Carrier oil
Why essential oils are diluted
Essential oils are concentrated. Diluting them in a carrier oil lowers the risk of skin irritation and of allergic reactions, which is why professional aromatherapists do not put undiluted essential oils on the skin.[2]
Common carrier oils
Examples of carrier oils are sweet almond, grapeseed, sunflower, apricot kernel and peach kernel oil.[1]
Jojoba oil is an exception: it is pressed from jojoba seeds but consists almost entirely (about 97%) of wax esters, so it is a liquid wax rather than a true fatty oil. Its composition varies with the maturity of the seeds and with where the plants grow.[3]
How much essential oil
For people aged 15 and over, 2% essential oil is recommended for general wellness (not every day), and 5% is the maximum for therapeutic use when ill, for a short time;[4] oils known to irritate the skin should always be well diluted.[5]
For children the share is lower and depends on age: for general wellness (not every day) none for babies under 3 months, then 0.25% from 3 to 24 months, 1% from 2 to 6 years and 1.5% from 6 to 15 years, with somewhat higher maximums for therapeutic use when ill, for a short time.[4]
The share follows from the number of drops. With a drop of about 0.05 ml, the percentage is the volume of essential oil divided by the total volume of the blend, multiplied by 100: 2 drops (0.1 ml) in 10 ml of carrier oil give about 1%.[1]
Before use
Test a little of the blend on a small patch of skin first, and stop if the skin reacts.[5] In Canada, licensed products that contain certain sensitising essential oils above set levels must not be used on irritated, broken or sensitive skin.[1]
Related products
- Avocado Oil (E 110)
- Jasmine Aromatic Oil Blend (E 108)
- Jojoba Oil (E 109)
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Health Canada, Aromatherapy: Essential Oils. Natural Health Products monograph, 25 July 2025, pp. 17-18 and 25.
- ↑ International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA), Statement on Internal and Undiluted Use of Essential Oils. November 2019.
- ↑ Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Final report on the safety assessment of jojoba oil and related ingredients, 2008.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA), Guidelines to IFPA Members Treating Babies and Children. Revised August 2021.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), Safety. Retrieved 8 November 2026.