Aroma Corner
essential oils at home, with care
Aroma pocket guide: the essentials on one page
The short version, for a shop aisle or a friend's sofa. For the reasons behind each point, see Aromatherapy at home.
Ten safety rules
- Never swallow essential oils.
- Store them out of children's reach, caps done up tight.
- Dilute before oil touches skin.
- Patch test a new blend on the inner forearm. Wait 24 to 48 hours.
- Keep oils away from eyes, nose and mouth. Wash your hands afterwards.
- Diffuse for 30 to 60 minutes, then air the room.
- Let pets leave the room. Never put oils on an animal without a vet's advice.
- Pregnant, breastfeeding, living with epilepsy or asthma, or on regular medicines? Ask a doctor, midwife or pharmacist first.
- After cold-pressed bergamot, lemon, lime or grapefruit on skin, stay out of strong sun for 12 hours.
- Stinging or redness means stop. Wash it off.
Dilution at a glance
Worked on about 20 drops per ml. Droppers vary, so stay at the low end. The full dilution chart covers other bottle sizes, and the dilution calculator does the sum for any amount on your phone.
| Use | Strength | Drops |
|---|---|---|
| Adult body massage | 2% | 4 per 10 ml carrier |
| Adult, small area, a few days | up to 3% | up to 6 per 10 ml |
| Face, older adults, sensitive skin | 0.5-1% | 1-2 per 10 ml |
| Children 6 to 12 | 0.5-1% | 1-2 per 10 ml |
| Children under 6 | ask first | ask a doctor or pharmacist |
| Adult full bath | - | 4-6, mixed into 1 tablespoon carrier first |
| Hand or foot bath | - | 1-3, mixed into 1 teaspoon carrier first |
Twelve starter oils
| Oil | Scent | Common use | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lavender | Soft floral, a little herbal | Bedtime diffuser, bath | Old oil irritates more |
| Sweet orange | Sweet, juicy citrus | Daytime diffuser | Goes stale within about a year |
| Lemon | Sharp, clean citrus | Diffuser, freshening a kitchen | Phototoxic if cold-pressed |
| Bergamot | Citrus with a floral edge | Tissue, diffuser | Phototoxic unless bergapten-free |
| Tea tree | Medicinal, camphor-like | Diluted on small areas of skin | Toxic to cats and dogs |
| Peppermint | Cool, sharp mint | Tissue when drowsy | Keep away from young children's faces |
| Eucalyptus | Fresh and piercing | Tissue for a stuffy nose | Keep away from young children's faces |
| Rosemary | Green, herby, camphor | Morning diffuser | Avoid with epilepsy; ask first in pregnancy |
| Roman chamomile | Apple-like, sweet herb | Calm evening blend | Daisy family allergy |
| Geranium | Rosy and green | Massage blends | Can sensitise; patch test |
| Frankincense | Resin, pepper, lemon peel | Slow breathing, blends | Oxidises; keep capped |
| Hinoki | Clean wood, like a cypress tub | Diffuser, bath | Patch test before skin use |
More detail on each oil: essential oil dictionary.
If something goes wrong
Oil in the eye
- Do not rub.
- Rinse with plenty of clean, lukewarm running water for at least 10 to 15 minutes, holding the lids open.
- Take out contact lenses if they come out easily.
- Do not use carrier oil. Some older books suggest it. Poison advice services say water.
- If pain, redness or blurred vision continue after rinsing, see a doctor the same day.
Swallowed
- Do not make the person vomit.
- Rinse the mouth with water and spit.
- Phone a doctor or poison advice line now. Have the bottle in your hand.
- Call 119 in Japan (999 in the UK, 911 in the US) if the person is drowsy, coughing, short of breath or having a fit.
- In the US, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222. In the UK, NHS 111 can advise.
- Even a small amount can be dangerous for a child. Do not wait for symptoms.
On the skin
- Wash with mild soap and plenty of water.
- A rash that spreads, blisters or swells needs a doctor or pharmacist.
- Swollen lips or face, or wheezing: call for emergency help.
Breathing trouble while diffusing
- Switch the diffuser off. Open windows. Move to fresh air.
- Use a prescribed reliever inhaler if you have one.
- If breathing does not ease quickly, call emergency services.
Storage
- Dark glass bottles, caps tight, standing upright.
- A cool, dark cupboard. Not a sunny windowsill, not beside the bath.
- Out of children's reach, ideally up high or locked.
- Write the opening date on the label.
- Citrus oils: use within about a year. Most others: two to three years.
- Throw away oil that smells sharp, stale or simply different.
- Ready-mixed blends in carrier oil: use within a few months.
Keep this page handy, but treat it as a reminder, not a rescue plan. For anything beyond a mild, fading skin reaction, a doctor, pharmacist or poison line will help faster than any guide.