Essential Oil Safety (Precautions and Risks)

Feeling a little lost when it comes to essential oil safety? These increasingly popular plant oils are very powerful and useful, but they also pose very real risks. Over the years I’ve done some digging on how to use them safely and they’re something our family uses daily. However, I’m not a fan of blanket advice about how to use (or not use!) them.

Don’t get me wrong. I love oils and I use them daily. Most often, I use them diluted in natural beauty or cleaning recipes, but I also use them aromatically and therapeutically at times. Because they’re so strong though, I don’t want to over use them for myself or my family. Here’s why.

Essential Oils are Highly Concentrated

Did you know it can take hundreds or even thousands of pounds of plant material to make a tiny bottle of essential oil? Some essential oils, like orange, naturally yield more oil. While other plants like Melissa take a whole lot more. This translates to a very concentrated and potent natural remedy.

Some sources say one drop of peppermint essential oil is the same as 26 cups of mint tea, but it’s not quite as simple as that. When we use herbs we’re using a much wider range of chemical constituents that naturally balance each other. Essential oils on the other hand are just the volatile oils in isolation. That means they have different properties and slightly different uses than the herb as a whole.

Essential oils can be a great tool when they’re used properly… in safe amounts.

Essential Oils on the Skin

I use diluted essential oils in many of my beauty recipes like lotion bars and herbal face oil. The key word though is “diluted,” using a carrier oil, like olive oil or avocado oil. There are times when it can be helpful to use undiluted essential oils. However, you really need to know what you’re doing, or work with an aromatherapist who does.

So what can happen if you don’t dilute your essential oils? You might notice skin redness, irritation, itching, burning, or an allergic reaction. Even if you don’t notice any symptoms right away your skin can become sensitized over time. This means that suddenly an oil that’s given you no issues before causes a severe reaction. Often the body can never use that essential oil again, even if you try it again diluted or diffused.

Certain essential oils, like cinnamon, clove, and lemongrass are more likely to cause a reaction. However, all essential oils have the potential to cause reactions when not used properly. I’ll test a new essential oil diluted on my arm before using it on a larger area of my body.

How to Dilute Essential Oils

This is a tricky one to answer and has a lot of nuance to it. How much you should dilute an essential oil depends on the following:

The person’s age (babies and the elderly have thinner skin so higher absorption rates)
Their state of health and if they have any medical conditions
Where you apply the essential oil on the body and how large/small of an area
Which oil you use and what you’re using it for

Most oils have a maximum safe dilution rate and some can be quite low. Safe dilution can range from .25% to about 20% depending on various factors. As a general rule though, safe essential oils are okay to use in skincare products at around a 2% dilution. This translates to about 6 drops of essential oil per 1 Tablespoon of carrier oil.

My Massage Horror Story

I learned first hand the hard way what can happen when you use too much undiluted essential oil. Years ago I tried a new massage therapist in town who offered an “aromatherapy” massage. I assumed this meant there would be essential oils in a diffuser during the massage. To my surprise, as the massage began I felt drops on my back.

I realized a few seconds later that she was pouring essential oils on my back… a lot of them. I asked her what oils she was using and she assured me that they were safe, but I got a headache soon after. She probably poured 80+ drops of undiluted essential oils on my back, which gave me shivers, a headache, and a 12-inch red spot on my back that lasted for days.

Not only did she not ask if I was pregnant or had health conditions first, but I found out she wasn’t even a licensed masseuse! Needless to say it was not a pleasant experience. Bottom Line: Exercise caution and do your research before using essential oils on the skin.

Phototoxic Essential Oils

Certain essential oils have constituents, mainly furocumarins, that can make skin more sensitive to UV light. The result are blisters and burns even after mild sun exposure. Phototoxic essential oils are mainly citrus oils, but not every citrus oil has furocumarins. And steam distilled citrus oils don’t have this issue.

Each of these oils also has a safe dilution rate where it’s much less likely to cause photosensitivity, but for many the margin of error is quite tight. To keep things simple, the following essential oils are best avoided before sun exposure if used in a leave on product (like lotion).

Bergamot (Cold Pressed)
Bitter Orange (Cold Pressed)
Grapefruit (Cold Pressed)
Lemon (Cold Pressed)
Lime (Cold Pressed)
Mandarin Leaf

Sweet or wild orange is the exception and is not phototoxic.

Using Essential Oils Internally

This is where things get really sticky. On one hand there are groups telling people to drink essential oils in their water. While others say it is never okay under any circumstance to ingest essential oils. Like most things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

If you’ve ever used lemon extract or sucked on a peppermint, then you’ve ingested essential oils. They’re commonly used in the food industry as natural flavoring in tiny amounts. That doesn’t mean they’re safe to ingest under every circumstance though, especially in large amounts. Remember, essential oils are highly concentrated substances!

The Gut Factor

Many sources tout essential oil’s antimicrobial properties. You know what else is teeming with many types of microbes? Your gut.

Research is constantly emerging about our extremely diverse gut microbiomes, but we still don’t fully understand them. We do know that gut health drastically affects other aspects of health. Gut imbalances can cause problems in the skin, brain, and other parts of the body. While more research has gone into essential oil’s effect on gut bacteria, there’s still a lot of unknowns.

Researchers have suggested certain essential oils are even as potent as prescription antibiotics. Other studies show how essential oils benefit certain gut microbes and lead to positive health changes. The bottom line is there’s still a lot we don’t know and it’s wise to exercise caution if you choose to use essential oils internally.

Many essential oils are considered “GRAS” or Generally Recognized as Safe for food and cosmetic use. However, many essential oils have not been studied in internal amounts in real life situations. It’s worth doing your research before trying this route.

Essential Oils During Pregnancy or Nursing

Essential oils can affect hormones, gut bacteria, and other aspects of health. Caution should be used when using them while pregnant or nursing. Like most things, essential oils may cross the placenta and get to baby.

Am I saying never use them? No… but do your research first and/or work with a qualified aromatherapist in these circumstances. Much of the research that’s been done on essential oil’s effect on unborn babies has some obvious limitations. Some researchers use isolated constituents, not essential oils in their whole form. Or they’re given in massive doses in animal studies that are much higher than anyone would consume in real life.

One study found that oregano essential oil is toxic to the embryos of pregnant rats. However, the rats were fed 150 mg of essential oil for every kilogram of their body weight. This is the equivalent of giving the average woman well over 2 teaspoons of essential oil.

What I Did During Pregnancy and Nursing

I personally don’t take any essential oil internally during pregnancy (or even while nursing). I stick to aromatherapy and very diluted use of pregnancy safe essential oils in skin care recipes and baths. Plus, I always re-test an oil in a diluted skin test before using it during pregnancy.

It’s best to use caution with any plant medicine during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Some essential oils have hormonal effects that can cause miscarriage or other side effects.

Pregnancy Safe Essential Oils

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater though! Essential oils can be very helpful during pregnancy, when used appropriately. Here are a few ways to use essential oils to help with pregnancy complaints. As always, be sure to check with your midwife or someone trained in essential oil use during pregnancy before using.

Inhale peppermint or lemon to help with nausea
Diffuse lavender to help with sleep
Massage with frankincense to help ground, relax, and soothe achy muscles

The International Federation of Aromatherapists recommends using a maximum dilution rate of .5% to 1% during pregnancy. This would be 3 to 6 drops of essential oil for every 2 Tablespoons of carrier oil. You can find an extensive list of essential oils to avoid during pregnancy here.

Peppermint essential oil can decrease milk supply so I avoided it topically while nursing.

Essential Oil Safety For Babies and Children

This is one of the things that concerns me the most with a lot of the essential oil recommendations I see online. I don’t ever give essential oils internally to children or use them undiluted on their skin. Children, especially babies, need less essential oils than adults do when using them topically. Even essential oils that may seem “gentle,” like lemongrass, can be very irritating to skin if too much is used.

Aromatherapy For Kids

Diffusing essential oils is one of the safest ways to get their benefits. My friend Heather has a really great and very thorough list of which essential oils are safe for each age group.

In general though, oils like lavender, chamomile, orange, lemon, and frankincense are helpful for even young children. These can be diffused or diluted and applied topically as needed.

Risks For Children

In extreme cases, essential oil misuse has caused seizures in some children. To clarify, the case studies on these are rare and the children were predisposed to seizures. However, it points to how powerful essential oils can be.

Some oils, like peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, and wintergreen have specific precautions around little ones. These herbs contain menthol and 1,8-cineole that can slow breathing (or even stop it) in very young children when misused. Aromatherapy expert Robert Tisserand recommends avoiding peppermint for children under age 3 and diffusing or diluting eucalyptus oil at .5% for children ages 3 to 6.

The University of Minnesota also cautions about the use of peppermint and similar oils in young children with G6PD deficiency (a common genetic enzyme deficiency). These children can get severe jaundice from using these oils.

I prefer using safe essential oils in a diffuser or in very diluted amounts in beauty and cleaning products. Important note to add: pets can be just as vulnerable.

Essential Oils in Plastics

It’s not often mentioned, but essential oils really should be stored in glass containers. Essential oils can dissolve some plastics, even when diluted, or degrade the plastic over time. While certain plastics can be okay for essential oil storage, they’re not the safest option. I store my homemade cleaners and beauty products in glass whenever I can for this reason.

This caution also extends to other surfaces in the house, which I found out the hard way. I accidentally left a bottle of wild orange oil on a piece of homemade furniture. When I picked it up the next day, it had stuck to the furniture, pulling the finish and stain off with it.Be extremely careful about leaving any oils, especially citrus oils, on wood or other stained surfaces.

The Good News About Essential Oil Safety

Although there are plenty of warnings about essential oil safety, they are wonderful natural remedies when used correctly. My goal isn’t to discourage anyone from using essential oils, but encourage proper research and safety first.

I use essential oils almost daily, but I make sure to research each oil and its proper use first. It can also be really helpful to find a trained aromatherapist, herbalist, or naturopathic doctor to ask specific questions about essential oils. It’s also important to make sure any essential oils you use are organic and very high quality. Here’s one of my favorite places to get high quality essential oils at an affordable price.

Safe Ways to Use Essential Oils:

At the end of the day, essential oils can be a great and safe natural remedy, if used safely. The main ways I use essential oils are:

Aromatically– in a diffuser. This reed diffuser also makes a great desk accessory!
Topically– Diluted in homemade lotion, toothpaste, lotion bars, body butter and other homemade recipes.
Cleaning – I also use them around the house to clean surfaces.

I reserve undiluted skin use and internal use for times of real need when the benefits outweigh the risk. And I avoid using essential oils like this on babies/children or when I’m pregnant. These are uses that are best done only after research and training in proper use.

What essential oils do you use? What are your favorite ways to use them? Leave a comment and let us know!

Sources

Krumbeck, E. (2014, September 8). When to NOT use essential oils (Essential oils can cause seizures in kids). Naturopathic Pediatrics.
Piatt, M. (2021, January 22). How Many Pounds Of Material Does It Take To Make Essential Oils? Enchanted Aromatics.
Robbins, W. (N.D.) Phototoxicity and Essential Oils. Aromaweb.
Robbins, W. (N.D.). Guide to Diluting Essential Oils. Aromaweb.
Prabuseenivasan, S., Jayakumar, M., & Ignacimuthu, S. (2006). In vitro antibacterial activity of some plant essential oils. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 6, 39.
Pezantes-Orellana, C., et al. (2024). Essential oils: a systematic review on revolutionizing health, nutrition, and omics for optimal well-being. Frontiers in medicine, 11, 1337785.
International Federation of Aromatherapists. (N.D.). Aromatherapy in Pregnancy Guidelines.
Dosoky, N. & Setzer, W. (2021). Maternal Reproductive Toxicity of Some Essential Oils and Their Constituents. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(5), 2380.
Dessinger, H. (2021, May 29). Which Essential Oils Are Safe For Kids? 70+ Oils & How To Use Them. Mommypotamus.
Tisserand, H. (2018). Are Eucalyptus and Peppermint Oils Safe For Young Children. Tisserand Institute.
JB Bottle. (2025, February 1). Need to store essential oils? Pick the right plastic bottles to keep them fresh and potent!

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About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

499 responses to “Essential Oil Safety (Precautions and Risks)”

Laura Vacca

January 12, 2016

This may have been answered but I didn’t see it – the Onguard blend seems to have rosemary in it but that was listed under the oils that are not safe for babies that you mentioned above, So how do you use this around your young family?

Reply
Jodi Cohen

January 5, 2016

i very much appreciate this conversation. i started a small essential oil company and advised that all blends except for one that controls sugar cravings be topically applied. after reading this article and the comments, i will advise that all oils be topically applied. i believe they are wonderful healing tools and much benefit can be garnered from topical and olfactory application. it is not necessary to ingest them. thank you for your wonderful research Katie! I really appreciate this article! I know you are expecting again and wonder if you might take on the topic of essential oils and pregnancy next. That is another hot topic that i would love to hear you address!

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Halana

January 5, 2016

Oh and one more thing….for those who say that essential oils should NEVER be ingested….check this out:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_cola
And I understand a lot of you on here like myself may not drink Coca Cola but if essential oils are so harmful why is the FDA allowing it into soft drinks all across America? I know a lot of people will still disagree because they will say soft drinks are bad for you….so are a ton of other things the FDA and USDA allows onto our shelves. Some will also disagree with the fact that YL oils are safe because they don’t have an organic seal….I’m sorry but (my opinion) it doesn’t mean much. YL has a seed to seal approval that means more to me than an organic seal and for those who say that YL doesn’t have outside testing done as well…..I’m sorry but you are wrong on that as well. Glad to have been a part of this discussion but it’s very apparent that a lot of us on here are very passionate about what we believe and don’t believe and we will all have to agree to disagree but when you want to start pointing fingers and saying you’ve done your research and act like an expert on eo’s….please remember there is always something ALL of us can learn….yes I put myself in that as well. This is an ever changing world with new products being sold all the time. When you find something that is harmful just stop using it and try to share….simple as that. Some will disagree and that’s ok. As for me….I will stick with what I know works. ?

Reply
1. Ena
  
  February 1, 2016
  
  @ Halana: Thank for your insightful post. Yes, everybody always has something to learn. For example: I just learned from you that there are essentials oils in coca-cola (a lot of them, too). Though I won’t touch coca-cola with a ten-foot pole, that’s good to know!
  
  Reply
Halana

January 3, 2016

This has really sparked some interest in me so I looked on the FDA website where the “organic” label is regulated. This is what I found concerning eo’s: Sometimes people think that if an “essential oil” or other ingredient comes from a plant, it must be safe. But many plants contain materials that are toxic, irritating, or likely to cause allergic reactions when applied to the skin.
For example, cumin oil is safe in food, but can cause the skin to blister. Certain citrus oils used safely in food can also be harmful in cosmetics, particularly when applied to skin exposed to the sun. FDA doesn’t have regulations defining “natural” or “organic” for cosmetics. All cosmetic products and ingredients must meet the same safety requirement, regardless of their source. To learn more, see “’Organic’ Cosmetics” and “FDA’s Poisonous Plant Database.”
Check it out here: https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/aromatherapy
But what I found on their site about therapeutic grade oils was this:
product is intended for a therapeutic use, such as treating or preventing disease, or to affect the structure or function of the body, it’s a drug. For example, claims that a product will relieve colic, ease pain, relax muscles, treat depression or anxiety, or help you sleep are drug claims. Such claims are sometimes made for products such as soaps, lotions, and massage oils containing “essential oils” and marketed as “aromatherapy.” The fact that a fragrance material or other ingredient comes from a plant doesn’t keep it from being regulated as a drug.
Under the law, drugs must meet requirements such as FDA approval for safety and effectiveness before they go on the market. To find out if a product marketed with drug claims is FDA-approved, contact FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
I find this all very interesting. One thing I’m sure of is this…before, I used an “organic” oil which made me extremely sick and a friend of mine asked me if I still had the YL eo’s she had given me and to try those instead. I did and felt some better the next day and completely better two days later. I was hooked from that day forward. I searched the site over on the so called organic oils that I had used prior and found after hours of searching that yes they did actually add solvents to their product to “extract” as much as possible from the plant. I have used YL eo’s to treat allergies, athletes’ foot, upset stomach, back pain, etc. Am I a doctor?…no. I am not a medical professional in any way and I understand that when I self medicate I am doing just that and it may not work but so far I haven’t had any bad reactions to YL eo’s and I HAVE had a bad reaction to a so-called “organic” oil that I will not bash the brand of. Do I suggest my child ingest them? Absolutely not. He’s a child and I barely give him Tylenol. We are not an advocate for over the counter or prescription meds. We try to do everything we can naturally but when needed, yes we go to the doctor. But since I have been using YL eo’s, we haven’t been to the doctor once, other than a checkup. We can go on and on and on about whose eo’s are the best, most natural, etc. I trust YL eo’s and someone else trusts another brand but for anyone to make claims saying this is better than another…truth is unless you are there from before the seed is harvested until after its distilled and bottled…..you really don’t know for sure. I can only trust what I know for sure and that is that YL eo’s have worked for me and my family. I use them daily and have been for quite some time and have a friend who has used them daily for 20 years and has researched oils much more extensively than I have and she IS a medical professional. The FDA puts regulations on any claims that can be made with eo’s and they don’t have regulations defining “organic” or “natural” cosmetics and that’s what they consider eo’s….cosmetics. They say if it’s applied topically it’s a cosmetic. It can’t be a cosmetic and a drug or dietary supplement.

Reply
Cindy Shaver

January 2, 2016

I use EO Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit, and Tangerine oil in my water all the time with no Adverse effects.. You should only be using therapeutic oils.. And because they are concentrated you only need a drop or two.-
Everybody’s tolerance is different, just use sparingly at first.
Excellent article thank you.

Reply
1. Mackenzie
  
  January 2, 2016
  
  Cindy, you should only be using ORGANIC oils, not “therapeutic” oils….ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE INGESTING THEM! It is NOT safe to ingest oils that are not organic. The definition of therapeutic is: “of or relating to the healing of disease.” Lots of things are therapeutic, but it has NOTHING to do with being organic.
  
  If you ingest oils that are not organic, you are ingesting a HIGHLY concentrated amount of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers from those plants as well. It is perfectly safe to ingest ORGANIC essential oils (only if you are really educated by a certified aromatherapist about which oils are safe, when and why to use them, how much to use, who is ingesting them, and if there are interactions with other medicine you may be taking).
  
  Please do your research and look at your essential oil bottles. If they don’t say organic, then they’re NOT organic. This is crucial for your health and your family’s health. You should not be putting non-organic oils on your skin, inhaling them, or ingesting them.
  
  Skin is our largest organ and what we put on it is absorbed right into our blood stream. The molecules then pass through the blood-brain barrier to the limbic system in the brain, where they can influence the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. Essential oils are absorbed into your body just like the ingredients in common pharmaceuticals, such as hormone replacement cream and nicotine patches.
  
  When we inhale essential oils through the nose or mouth, airborne molecules interact with the olfactory organs and, almost immediately, the brain. They are also carried to the lungs and interact with the respiratory system. Therefore, inhaled essential oils can affect the body through several systems and pathways.
  
  When we ingest essential oils, obviously they are distributed throughout the entire body. It’s imperative that we’re only absorbing, inhaling and ingesting the benefits of the essential oil, not highly concentrated amounts of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
  
  Reply
Mackenzie

January 2, 2016

The most important thing to consider when choosing essential oils is very simple: ARE THEY CERTIFIED ORGANIC?
DoTerra oils are NOT organic. Young Living oils are NOT organic. Just as it is incredibly important to purchase organic food, it is just as vital to buy organic oils. In fact, because essential oils are such a highly concentrated form of the plant, if the oil is not organic, then the pesticides and chemicals used on the plant are highly concentrated into the oil as well. So you’re actually putting extremely high doses of toxic chemicals onto or in your body with an oil that is not certified organic.

It’s crucial to take some classes and learn from a certified aromatherapist so you can have the knowledge to make healthy choices in your essential oils. I searched high and low before I finally found certified organic, medicinal grade oils from a certified aromatherapist, not a MLM company trying to deceive everyone through their clever marketing. Words like “therapeutic” and “beyond organic” are just deceptive ploys to cover up the fact that they are not organic. They are either certified organic or they’re not. If it doesn’t say organic on the label, then they’re not organic. Period. Companies who truly have organic oils go through a lot to obtain that certification and they certainly are not going to “forget” to put it on the label. The only two companies I’ve found that have organic, high quality, medicinal grade essential oils are Purify Skin Therapy and Mountain Rose Herbs. I personally use Purify Skin Therapy.

Do your research everyone….thoroughly. Don’t just use something because someone else recommends it or they have fancy marketing and materials. This isn’t about bashing other companies, it’s about being wise and informed in our choices. That’s what is wonderful about Wellness Mama. She gives a lot of great information and research, but it’s up to each one of us to further investigate and decide what’s right for our families. I’m thankful for this blog and the collaborative voices we all have to help one another learn and grow in our journey to have healthier families. We need to support each other, not attack each other. I think we all have similar goals and that’s a refreshing thing to see, especially in the world we live in today!

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  January 2, 2016
  
  Well said. Thanks for weighing in!
  
  Reply
2. Halana
  
  January 2, 2016
  
  I’m sorry maybe I misunderstood what organic means but from what I’ve been informed young living eo’s are grown without the use of artificial chemicals. I have a friend whom I trust very much who has actually been to one of the YL farms and has seen how they treat their plants with their very own eo’s….not chemicals and has seen how they have farmers who harvest them with their very hands and she even got to participate in harvesting. She has seen the very distillation process first hand. She has seen how they do NOT add any solvents to their plants when distilling. So is this not considered organic???
  
  Reply
  1. Mackenzie
    
    January 3, 2016
    
    Halana, I understand that it can be quite confusing, especially with the massive amount of misinformation and marketing hype out there from the MLM essential oil companies.
    
    When an essential oil is USDA Certified Organic or Wildcrafted, it says so right on the label. It verifies that the plants were grown without any pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. It also verifies that during the entire process – from growing the plants, to distillation, to bottling – the oil has not been diluted, altered, or synthetically modified. It is crucial to use only USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC or WILDCRAFTED essential oils. Why? Because essential oils contain highly concentrated amounts of that plant and anything that was sprayed or applied to it as well. So a non-organic oil contains HIGHLY concentrated amounts of pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers.
    
    Participating in a company’s harvesting and distillation doesn’t mean much. That’s not going to tell you if the plants were grown organically or not….that’s where it all starts! You’re just harvesting the plants and distilling them. The plants that Young Living and DoTerra use are NOT grown organically. They are NOT USDA Certified Organic. You have no idea what pesticides, herbicides and chemicals those plants have been sprayed with while they were growing and what’s in the soil they were grown in. All your friend saw was the harvesting and distilling process. They may not add anything during that process – who knows – but it doesn’t matter because if you’re using a non-organic plant to create the oil, then you CAN NOT ensure that the oil is truly pure and free from pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers.
    
    No matter what fancy marketing words are used (therapeutic, pure, beyond organic, etc), they are NOT organic unless it says USDA Certified Organic on the label. And there is NO such thing as “beyond organic”. These fake, fluffy terms are just laughable – they are incredibly deceptive and they’re playing on people’s naivety and ignorance. Being USDA Certified Organic is a VERY important and costly designation for a company to acquire, so if the oil is truly organic, the company will absolutely say so on the label. If it’s not organic, then the company will try to deceive people into thinking it is by using clever marketing words and terms that people will just ASSUME means organic. It’s deceptive and wrong. Don’t just assume anything!
    
    It’s very black and white – it’s either USDA Certified Organic or it’s not. Just like when you go to buy food, it’s either USDA Certified Organic or it’s not, and we all know what organic food ensures. It’s the same thing with essential oils. Having that USDA Certified Organic distinction ensures and verifies that the plants used in that essential oil were grown within the strict USDA Organic guidelines. These labels are there for a reason, to inform and protect us consumers from deceptive companies. Look for the USDA Certified Organic label! There is no substitute for it, period.
    
    Furthermore, many companies with non-organic oils add diluents, extenders, and adulterants to stretch the oil for economic reasons. Some of these adulterants are toxic, such as, SD40 alcohol, propylene glycol, diethylenephalate and other synthetic chemicals. I’m sure that’s not what you want to be absorbing into your skin, inhaling, and ingesting. It’s VERY clear if the oil is organic or not, just look at the ingredients on the label. There should be no confusion.
    
    Once you’ve narrowed down a list of the truly USDA Certified Organic oil companies, request a GCMS analysis paper (gas chromatograph mass spectrometer) from them. A reputable organic essential oil company will be able to provide you a gas chromatograph on all of the essential oils it sells. A gas chromatograph identifies and analyzes the presence and relative quantities of chemical constituents within an essential oil. It is a technique that separates the components of an essential oil according to the differences in molecular volume. It provides a fingerprint of the oil, and shows the relative concentration of chemical compounds according to retention time.
    
    Here are some other questions to ask essential oil companies:
    
    1. Were the oils steam distilled or extracted with alcohol or carbon dioxide?
    2. Were the oils distilled at low temperature and low pressure over a period of time or were they distilled quickly (high temperature can fracture the essential oil molecule resulting in an inferior aroma and taste).
    3. Were the oils developed by a Certified Aromatherapist?
    4. Do they have specialized oils formulated specifically for children and babies?
    5. Are the oils labeled by batch, lot and gas chromatograph report?
    6. Are the oils produced in small quantities to ensure freshness – not sitting for months in a warehouse?
    7. Are the oils stored in blue cobalt glass bottles to maintain and protect the quality of the oil?
    
    One final tip….Always purchase essential oils by their Latin name, and always check the label for the correct botanical name. Plants can have similar common names (Lavender, for example), but there are several different kinds of lavender plants – they are not created equal and can produce very different results.
    
    I know it can be confusing to navigate the tricky and deceiving marketing from the MLM essential oil companies. Hopefully this information will help arm you with the knowledge you need to find USDA Certified Organic, clean, pure, potent, medicinal grade oils. When you use a higher grade of organic essential oils you can use less and get even better results for your money. Plus, you’ll know exactly what you’re putting on and in your body and your precious family as well. : ) God bless!
    
    Reply
3. David Roe
  
  January 5, 2016
  
  NOTE FROM KATIE: PART OF THIS COMMENT WAS REMOVED DUE TO VIOLATION OF THE COMMENT POLICY/MARKETING OF A PRODUCT/MEDICAL CLAIMS.
  
  Licensed aromatherapists object to COMPANY NAME REMOVED because they paid a lot of money to learn the AMERICAN model of aromatherapy and it is all about job security for them. They only know what they were taught – and they weren’t taught the whole story unfortunately.
  
  Please stop bashing essential oils on this blog! You have people frightened that a little Lavender room spray might get on their skin and hurt them which is insane. You have mothers freaking out because they let their little ones smell some eucalyptus oil for a cold – something I grew up with and I can guarantee those oils weren’t pure – but that is a WONDERFUL way to combat a cold and help breathing when you don’t feel well. Please please stop scaring people… and then turn around and post your OWN recipes calling for use of EO’s on the skin. That just makes no sense at all…
  
  Reply
  1. Wellness Mama
    
    January 5, 2016
    
    Hi David, I removed part of your comment because it was specifically about one company, bashed another and did not provide documentation to back up claims. Disagreement is fine, marketing for a specific company is not. I am not “bashing” essential oils, merely suggesting that people use them cautiously and correctly. This should not in any way seem threatening to someone promoting the proper use of EOs.
    
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    1. David Roe
      
      January 6, 2016
      
      It looks as if you removed the majority of my comment. And none of the comment were health claims in anyway, in fact, they were the opposite. I am confused about something though – aren’t these the exact same companies that YOU disparage daily on your site? You post non-stop about these companies yet we can not reply or speak any rebuttals? My comments about ALL the companies I mentioned are true and are easily confirmed.
      
      As for the other parts of the comment that you removed, why? Because they contradict other posts on your blog or were they just too close to home? Or just too critical of the things you have said? You consistently say you should never use EO’s on the skin yet you have a recipe posted combining honey and Lavender for burns and skin ailments. So which is it Kate?
      
      Why the heavy censoring of this site? I guess you do not truly desire an open, truthful conversation on this topic…. or maybe you will lose money from your sponsors if you allow that.
      
      You post so many things that are helpful yet Iose more respect for you everyday. Please quit misleading and scaring people about the use of essential oils.
      
      Reply
      1. Wellness Mama
        
        January 6, 2016
        
        Wow. Sensitive much? The comment policy specifically prohibits promotional comments about a specific company, especially if a person may have a financial interest in promoting that company (like being a rep) that is not disclosed. Your comment promoted one company and bashed another without contributing to the conversation in a meaningful way in the process. That is why it was changed. Your tone was also disrespectful in places (as it is in this comment). I have no problem with disagreement, just keep it respectful.
        
        To clarify- I have never said that essential oils should not ever be used on the skin, only that caution should be used and dilution ratios should be observed and that some oils (like lavender) are considered generally safe for skin unless there is an allergy.
        
        Also to clarify (as explained in my disclosure and policies). I do not have sponsors or advertisers (perhaps you noticed I don’t even have a sidebar in which to place ads?). I don’t lose any money from anyone by moderating comments- I’m just trying to keep the environment respectful. In fact, I could probably (and know many bloggers who do) make an insane amount of money from promoting essential oils (especially one of the companies you mentioned) on this blog. In fact, I know bloggers who make 5-6 figures a month by doing so. I just can’t in good conscience promote these oils knowing the way they are often recommended for use by other (well intentioned) sales reps and have made the decision not to for this reason… so your accusations about money are unfounded.
        
        If you would like to continue this discussion, please do so in a kind, civil and respectful way and I will extend you the same courtesy. Whether you respect me or not is entirely your decision, of course, but I would disagree that I am “misleading and scaring people about the use of essential oils” by simply encouraging people to exercise caution and check with a qualified specialist before doing so. Also, based on your comment, I would suspect that you might be a rep or in some way make money from promoting a certain essential oil company (which, per my policies and disclosure laws, you should disclose in any online place where you promote them). I can’t confirm this and that is your business, but if you do in fact make money from promoting essential oils, perhaps you could consider your own bias in this matter and that you have more of a financial reason to encourage people to use essential oils than I do in encouraging them to use caution.
Noel Nicole

December 27, 2015

Thanks so much for this article! I had recently bought lime, lemon, and peppermint EO to add to my water to encourage me to drink (I’m terrible at drinking plain, unflavored water). I hadn’t known that the EO was so concentrated, nor did I know that they really shouldn’t be used internally for everyday use.

My co-workers had very recently gotten into using auromatherapy and some had started adding it to their water as flavorings. Thinking this was safe for flavoring water, I followed suit. Now I know why I always feel a little funny after drinking a lot of my EO water…too much of a good thing gives me bad side effects!

Do you have any tips for adding flavoring to water that doesn’t also add sugar/sweetner and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? (I’d love to just add fresh fruit, but it’s expensive and I’d rather eat the whole fruit to get the health benefits…but that leaves me with nothing to use as a water flavoring!

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1. Noel Nicole
  
  December 29, 2015
  
  Thanks for the tip, I’ll have to try it! I did try just putting orange peel in my water and it wasn’t bad…it flavored a lot more than I thought it would!
  
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chookov s.

December 23, 2015

Found this site by accident, and as a Practicing Aromatherapist I find nothing wrong or ‘controversial’ with what you’ve written. All sound advice in my opinion.

What I do find troubling, is the proliferation that doTerra and Young Living are considered the ‘best’ oils out there, and being called “therapeutic grade” gives them some special high authority.

“Therapeutic Grade” is a MARKETING TERM dreamt up by YL.

ALL 100% PURE essential oils can be considered “therapeutic grade” – not just dt’s and YL’s.

dT and YL are so incredibly expensive because you are paying multiple layers of people who are all taking a cut from the sale. There is NOTHING inherently “better” about either supplier.

In fact, what a lot people probably don’t even know, is that doTerra was started by a couple of YoungLiving higher-ups that were “suddenly unhappy” with the “quality” of YL oils. (?) There is no way this company, in such a short time, can claim they have 100% ownership over every facet of their oils from the owning the land where the actual growth of the plant takes place, to owning the facilities and equpiment where the distillation/extraction and bottling production takes place. It is Just. Not. Possible.

They buy their oils from the same growers/producers that some other suppliers do.

There is also a veterinarian that proclaims she has the all miracle cures for your critters using essential oils. She was an ardent vocalist that YL was THE ONLY BRAND WORTH USING . . . until she came up with her own line – (again claiming 100% ownership from growth to bottling) then began bad mouthing YL as “not recommended”.
I’m guessing YL, now in direct competition for her profit margin, is the sole reason after such the demand that YL was the BEST, is now suddenly not.
Also, reading her work gives me chills – undiluted wintergreen oil “dropped” on cats ? oh. hell. no.

One question I always ask, and have yet to get not only a coherent answer, but just an answer period, from their ‘distributors’ is:
If YL/doTerra are THE ABSOLUTE BEST OILS AVAILABLE, why has NOT ONE of any the experts in the field of aromatherapy (Shirley and Len Price, Julia Lawless, Robert Tisserand, Kurt Schnaubelt, even Rosemary Gladstar) either recommend their usage, or cite them in ANY of the myriad of publications produced in this field?

For all those inquiring where to learn more about the properties and safe use of essential oils – you need to look no further than the writings of the above named.

Another point, nearly all of the unsafe usages I have come across regarding essential oils, nearly ALL of them came from those associated with either Young Living or doTerra.

Wellness Mama, I appreciate your site and your cautioning folks on the CORRECT way to use oils.
What I have found tho, is there really is no convincing the YL/dT oil users out there that there are in fact, not only less expensive, but better quality alternatives to their cult-like supply.

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Erin

December 15, 2015

Hello! I am a bit confused by your list of oils NOT to use during pregnancy. I referenced this article https://naha.org/assets/uploads/PregnancyGuidelines-Oct11.pdf) even before I stumbled on this post, but noticed that many of the oils deemed SAFE to use during pregnancy in this article are listed on your “Do NOT use” list. Did you reference another source that had alternate information? Just trying to get the facts straight, as I am exploring EOs and trying to reconcile all the information that is floating around out there. Any clarifying info you have would be GREATLY appreciated! Thank you for all your posts, I appreciate it!

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  December 15, 2015
  
  I researched each oil individually and if I found counter-indications during pregnancy, I included it on the “do not use” list. That being said, some oils are considered safe for aromatherapy during pregnancy but not on the skin and definitely not internally. I wanted to air on the side of caution and list all oils that I found evidence may have a harmful effect during pregnancy so women would not read about oils that were safe for aromatherapy and assume they were safe for topical use too.
  
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Winnie

December 14, 2015

Hi Katie,
I’m still nursing my 2 year old, not a lot, just before bedtimes usually. I have a large fibroid that developed during pregnancy and has not reduced in size at all. After some research, it looks like Frankensence, Clary Sage, and Thyme can be effective in reducing fibroids some reading I’ve done says it’s safe while nursing and other places say it’s not. Do you have any thoughts on this? Or know of any effective natural remedies for fibroids? Thank you!

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Emily

November 25, 2015

Just wanted to hop on the bandwagon and say thank you for this post!

I suffer from clinical chronic anxiety and depression. As part of my holistic therapy, my prescribing doctor (an MD) along with my talk therapist recommended a local Certified Aroma therapist. Armed with my medical history, lab write ups, prescriptions, and supplements, I began working with her to obtain some EO products that could be used as part of my therapeutic (mental) regimen. She is so full of knowledge as far as EO interactions with medicines, supplements, and the like. She is also great about explaining the carriers she uses as well as correct methods of inhalation and topical application. She has never suggested taking EOs internally. She also suggested certain times of the day I could use and apply my oils based on when the kids slept/etc. So that their exposure would be minimal.

Just wanted to validate what all you wrote about by saying **do your research regarding oils!!!** A great Certified Aromatherapist will have your best interests at heart, and not their pocketbook. They will work with you as an individual based on your personal needs and history, not based on anecdotal results of others.

On a side note, really REALLY good prescribing doctors (those with an MD attached to their name) may not be the ones with all of the EO expertise, but they just may point you in the direction of a safe and well educated Aroma therapist ?

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Mark Stacey

November 21, 2015

I absolutely loved this post. Very very informative. Thanks so much for your time and effort to make this information available for us all. my most kind regards, Mark Stacey.

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Vanessa Hammond

November 20, 2015

It’s sad to know that the recent public perception on essential oils has been negative. To tell you the truth, essential oils provide more benefits than other medicines in my opinion. As long as you use the right one and apply moderate amounts, you’ll have nothing to worry about. I’ve been using essential oils for years and never had any problems.

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Jenn

November 11, 2015

I’ve been searching the internet with regards on using essential oils safely and I came across this post about it (which is ironic since I recently started following your blog anyway!) There is lots of talk about diluting the EO in a carrier oil. I understand the ratios to use to dilute with, but I’m wondering if I dilute an EO in 1 ounce of carrier oil – how much do I actually apply topically once it’s diluted? Is there a “right” amount? Also – once it’s diluted, and say I only use 1/10 of an ounce…what do I do with the other 9/10? Can I save it for use within a certain time period? Or does it need to be thrown out? It seems like a lot of carrier oil to be thrown away…I’m having a hard time wording this – hopefully someone will understand what I’m trying to ask! 🙂 Thanks!

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Flora

November 4, 2015

Dear Wellness Mama,
Please tell out or point to me where you tell out what you use during pregnancy for toothpaste!
And also for shampoo!

I cannot seem to find much that does not have either chemical junk or essential oils!
I made a homemade but…its awful.
Thank you!
Flora
a first trimester pregnant reader

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  November 4, 2015
  
  I make my own: https://wellnessmama.com/2500/remineralizing-toothpaste/ and https://wellnessmama.com/3701/homemade-shampoo/
  
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Brooke

November 1, 2015

Dang! I wish I had read this sooner. I am 11wks pregnant tomorrow and have been using Tea Tree Oil on this horrid pregnancy acne I’ve obtained AND have used Peppermint Oil under my nose whenever I feel like I’m coming down with a headache. Cue the panic mode for the remainder of 30wks. 🙁 I thought it was better than using benzyl peroxide & taking Tylenol. Someone lift my spirits and tell me I didn’t do something to harm my baby.

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1. Malori
  
  November 1, 2015
  
  Of course, I’m not your doctor and can’t give you definitive information…but with that said, it sounds like you weren’t overusing the oils or using them inappropriately. I know women who have used essential oils MUCH more extensively than you have during their pregnancies and their babies have been completely fine.
  
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  1. Brooke
    
    November 4, 2015
    
    Thanks so much!
    
    Reply
Alicia

October 13, 2015

Thank you so much for all this info. I love essential oils and personally I make my own mouthwash as mentioned above. I use a mix of peppermint, colloidal silver, xylitol, Real salt and baking soda. I have not had a cavity for so long. I love it so much I wanted to share this. I use peppermint oil, Xyloburst xylitol, and Sovereign Silver…try it. You will love it. BTW–I use Earthpaste toothpaste with xylitol as well. Thank you so much for your blog with all this info and I love the comments.

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Amanda

October 4, 2015

Hello,

I just came in contact with undiluded essential oil, which was my fault. It was a suggested way of using it on a friend’s blog. I thought the person knew what they were talking about but obviously not. I’m very concerned because now I have a red rash on my face that I am freaking out over! What did you do for your rash? Did it burn my skin? I’m not sure how to treat. Help!

Concerned Mama

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1. Wellness Mama
  
  October 4, 2015
  
  It should go away with time. I took a shower and used bentonite clay as a scrub or sorts to help get the residual oils off and then used natural lotion to help further dilute it… good luck!
  
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Helen

October 2, 2015

Hi,
thanks for a great article! I’m new to essential oils so any information is helpful.
My almost 4 month old baby had a bit of a stuffy nose last night and from some research that I did, I know that Rosemary essential oil is really good for sinus infections/stuffy nose, etc. I didn’t really do any research on essential oil use on babies, but thought it would be safe enough to put 1-2 drops of Rosemary essential oil on the 2 corners of his crib, so he could inhale it while sleeping….was that a mistake?? Would you say that was ok or should I have not even put the 1-2 drops in the corners of his crib??
Also, I always have really bad postpartum hair loss, and also through some research found out that Rosemary is really good for hair loss. Just dilute with a carrier oil and massage on scalp or put a few drops into your shampoo…using it this way while I’m nursing, is it safe or not? You also mentioned Rosemary as one of the essential oils that should not be used while nursing, but it wasn’t quite clear to me if you meant not to take it orally or also on skin…would appreciate clarification.
Thanks so much for the information! 🙂

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Kris

October 1, 2015

Hi, I am confused….many articles say not to use Eucalyptus oil on kids or to diffuse yet your recipe for the natural vicks rub along with the link to the organic one already made & vicks itself contains eucalyptus oil??

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