this type of remedy should be avoided." The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery also provides advice to readers about managing ear wax. They recommend that you never insert anything into the ear for cleaning. They acknowledge that home treatments including the use of "mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, or commercial drops" may be effective to remove ear wax. They do not mention the use of sweet oil for ears. In the organization's recommendations for the treatment of swimmer's ear (acute otitis externa), a common type of ear infection, they do not mention the use of sweet oil, instead recommending that "Mildly acidic solutions containing boric or acetic acid are effective for early infections." If you think you have an ear infection, your doctor can evaluate the condition and recommend a treatment that is both safe and effective. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. U.S. Department of Agriculture. FoodData Central. Olive oil. Updated April 2019. Vannice G, Rasmussen H. Position of the academy of nutrition and dietetics: dietary fatty acids for healthy adults. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014;114(1):136–153. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2013.11.001 Liu AG, Ford NA, Hu FB, Zelman KM, Mozaffarian D, Kris-Etherton PM. A healthy approach to dietary fats: understanding the science and taking action to reduce consumer confusion. Nutr J. 2017;16(1):53. doi:10.1186/s12937-017-0271-4 American Heart Association. Saturated fat. Updated 2020. University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston. Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. Ear wax discussion. Updated 2008-present. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. ENT Health. Earwax (cerumen impaction). Updated August 2018. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. ENT Health. Swimmer's ear (Otitis externa). Updated August 2018.