Are Essential Oils Safe? The Safety Rules to Know
Used correctly, essential oils are safe for most adults; used the wrong way, they can irritate the skin, trigger an asthma attack or cause poisoning. Their strength is exactly what makes them useful. Here are the safety rules I have applied and taught for more than 20 years.
In France, calls to poison control centres involving essential oils rose from 1,926 in 2011 to more than 4,000 a year between 2018 and 2020, according to the French health safety agency Anses. Children are the first victims, with a median age of 3.
Why can an essential oil be dangerous?
An essential oil is highly concentrated: it often takes several kilos of plant to fill one small bottle. Some molecules irritate the skin, others act on the nervous system, and others make the skin sensitive to the sun. “Natural” does not mean “risk-free”.
The 8 safety rules to know
1. Always dilute before applying to the skin
Mix the essential oil with a carrier oil: sweet almond, jojoba or apricot kernel. Never apply it undiluted over a large area.
2. Do a patch test in the crook of your elbow
Apply one drop of the diluted blend and wait 24 hours. If you see redness or itching, do not use that oil.
3. Do not swallow without professional advice
Swallowing is the riskiest route. An oil swallowed by mistake can also reach the lungs and cause pneumonia.
4. Never in the eyes, nose or ears
These areas are far more sensitive than skin. Wash your hands after each use.
5. Take extra care with children
Some oils should be avoided in young children, such as peppermint. Always ask your pharmacist before using essential oils on a child.
6. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, epilepsy, asthma: get medical advice
These situations call for personal advice. People with a history of epilepsy or seizures need to be especially careful.
7. Watch out for the sun with citrus oils
Bergamot, lemon and orange make the skin sensitive to sunlight: do not apply them before going out in the sun.
8. Store bottles out of reach
Keep them up high, away from baby care products. Anses reports mix-ups between essential oils and babies' vitamin D drops.
Diffusing safely
Diffuse in short sessions, in a ventilated room, never non-stop all night. Avoid diffusing around a baby, a person with asthma or a sensitive pet.
What to do in case of an accident
If an oil is swallowed, splashed in the eye or causes a strong reaction, call poison control or emergency services straight away (911 in the US, 999 in the UK). Do not induce vomiting, and keep the bottle to give the exact product name.
Go further
In my ebook “Using Essential Oils Safely for the Whole Family Daily” (€9.90), I detail the precautions for every age, the contraindications and the six oils to keep at home.
Prefer to learn by video? Discover my online course on using essential oils safely.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put essential oils directly on your skin?
As a rule, no: an essential oil should be diluted in a carrier oil such as sweet almond, jojoba or apricot kernel oil. Undiluted, it can irritate or burn the skin.
Is it safe to swallow essential oils?
Not without advice from a healthcare professional. Swallowing is the riskiest way to use them, especially for children.
Can I use essential oils during pregnancy?
Caution is essential: ask your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using any essential oil, especially during the first three months.
What should I do if a child swallows an essential oil?
Do not make them vomit. Call poison control or emergency services straight away, and keep the bottle to give the exact product name.
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This article gives general information and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional. Sources: Anses, Vigil'Anses no. 24, “Essential oils: use with caution!” (in French); Tisserand Institute, Safety Guidelines; French Ministry of the Economy, using essential oils safely (in French).