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.
| 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.