Essential oil safety chart: pregnancy, children and pets
Pick who you are blending for and see which of 20 common essential oils to leave out, which to use with care, and the reason for each.
| Bergamot (cold-pressed) | Avoid: Phototoxic: can burn skin in sunlight unless bergapten-free (FCF). |
|---|---|
| Camphor | Avoid: Toxic if swallowed and a seizure risk. |
| Cinnamon bark | Avoid: A strong skin sensitiser; keep it out of skin blends altogether. |
| Clove | Avoid: Eugenol irritates skin and interacts with blood thinners. |
| Eucalyptus (globulus) | Avoid: 1,8-cineole near young children's faces; can trigger seizures in susceptible people. |
| Grapefruit | Avoid: Mildly phototoxic when cold-pressed. |
| Lemon (cold-pressed) | Avoid: Phototoxic above about 2 percent on skin. |
| Lime (cold-pressed) | Avoid: Phototoxic; the steam-distilled kind is not. |
| Pennyroyal | Avoid: Toxic to the liver: not for home use at all. |
| Peppermint | Avoid: Menthol near a young child's face can affect breathing; cats are very sensitive to it. |
| Pine | Avoid: Toxic to pets; oxidised pine oil irritates skin. |
| Sweet orange | Avoid: Citrus oils are a problem for cats; low phototoxic risk for people. |
| Tea tree | Avoid: Toxic to cats and dogs even in small amounts on the skin or licked off fur. |
| Wintergreen | Avoid: Almost pure methyl salicylate, an aspirin-like compound: dangerous if swallowed. |
| Ylang ylang | Avoid: Listed among oils toxic to pets; a skin sensitiser in high amounts. |
| Lavender | Care: Generally gentle for people; still keep diffusing short and away from pets' beds. |
| Rosemary | Care: Camphor and 1,8-cineole; ask before using in pregnancy. |
| Oil | Pregnancy and breastfeeding | Children under 6 | Epilepsy | Homes with cats | Homes with dogs | Skin going into the sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peppermint | Care | Avoid | Avoid | Care | ||
| Eucalyptus (globulus) | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Care | ||
| Rosemary | Care | Care | Avoid | Care | ||
| Tea tree | Avoid | Avoid | ||||
| Wintergreen | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | ||
| Cinnamon bark | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | ||
| Clove | Care | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | ||
| Fennel | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | |||
| Clary sage | Care | |||||
| Sage (Dalmatian) | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | |||
| Camphor | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | ||
| Pennyroyal | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | Avoid | |
| Bergamot (cold-pressed) | Avoid | Avoid | ||||
| Lime (cold-pressed) | Avoid | Avoid | ||||
| Lemon (cold-pressed) | Avoid | Care | ||||
| Grapefruit | Avoid | Care | ||||
| Sweet orange | Avoid | |||||
| Ylang ylang | Avoid | Care | ||||
| Pine | Avoid | Avoid | ||||
| Lavender | Care | Care |
How to use it
Pick a group: pregnancy and breastfeeding, children under 6, epilepsy, homes with cats, homes with dogs, or skin going into the sun. The tool lists the oils flagged for that group, "avoid" first, then "use with care", each with a short reason. "Avoid" means leave that oil out for that group. "Use with care" means a low dilution, short use, or asking a professional first.
If more than one group applies in your home, check each in turn. The print button prints the full matrix of all 20 oils against all six groups.
How the numbers work
There is no formula here. Each flag summarizes widely published guidance: Tisserand and Young's Essential Oil Safety for pregnancy, children, epilepsy and sun sensitivity, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center and veterinary guidance for pets. The 20 oils are ones commonly found in homes.
| Group | Avoid | Use with care |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy and breastfeeding | wintergreen, cinnamon bark, fennel, Dalmatian sage, camphor, pennyroyal | peppermint, rosemary, clove, clary sage |
| Children under 6 | peppermint, eucalyptus (globulus), wintergreen, cinnamon bark, clove, fennel, Dalmatian sage, camphor, pennyroyal | rosemary |
| Epilepsy | eucalyptus (globulus), rosemary, fennel, Dalmatian sage, camphor, pennyroyal | none on this chart |
| Cats | peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, wintergreen, cinnamon bark, clove, camphor, pennyroyal, cold-pressed bergamot, cold-pressed lime, cold-pressed lemon, grapefruit, sweet orange, ylang ylang, pine | rosemary, lavender |
| Dogs | tea tree, wintergreen, cinnamon bark, clove, pennyroyal, pine | peppermint, eucalyptus, ylang ylang, lavender |
| Sun on the skin | cold-pressed bergamot, cold-pressed lime | cold-pressed lemon, grapefruit |
The reasons behind the flags come down to a few compounds. Menthol in peppermint and 1,8-cineole in eucalyptus can affect a young child's breathing when used near the face. Camphor and the thujone in Dalmatian sage can trigger seizures in people who are susceptible. Wintergreen is almost pure methyl salicylate, an aspirin-like compound that is dangerous if swallowed. Pennyroyal is toxic to the liver and is not for home use at all.
Cats are a special case. They lack a liver enzyme pathway, called glucuronidation, that clears many essential-oil compounds, so those compounds build up. Birds and small pets are sensitive to airborne particles. Whatever the animal: diffuse briefly, leave a door open, and never put oils on a pet.
Sun sensitivity applies to oils left on skin. Cold-pressed bergamot and lime are phototoxic and can burn skin in sunlight. Bergamot sold as bergapten-free (FCF) and steam-distilled lime are not. Cold-pressed lemon becomes a concern above about 2% on skin.
A worked example
A home with a cat and a 4-year-old. Check "homes with cats", then "children under 6". Between them, the lists say to leave out tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus, the citrus oils (bergamot, lime, lemon, grapefruit and sweet orange), wintergreen, cinnamon bark, clove, pine and camphor. Ylang ylang, fennel, Dalmatian sage and pennyroyal are flagged as well. Rosemary is "use with care" on both lists.
What remains is a short list, and lavender diffused briefly in a room the cat can leave is the usual compromise. For the drop count, tick the sensitive-household box in the diffuser drops calculator: it sets light strength and no more than 6 drops.
What it can't tell you
The chart covers 20 oils. An oil that is not on it, or not flagged for your group, has not been shown to be safe; it simply is not on the lists the chart draws from. Strength matters too: use the essential oil dilution calculator for skin blends, and see the dilution chart for skin for oils with their own low ceilings.
- Pregnancy: talk to a midwife or doctor before using any oil, especially in the first three months.
- Babies under 3 months: no essential oils at all.
- Epilepsy or asthma: ask your doctor first, and tell them which oils you use at home.
- Medicines: clove interacts with blood thinners. A pharmacist can check other combinations.
- Pets: stop and call the vet if an animal drools, vomits, wobbles or breathes fast after exposure.
If a child or a pet swallows essential oil, do not try to make them vomit. Call a poison center, your vet, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center straight away, and have the bottle on hand. Call emergency services for a child who is struggling to breathe, very drowsy or having a seizure. Our article on essential oils around children and pets covers storage and these steps in more detail.
Questions
Which essential oils are safe for cats?
None on this chart is cleared as safe. Lavender and rosemary are "use with care", and 15 of the 20 oils are on the avoid list. If you diffuse at all, keep it short, choose a gentle oil, and let the cat leave the room.
Which essential oils are safe for dogs?
Dogs have fewer flags than cats, but tea tree, wintergreen, cinnamon bark, clove, pennyroyal and pine are on the avoid list. Peppermint, eucalyptus, ylang ylang and lavender need care. Keep oils off coats and bedding.
Which essential oils should I avoid during pregnancy?
Wintergreen, cinnamon bark, fennel, Dalmatian sage, camphor and pennyroyal. Use peppermint, rosemary, clove and clary sage only after asking a midwife; clary sage is often advised against until labor.
Which essential oils should people with epilepsy avoid?
Eucalyptus (globulus), rosemary, fennel, Dalmatian sage, camphor and pennyroyal.
Which essential oils are phototoxic?
On this chart, cold-pressed bergamot and lime (avoid on skin going into the sun), plus cold-pressed lemon and grapefruit (use with care). Sweet orange carries a low risk for people.
Sources
- Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition.
- The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, with veterinary guidance on essential oils and pets.