Home 9 Essential Oils Safety Data

Safety Information for Use of Essential Oils and Dilutions

This is a guide only and for detailed information please contact either myself or a qualified aromatherapist. Please ensure that you obtain diagnosis from your GP and check with them if you are on medications or are in any doubt about the use of oils with your medical condition

Whilst there are warnings about the use of essential oils there is actually little research to back these up. However, care should be taken when using essential oils as they are highly concentrated. When using an oil for the first time it is wise to over dilute it to check that you do not have a reaction.

Primarily the advice is given relating to use on the skin but consider the information too if using as a room fragrance or for magical purposes. Many oils are also used in commercial products such as toothpaste, sweets and so on. You may find that you react to something on your skin but not when eating it and vice versa.

It is not recommended to consume essential oils without specific knowledge of the topic so please read these advice notes as relating to use on the skin or in magic. 

Take extra care if using oils for the elderly or children who will have much more delicate and sensitive skin.  Always overdilute in this instance.

 

If you are using the oils for magical workings remember that you may well get the oil on your hands so take the warning advice into account.

     

   Essential Oils

 

Basil DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY May be a skin irritant.
Bay No negative responses noted.
Bergamot Do not apply to the skin before going outdoors as it may cause photo sensitivity.
Black Pepper May  be a skin irritant.
Cajeput A stimulant and irritant use with care.
White Camphor Use very sparingly. AVOID COMPLETELY if you suffer from epilepsy or
are pregnant.
Carnation Can irritate sensitive skin use sparingly.
Cassia Very irritating to the skin and can cause an allergic reaction.
Cedarwood (Atlas) DO NOT CONFUSE WITH VIRGINIA CEDARWOOD WHICH IS A FORM OF JUNIPER AND SHOULD BE USED VERY SPARINGLY DURING PREGNANCY.
Chamomile Roman No negative responses noted.
Chamomile Moroc (Sauvage) No negative responses noted.
Cinnamon May cause skin irritation.  Mild dermal toxicity.
Citronella No negative responses noted.
Clary Sage DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY Do not drink alcohol or drive
Clove DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY Very irritating to the skin use carefully.
Use 1/2 dilution or less.
Coriander Slightly toxic so always use sparingly.
Cumin May be a slight irritant also may be slightly
photo-sensitising.
Cypress Unlike most essential oils this oil is FLAMMABLE.
Elemi No negative responses noted.
Eucalyptus No negative responses noted.
Fennel Slight dermal toxicity use 1/2 dilution or less
Frankincense No negative responses noted.
Geranium No negative responses noted.
Ginger No negative responses noted.
Grapefruit Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight.
Hyssop Very strong oil.  Do not use when pregnant or if you have epilepsy or high blood pressure.
Jasmine No negative responses noted.
Juniperberry FLAMMABLE
Lavender No negative responses noted.
Lemon Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight. Dilute to 1% and use no more than 3 drops in a bath as may be a skin irritant.
Lemongrass Dilute to 1% and use no more than 3 drops in a bath as may be a skin irritant.
Lime Do not use direct on the skin in sunlight as may be phototoxic. (Does not apply to distilled oil) Dilute to 1% and use more than 3 drops in a bath a may be a skin irritant.
Mandarin Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight.
Marjoram Do not use if pregnant. Use sparingly SEDATIVE.
Melissa Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight. Dilute to 1% and use no more than 3 drops in a bath as may be a skin irritant.
Myrrh If pregnant use only sparingly.
Myrtle No negative responses noted.
Neroli No negative responses noted.
Niaouli No negative responses noted.
Nutmeg TOXIC in large amounts and can be stupefying.
Orange (Sweet) Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight. Dilute to 2% and use no more than 4 to 5 drops in a bath as may be skin irritant.
Palmarosa No negative responses noted.
Patchouli No negative responses noted.
Peppermint Do not use if pregnant. Dilute to 1% and use no more than 3 drops in the
bath as may be a skin irritant.
Petitgrain No negative responses noted.
Pine Dilute and use with care as may be a skin
irritant.
Ravensara No negative responses noted.
Rose Absolute Avoid using during the first 4 months of pregnancy.
Rose Otto Avoid using during the first 4 months of pregnancy.
Rosemary Do not use if pregnant or if you have epilepsy or
high blood pressure. May be a skin irritant.
Rosewood No negative responses noted.
Sage Do not use if pregnant or have epilepsy.
Sandalwood No negative responses noted.
Spikenard No negative responses noted.
Tea Tree Whilst you can use Tea Tree undiluted on the skin always check as it may cause skin irritation.  Use diluted first to check your tolerance.
Thyme (sweet) Do not use if pregnant or have high blood pressure.  Dilute to 2% may be an irritant to sensitive skin.
Vetivert No negative responses noted.
Violet No negative responses noted.
Ylang Ylang No negative responses noted.

 

Home 9 Essential Oils Safety Data

Safety Information for Use of Essential Oils and Dilutions

This is a guide only and for detailed information please contact either myself or a qualified aromatherapist. Please ensure that you obtain diagnosis from your GP and check with them if you are on medications or are in any doubt about the use of oils with your medical condition.

Whilst there are warnings about the use of essential oils there is actually little research to back these up. However, care should be taken when using essential oils as they are highly concentrated. When using an oil for the first time it is wise to over dilute it to check that you do not have a reaction.

Primarily the advice is given relating to use on the skin but consider the information too if using as a room fragrance or for magical purposes. Many oils are also used in commercial products such as toothpaste, sweets and so on. You may find that you react to something on your skin but not when eating it and vice versa.

It is not recommended to consume essential oils without specific knowledge of the topic so please read these advice notes as relating to use on the skin or in magic. 

 

If you are using the oils for magical workings remember that you may well get the oil on your hands to take the warning advice into account.

     

 Essential Oils

 

Basil DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY May be a skin irritant.
Bay No negative responses noted.
Bergamot Do not apply to the skin before going outdoors as it may cause photo sensitivity.
Black Pepper May  be a skin irritant.
Cajeput A stimulant and irritant use with care.
White Camphor Use very sparingly. AVOID COMPLETELY if you suffer from epilepsy or
are pregnant.
Carnation Can irritate sensitive skin use sparingly.
Cassia Very irritating to the skin and can cause an allergic reaction.
Cedarwood (Atlas) DO NOT CONFUSE WITH VIRGINIA CEDARWOOD WHICH IS A FORM OF JUNIPER AND SHOULD BE USED VERY SPARINGLY DURING PREGNANCY.
Chamomile Roman No negative responses noted.
Chamomile Moroc (Sauvage) No negative responses noted.
Cinnamon May cause skin irritation.  Mild dermal toxicity.
Citronella No negative responses noted.
Clary Sage DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY Do not drink alcohol or drive
Clove DO NOT USE DURING PREGNANCY Very irritating to the skin use carefully.
Use 1/2 dilution or less.
Coriander Slightly toxic so always use sparingly.
Cumin May be a slight irritant also may be slightly
photo-sensitising.
Cypress Unlike most essential oils this oil is FLAMMABLE.
Elemi No negative responses noted.
Eucalyptus No negative responses noted.
Fennel Slight dermal toxicity use 1/2 dilution or less
Frankincense No negative responses noted.
Geranium No negative responses noted.
Ginger No negative responses noted.
Grapefruit Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight.
Hyssop Very strong oil.  Do not use when pregnant or if you have epilepsy or high blood pressure.
Jasmine No negative responses noted.
Juniperberry FLAMMABLE
Lavender No negative responses noted.
Lemon Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight. Dilute to 1% and use no more than 3 drops in a bath as may be a skin irritant.
Lemongrass Dilute to 1% and use no more than 3 drops in a bath as may be a skin irritant.
Lime Do not use direct on the skin in sunlight as may be phototoxic. (Does not apply to distilled oil) Dilute to 1% and use more than 3 drops in a bath a may be a skin irritant.
Mandarin Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight.
Marjoram Do not use if pregnant. Use sparingly SEDATIVE.
Melissa Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight. Dilute to 1% and use no more than 3 drops in a bath as may be a skin irritant.
Myrrh If pregnant use only sparingly.
Myrtle No negative responses noted.
Neroli No negative responses noted.
Niaouli No negative responses noted.
Nutmeg TOXIC in large amounts and can be stupefying.
Orange (Sweet) Do not use on the skin in direct sunlight. Dilute to 2% and use no more than 4 to 5 drops in a bath as may be skin irritant.
Palmarosa No negative responses noted.
Patchouli No negative responses noted.
Peppermint Do not use if pregnant. Dilute to 1% and use no more than 3 drops in the
bath as may be a skin irritant.
Petitgrain No negative responses noted.
Pine Dilute and use with care as may be a skin
irritant.
Ravensara No negative responses noted.
Rose Absolute Avoid using during the first 4 months of pregnancy.
Rose Otto Avoid using during the first 4 months of pregnancy.
Rosemary Do not use if pregnant or if you have epilepsy or
high blood pressure. May be a skin irritant.
Rosewood No negative responses noted.
Sage Do not use if pregnant or have epilepsy.
Sandalwood No negative responses noted.
Spikenard No negative responses noted.
Tea Tree Whilst you can use Tea Tree undiluted on the skin always check as it may cause skin irritation.  Use diluted first to check your tolerance.
Thyme (sweet) Do not use if pregnant or have high blood pressure.  Dilute to 2% may be an irritant to sensitive skin.
Vetivert No negative responses noted.
Violet No negative responses noted.
Ylang Ylang No negative responses noted.