I give general guidelines for essential oils in this post: Diluting Essential Oils. Some essential oils, however, need further dilution to stay within safety guidelines and prevent adverse reactions such as phototoxicity or sensitization as outlined in Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand.
This is not an extensive list. I have chosen the ones that come up the most often in discussion over on the Using Essential Oils Safely facebook group. For a full list of over 400 essential oils you will need to check the book Essential Oil Safety, which also includes research citations (over 4,000 of them) and explanations as to why the dilutions are so low.
Note: The information below is for dilutions only. This does not take into consideration if the essential oil is being used on a child, pregnant woman, or if you have health issues that would preclude you from using this essential oil. See Essential Oils and Children, Essential Oil Safety During Pregnancy [and Breastfeeding], Essential Oils Never to Buy, Phototoxicity – How to Stay Safe in the Sun, and A Word on Sensitization for more information.
Safe dilution guidelines for the topical use of essential oils |
|
|---|---|
| Essential Oil |
Max Essential Oil |
| Anise (Star) | 1.75% |
| Basil (estragole chemotype) | 0.1% |
| Basil (Madagascan chemotype) | 0.2% |
| Bergamot | 0.4% |
| Birch (Sweet) | 2.5% |
| Camphor (Yellow) | 0.25% |
| Cassia | 0.05% |
| Cinnamon Bark | 0.07% |
| Cinnamon Leaf | 0.6% |
| Clove Bud | 0.5% |
| Clove Leaf | 0.6% |
| Clove Stem | 0.6% |
| Cumin | 0.4% |
| Dill Seed (Indian) | 1.4% |
| Fennel (Bitter) | 1.8% |
| Fennel (Sweet) | 2.5% |
| Grapefruit | 4.0% |
| Ho Leaf (camphor chemotype) | 0.8% |
| Jasmine Absolute | 0.7% |
| Laurel Leaf | 0.5% |
| Lavender Absolute | 0.1% |
| Lavender (Spanish) | 8.0% |
| Lemon | 2.0% |
| Lemongrass | 0.7% |
| Lime | 0.7% |
| May Chang | 0.8% |
| Melissa | 0.9% |
| Myrtle | 1.9% |
| Myrtle (Honey) | 0.9% |
| Myrtle (Lemon) | 0.7% |
| Opopanax | 0.6% |
| Orange (Bitter) | 1.25% |
| Oregano | 1.1% |
| Peppermint | 5.4% |
| Pine (Ponderosa) | 0.5% |
| Ravensara Bark | 0.1% |
| Ravensara Leaf | 1.0% |
| Rose (Damask) | 0.6% |
| Rose Absolute | 2.5% |
| Sage (Dalmatian) | 0.4% |
| Sandalwood (East Indian) | 2.0% |
| Spearmint | 1.7% |
| Tarragon | 0.1% |
| Tea Tree | 15.0% |
| Tea Tree (lemon-scented) | 0.8% |
| Thyme (thymol chemotype) | 1.3% |
| Wintergreen | 2.4% |
| Ylang-Ylang | 0.8% |
Related Posts:
- Essential Oils and Children
- Essential Oil Safety During Pregnancy [and Breastfeeding]
- Essential Oils Never to Buy
- Phototoxicity – How to Stay Safe in the Sun
- A Word on Sensitization
| Lea Harris is a Certified Aromatherapist with Advanced Graduate training from Aromahead Institute in July 2013, but she is not a doctor. Please consult a trained aromatherapist or your doctor before using any of the suggestions on this website, as the user's age and health conditions must be taken into account before using. The information contained in this website is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. |
