Category: Safety

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not everything you read on the internet is safe…

I was going through my pins on Pinterest today. Some of the pins I kept were erroneous to say the least.

One pin made a rollerball (10 ml.) adding 80 drops of essential oils in it! That’s a 40% dilution if my math is correct.

Another pin had a homemade vapor rub for children with 20 drops of eucalyptus and 10 drops of peppermint oil! Not safe for children!

One had “better than weed”–45 drops of essential oils in what amount of carrier the post did not say.

Dilution

of essential oils is the most important thing to learn in aromatherapy. It is aromatherapy 101 that teaches dilution. Most of the time, that is an easy equation to figure out: 5-6 drops per 30 ml of carrier. Dilution of essential oils is sometimes tricky, what size bottle, jar or tin are we using? Did we double or halve the recipe? What about the oils that we must use in low dilution? Say a .07%? How do we figure that out?

I do not want to make 30 ml of anything, just a 10 ml rollerball…. how much essential oil is that? Or a 5 ml bottle—I use those a lot. Uses for essential oils are in the chart below, note the dilution rate for specific issues.

Dilution Used for

  • 1%    30 ml 5-6 drops      Face, children, pregnant women, immune compromised
  • 2% 30 ml 10-12 drops Daily use, massage oils, larger area of body
  • 3% 30 ml 15-18 drops Specific injury of muscle, tendon or bone
  • 4% 30 ml 20-24 drops Local area such as chest congestion
  • 5% or above 30 ml   25-30 drops Severe pain, muscle cramps, bruising

So, as you can see, the dilution is minimal….and in training, we were taught to always start with the lowest dilution.

Check out my ebook on getting started with essential oils by clicking the link below.

Getting started with essential oils-the basics – Just Essentials Today

Or, any questions you may have, leave in the form below and I will get back to you.

There are many good aromatherapists out there, be sure to do your research.

Happy blending and be safe,

Crystal.

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.”

Ps 138:7
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      Getting out in the sun with essential oils

      A day in the kayak doesn’t have to end in sunburn. Safely use essential oils in the summer.

      Most essential oils are safe in the sun,

      but some are photo toxic.

      Well–what does that mean?

      It means that if you are in the house, and use a lotion that has certain oils in it, you have no worries. On the other hand, if you use that same type of lotion in the summer–let’s say after a shower. You decide to go out and weed the flower beds later—forgetting about the lotion. You could have a reaction to that lotion from being out in the sun.

      What kind of reaction? How do I prevent it?

      Redness, burns, itching, blisters, permanent skin discoloration are some of the reactions that you can have by not diluting the oils you use with enough carrier oil. Phototoxic oils have a maximum dermal level. If you use the product with levels over these amounts, it is best to avoid sun exposure for at least 12 to 18 hours after applying, unless you can cover your skin.

      • Bergamot (Citrus aurantium var. bergamia). Maximum dilution of .04% which equals 2 drops per 30 ml. of carrier oil.
      • Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi). Maximum dilution of 4% which equals 24 drops per 30 ml. of carrier oil.
      • Lemon (Citrus limon). Maximum dilution of 2% which equals 12 drops per 30 ml. of carrier oil.
      • Lime (Citrus aurantifolia). Maximum dilution of 0.7% which equals 4 drops per 30 ml. of carrier oil.
      • Bitter orange (Citrus aurantium). Maximum dilution of 1.25% which equals 7 drops per 30 ml. of carrier oil.
      • Laurel leaf (Laurus nobilis). Maximum dilution of 2% which equals 12 drops per 30 ml. of carrier oil.

      The good news is not all citrus essential oils are phototoxic!
      Those are: Bergamot (FCF), Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), cold pressed Lemon (Citrus limon), distilled Lime (Citrus aurantifolia).


      There is no risk in using a product that has been washed off the skin such as shampoo, soap or body wash.

      So enjoy and have fun in the sun!

      Happy blending,

      Crystal.

      “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

      Mt 11:28
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      Read this — before you put essential oils in the tub!

      It got me started on my aromatherapy journey, overhearing customers in pharmacies stating that they can just pour essential oils in the bathtub! Or rub it on their skin!

      Below are products you cannot safely use with essential oils in the bath:

      also from Robert Tisserand’s website–“Safety in the Bath.”

      They are: Cornstarch, baking soda, epsom or regular salt, milk, witch hazel, aloe, glycerine, and alcohol.

      Oil and water don’t mix.

      If you want to use essential oils in the bath use Solubol.

      For every 1 Tablespoon of product (jojoba, castile soap, shampoo or shower gel) mix in 5-20 drops of essential oils. Avoid any oil that is irritating to the skin, like peppermint, oregano or cinnamon to name a few. Do your research!

      Robert Tisserand’s website has charts that are excellent on this subject. Also, the 2nd Edition of Essential Oil Safety is a must have for any aromatherapist.

      Sign up for my FREE PDF an “Introduction to Aromatherapy”.

      As always, Happy Blending,
      Crystal.

      God has made everything beautiful for its own time.

      Ecclesiastes 3:11