Essential Oil Safety

There are a few important safety rules to remember when you are using essential oils. They include:

• Before you begin using an essential oil, read about and fully understand the benefits, risks and recommended usage guidelines for the oil you have chosen.
   
• Maintain drop-by-drop control of the essential oil by always leaving the bottle's orifice reducer in place (or add one if the bottle doesn't have one).
   
• Some essential oils are very toxic. It is never safe to take aromatherapy oils internally unless specifically directed to do so by a fully qualified aromatherapy practitioner.
   
  
• Always dilute an essential oil if it is going to be used on the skin (see our aromatherapy oil dilution guidelines for more information).
   
• Do not use essential oils on infants.
   
• Dilute and/or disperse essential oils before adding to bath water (use a product like Alchemilla's Aromatherapy Solubilizer, or add it to an unscented organic shampoo first).
   
• Immediately remove aromatherapy oil spills from the skin by rubbing it with plenty of vegetable oil (olive, sunflower etc.), then washing the entire amount off with soap and warm water. Repeat several times if necessary.
  
  
• Keep essential oils away from the eyes and mouth.
   
• Essential oils are flammable. Keep them away from source of ignition or open flame.
   
• Keep essential oils safely out of childrens' reach.

In detail:

True essential oils are very concentrated and, except in a rare few cases, almost always too strong to be applied to the skin in an undiluted form.

Handle and use aromatherapy essential oils sparingly, and with extreme care - their power to evoke changes within the body and mind should not be underestimated.

Safety comes first - never consume essential oils internally unless specifically instructed to do so by a qualified health and/or aromatherapy practitioner.

Some essential oils can be toxic if ingested, and some can cause irritation in their neat, undiluted form. Always keep essential oils out of the reach of children.

When using essential oils topically (on the skin - such as in massage or skin healing blends), an organic carrier oil should be used to dilute the oil first. A patch test is strongly recommended for essential oils that are new to you, particularly if you have with highly sensitive skin.

If you spill pure undiluted essential oil onto your skin, dilute it first with vegetable oil and wash it off with soap and warm water.

There are essential oils that should be avoided in specific circumstances and health conditions (eg. epilepsy, pregnancy), whilst others will be perfectly appropriate and safe.

Always be sure to research the contraindications and safety hazards of any essential oil you are considering using, especially if you have a health concern or are pregnant.

Essential oils are volatile - they evaporate quickly. They should be stored in a cool dark, placed in a tightly closed bottle with stopper cap.

If in doubt, always consult a qualified aromatherapist or the essential oil distributor, before using it.

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