Essential oils are readily absorbed through the skin, and at full strength can create irritation or adverse skin reactions in some cases. Remember that when it comes to essential oils and skin, less is most definitely more.
Proper dilution: When using essential oils for inhalation it is important to dilute them properly. Avoid inhaling undiluted oils directly, as this can lead to irritation. Diffuser safely: If using a diffuser, follow the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the space is well ventilated.
Undiluted oils are too strong to use straight. You'll need to dilute them, usually with vegetable oils or creams or bath gels, to a solution that only has a little bit -- 1% to 5% -- of the essential oil. Exactly how much can vary.
Potential Side Effects
Some individuals may experience skin irritation, redness, or allergic reactions when using certain essential oils. It is recommended to conduct a patch test before applying any essential oil to a larger area of the skin.
Essential oil dilution is important for two safety reasons. One, to avoid skin reactions: irritation, sensitization and phototoxicity. Two, to avoid systemic toxicity, such as fetotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, carcinogenicity and neurotoxicity.
According to many aromatherapy practitioners, Lavandula angustifolia, Melaleuca alternifolia, Helichrysum italicum, and Chamaemelum nobile are the only essential oils that can be safely used undiluted.
Because they have a scent, essential oils are often used in perfumes, cosmetics, room fresheners, and flavorings. Many have a history of medicinal use, too. Misuse of essential oils can cause serious poisoning.
Citrus oils, oils high in phenols, monoterpenes, ketones, esters, oxides, aldehydes, alcohols, sesquiterpenes, and lactones should not be mixed.
What happens if you don't dilute peppermint oil? Undiluted peppermint oil is extremely potent and can cause a burning or tingling sensation on the skin, making your eyes water and nose run. Ingesting it undiluted can act as an intense diuretic. Always dilute peppermint oil to avoid irritation and adverse effects.
While essential oils are best known for their aromatherapy properties such as inhaling the aroma, they can also be used on the skin as well. However, you'll want to make sure they are diluted, as pure essential oils can be too powerful to use on certain areas of the body in their natural form.
Essential oils must never be applied neat to the skin and must always be diluted in a carrier oil or alcohol. Carrier oils are nuts or vegetable oils, such as sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil and jojoba oil.
Peppermint essential oil is so potent that undiluted it will cause your skin to tingle or burn. It can cause your eyes to water and nose to run. Ingest it undiluted and it's an intense diuretic. In fact, it's surprisingly easy to accidentally get too much peppermint in your system which can be potentially lethal.
What happens if I add too much oil to my diffuser? Learning how many drops of essential oil in diffuser to use is extremely important. Overexposure to essential oils can lead to some unpleasant side effects like dizziness, red or irritated eyes, and headaches.
However, it is important to always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil to minimize the risk of irritation and adverse reactions. Using essential oils on the skin without diluting them is referred to as applying them "neat." Never Put Undiluted Essential Oils On Your Skin. Not even lavender or tea tree.
When applied to the skin: Frankincense essential oil or gum extract is possibly safe. It might cause skin irritation in some people. When inhaled: Frankincense essential oil is possibly safe.
There is no single “strongest” essential oil, as the effectiveness varies based on the type of pain. However, oils such as kunzea, wintergreen, clove, peppermint, and eucalyptus are generally recognized for their powerful pain-relieving properties but should always be used diluted with caution.
For this reason you should not use more than 5-6 drops of essential oil in your aroma diffusion system according to the size of your room. The excessive amount of essential oils will result in a fragrance that is too strong and this is certainly not a suitable solution for small spaces.
You can use pure essential oils with most diffusers on the market. But some oil diffusers use special cartridges or scents instead of essential oils. Using these types of diffusers can be bad for your lungs because the fragrances often contain harmful chemicals and perfumes.
When in doubt, a safe ratio to follow is 6 drops in 1 ounce of a carrier substance (a 1% dilution), which is something you can go up from, if needed. Each essential oil varies in how much can be used for different applications, so do your research first to know if you can use more or less of your favorite oils.
Examples of essential oils that are effective in anti-aging are Frankincense, Lavender, Rose, Neroli, Geranium, Sandalwood, Citrus, Carrot seed, Ylang Ylang, and Rosemary.