Scents & Sensibility: Essential Oil Safety Tips (A Beginner-Friendly Guide)

If you’ve ever cracked open a bottle of lavender oil and felt your stress melt away, you’re not alone. Essential oils are powerful little plant extracts, and more and more people are reaching for them as part of their wellness routine. But before you start diffusing or dabbing them on your skin, it’s important to know how to use them safely.

Here are a few friendly reminders to help you enjoy the full benefits of essential oils- without the risk. 

🌿 1. Dilute, Don’t Douse

Essential oils are super concentrated. Think of them like hot sauce: a little goes a long way! Fun fact, it takes 7-8 WHOLE lemons to make just ONE drop of essential oil! Because they’re so potent, make sure to always mix them with a carrier oil (like jojoba, coconut, or sweet almond) before applying to your skin. A good rule of thumb? Just 1–3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier.

🌿 2. Patch Test = Peace of Mind

Before you slather on that new blend, test it out. Apply a small amount (diluted, of course) to your inner forearm and wait 24 hours. No redness or itchiness? You’re good to go! If you follow tip #1, your risk for any irritation is much, much lower. 

🌿 3. Keep Away from Eyes, Ears & Other Sensitive Spots

Essential oils and eyeballs don’t mix. Or eardrums. Or, well...you get the idea. Stick to external use and avoid sensitive areas (hope you get my drift!)

🌿 4. Little Noses & Paws Need Special Care

Some oils, like peppermint or eucalyptus, aren’t safe for young children or pets. Always double-check before using oils around babies, cats, or dogs. Another important tip– NO essential oils are safe for cats. This is because their sole mode for cleaning themselves is through their tongues, which can’t handle the essential oil. If you apply oil to your cat, they will most likely, instinctively, lick that area. By licking it and ingesting the oil, this is a major risk for their vital organs- namely their kidneys. The same risk applies when using oils on the floor- please allow your floors to dry if exposed to oils if you have cats, because the pads of their paws are also extremely sensitive!

🌿 5. Sip with Caution (Or Not at All)

Despite what some influencers might claim, essential oils are not a flavor booster. Never ingest oils unless you’re under the care of a qualified professional. Your stomach will thank you. As will I, your friendly neighborhood aromatherapist. Also, most every single issue you’d be tempted to ingest oils for, you can treat topically or with other materials. For example, if you have gas, it’s known that peppermint essential oil is fantastic. However, being one of the most potent, irritating oils, you don’t want to burn your esophagus out and create even bigger problems for your digestive tract. Instead, opt for some peppermint tea or apply diluted peppermint essential oil to your abdomen. 

🌿 6. Go Easy on the Diffuser

More isn’t always better. Try diffusing for 30–60 minutes max, and make sure the room is well-ventilated. Your lungs need a breather, too. Also, please watch your diffusion patterns if you have children or pets. With pets, you can diffuse, even with cats, as long as they have freedom to leave the room and be somewhere the scent doesn’t reach. With children, I typically advise to avoid diffusing around infants at all until they’re at least six months old. Even after they’re six months old, I still recommend caution, especially with the more irritating oils- like eucalyptus or cinnamon. Stick to the milder oils, like lavender or sweet orange. 

🌿 7. Store Them Like Treasure

Light and heat can degrade your oils, so keep them in dark glass bottles, away from sunny windows and curious kids. Note: you can use products made with oils in clear jars, the darkness just extends the potency of scent, not necessarily the therapeutic benefit. Personally though, I’ve never had an issue, it’s more to keep in mind for your pure oils without carrier or blended into product. 

🌿 8. Got Health Conditions? Ask First.

If you’re pregnant, nursing, or managing a chronic condition, check in with your doctor before diving into essential oil use. Safety first, always. And of course, only use under direction of a certified aromatherapist. There are very few oils safe for pregnancy, and very strict guidelines for using them under, so it is key to have clear direction from someone qualified for using them. In general, I recommend staying away from them until labor and delivery. 

The bottom line?

Essential oils are a beautiful way to support your wellness—but a little knowledge goes a long way. When in doubt, do a little research, and always listen to your body.

Until next Thursday, breathe deep and stay safe. 🌿