How To Dilute Your Pure Essential Oils Properly (2024)

FAQs

How To Dilute Your Pure Essential Oils Properly? ›

The easiest way to figure out a 2% dilution is by using the dropper provided on your essential oil bottle. A good rule of thumb is to simply add two drops of essential oil for every teaspoon of carrier oil, or 5 drops for every 10ml of carrier oil.

For facial applications such as masks or oils, a 1% or less dilution is recommended. For massages oils and other leave-on body products, we recommend a 2% dilution, and for other rinse-off bath and body products, we recommend 3%. When using essential oils with children, there are more precautions to consider.

Small amber glass bottles are ideal as they ensure oils are not exposed to direct sunlight or have the chance evaporate quickly. Follow the 30:50:20 ratio when mixing scent notes - 30% top note (3 drops), 50% middle note (5 drops) and 20% base note (2 drops), label each new blend clearly.

The most common way to use essential oils is to inhale them, either directly out of the bottle or by using a diffuser or humidifier. You can also dilute essential oils with a carrier oil and apply it directly your skin. Or you can get creative and add the mixture to a body wash, shampoo, or bath.

Mixing essential oils with a carrier oil is arguably the most popular way to dilute essential oils. There are many different carrier oils on the market, but the most popular choices are jojoba oil, coconut oil and sweet almond oil, thanks to their holistic benefits and ease of access.

Fractionated coconut oil is the most popular carrier oil for essential oils, and for good reason. Coconut oil, extracted from the fruit of the coconut tree, is a super-oil full of natural antioxidants and is in itself an excellent antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory oil.

If you are unsure how much to use, you can follow a few different guidelines: The 30-50-20 rule: your mixture is 30% of your top note, 50% of your middle note, and 20% of your base note.

The combination of Peppermint and Thyme may lead to stomach irritation. There is also some evidence that skin irritation may be caused by the combination of Peppermint and Ylang Ylang, or Grapefruit blended with Lemon.

Can you put 100% pure essential oil on your skin? ›

Always Dilute In Carrier Oil

For all of essential oils' benefits, it's also important to consider their risks. Because they are so concentrated, they can easily cause irritation if applied directly to skin.

Which Essential Oils Are Best For Pain? One of Mother nature's most powerful painkillers, peppermint oil is frequently used for alleviating pain [1]. Closely related to peppermint, wintergreen oil boasts similar properties due to its methyl salicylate component.

The aroma is also decisive to know the purity of essential oils. Pure essential oils have a strong aroma and always smell like the plant they belong to. On the contrary, diluted and low quality essential oils do not smell as much, can cause an itchy nose and have an annoying smell.

Most essential oil dilution rates should be 3% or less for topical use (as an example, 3 drops of essential oil to 97 drops of carrier oil). This dilution rate would be considered safe and effective for most aromatherapy applications.

Choosing not to dilute essential oils is called using them “neat.” Using oils neat or at a higher-than-necessary dilution rate (over 11%) can lead to a skin reaction or sensitization, irritation and other health issues.

Frankincense and Helichrysum are high in monoterpenes, which give many of their beautifying and renewing properties when applied topically. Scientific research shows that Helichrysum helps to keep the skin looking young and healthy. It reduces the appearance of wrinkles and promotes a glowing complexion.

The combination of Peppermint and Thyme may lead to stomach irritation. There is also some evidence that skin irritation may be caused by the combination of Peppermint and Ylang Ylang, or Grapefruit blended with Lemon.

Using a 2% essential oil dilution is generally considered a safe guideline for topical application of essential oils on adults when an essential oil has a dermal maximum of 2% of higher as provided within the second edition of Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.

Dilution Ratios for Essential Oils

Whichever dilution method you choose, the essential oil content should only account for 0.5% to 2% of the total blend. This equates to 3 to 12 drops per ounce of finished product.