Essential Oil Dilution Safety Tips
- Elizabete Desire' Freijs
- Sep 24, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 24, 2019
Learn to use safe dilution rates for essential oils.
Have you ever wondered if you are using essential oils properly? Is there a difference between one oil and another?

Many people believe that “oh, it’s a natural product so I can use as much as I want”. But the reality is that essential oils are very powerful. Just think about that approximately three pounds of lavender flowers go into a single 15 ml bottle of essential oil. A lot of flowers! This means that each bottle is very, very concentrated.
When I first started using essential oils, I just opened the bottle and put the cap on a slate countertop. Within a few minutes I noticed that the oil had eaten through the finish. Then I started to think that WOW!!!, I had been putting drops of lemon oil into my water. What is this doing to my body? This is one of the main reasons why I began my quest to learn about the safety of essential oils and how to properly use them.
One of the very first lessons that I learned was not to ingest essential oils unless you are under the guidance of a qualified professional practitioner. Ingesting essential oils over time without the supervision of a qualified medical professional can potentially lead to serious medical problems such liver functionality. The liver serves as our body’s filter. Everything that we eat, or drink is processed by this organ, therefore it is important to keep it safe.
So…in thinking about this, it behooves us to understand and learn about how essential oils can be used safely. One of the major ways that we can learn about them is to follow the basic dilution safety guidelines for their application.
A little bit about simple chemistry. Essential oils to not disperse in water. To avoid skin irritation essential oils should be mixed with carrier oils or butters that are oil based. Typical carriers include coconut oil and jojoba oil (fun fact: jojoba is actually a liquid wax), but there are many more that are very helpful. When essential oils are mixed with water without a carrier oil, they are absorbed into the skin more quickly and may cause burns or irritation. Should you ever experience this apply a carrier oil over the affected area and wipe clean.
Taking the above into consideration we can now talk about basic dilution rates.
Dilution for a Healthy Adult
Considering that the person is in good health and is not taking any medications, the standard dilution (essential oil to carrier) for everyday use is 1 - 2%. This means that there is only 1 - 2% of total amount of essential oils in the carrier oil.
If there is a specific injury then the dilution can go from 3-10%, but only for a short period of time, usually for about two weeks. This dilution percentage must be based on the individual, age, situation and the oils being used.
For acute and severe problems, the aromatherapist may go up to 25% dilution, but again, only for a very short period of time and the physical condition of the client.
There are times when essential oils can be used neat (undiluted essential oil and no carrier) for small areas, local use, acute situations, and for short term use. You should always talk to an aromatherapist to see which oils can be used this way.
Dilution for Young Children
Setting age related limits is very difficult for it depends on the quantity and dose and the health of a child. However, most experts agree that we should not use essential oils for children under the age of 5. In place of essential oils, mild hydrosols can be used. They have many of the same therapeutic properties of essential oils but are much milder.
(I know that now you are asking what is a hydrosol? During the steam distillation process of the plant there are two by-products. One is the essential oil and the other is the water that is left over. This water is the hydrosol.)
For children between the ages of 5 and 12 the safe recommended dilution of essential oils is 1%. Remember that our little ones are just that, little. As their little bodies are more fragile than the adult’s we need to take great care in using essential oils. You should also talk to your Aromatherapist about how to use them (diffusing into a room, inhaling from an inhaler, applying topically).
Dilution During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
During pregnancy great care must be taken when using essential oils. Again, 1% dilution is recommended, but only when absolutely necessary. Pregnant women should also stay away from certain oils.
According to Tisserand and Young, Essential Oil Safety, (pg. 152-153, pg. 156) there are about 50 essential oils that should be avoided by any route during pregnancy and about 15 oils that should be restricted during pregnancy and lactation.
Dilution for the Elderly
As with children, the dilution rate for the elderly should also be kept at 1%. Many older adults have ailment associated with aging. Many are taking various medications. Prior to using essential oils on an older person, you should talk to a Certified Aromatherapist. They will have the insight to ask you the important questions about the older person. You should also discuss any use with the person’s doctor.
There are many oils that are safe for the older person, but there are also many oils that can interfere with the medications they are taking.
In summary, great care must be taken when using essential oils. They can be very powerful in the healing process but can also cause damage. Understanding proper dilution rates is a step in the right direction.
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