If you read one article on this site, make it this one. Dilution is the point at which using essential oils either stays safe or becomes a problem — and that is not a matter of opinion but of concentration.
Why dilution is necessary
One drop of essential oil is the distillate of dozens, sometimes hundreds of grams of plant material. When it reaches skin undiluted it can:
- Cause immediate irritation — stinging, redness, a burning feeling
- Cause sensitisation — which is worse. The body develops an immune reaction to the substance over time. Once that has happened it is irreversible: you can never use that oil again, and often not its relatives either.
- Evaporate quickly — paradoxically, dilution keeps it on the skin longer, so the effect lasts longer too
Dilution, then, is not about weakening the effect. Dilution is what makes it usable.
The ratios
In practice one drop ≈ 0.05 ml. Working from that:
| Dilution | In 10 ml | In 30 ml | In 50 ml | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5% | 1 drop | 3 drops | 5 drops | Young children (3+), facial skin, sensitive skin |
| 1% | 2 drops | 6 drops | 10 drops | Face, older people, everyday body lotion |
| 2% | 4 drops | 12 drops | 20 drops | General body care for adults |
| 3% | 6 drops | 18 drops | 30 drops | Targeted, short-term use |
| 5% | 10 drops | 30 drops | 50 drops | Dabbed on, for a few days, adults |
Drop size varies between oils and between droppers — thicker oils give bigger drops. The table is a guide. If you want to be precise, weigh it: 1% = 0.1 g of essential oil in 10 g of blend.
Which carrier oil to choose
| Carrier oil | Feel | Shelf life | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jojoba | Dry, absorbs quickly | 3–5 years (a wax, does not go rancid) | Face, all-rounder |
| Sweet almond | Silky, medium | 1 year | Body, massage |
| Apricot kernel | Light, absorbs fast | 1 year | Face, sensitive skin |
| Coconut (fractionated) | Very light, stays liquid | 2–4 years | Blends, roll-ons |
| Olive | Heavy, greasy | 1–2 years | A fallback, but it works |
| Sunflower | Light, neutral | 6–12 months | Cheap, everyday |
If you are starting out: jojoba for the face, almond for the body. Those two cover most situations.
What to avoid: mineral oil (paraffin) — it does not absorb, and it keeps the essential oil sitting on the surface. Not dangerous, just not meant for this.
How to mix — step by step
- A clean dark glass bottle. If it has been used before, wash it with alcohol and dry it.
- Essential oil first, then the carrier. That way you can see how many drops you have counted.
- Close it and turn it over, do not shake. Shaking works air in, which speeds up oxidation.
- Label it: what is in it, at what ratio, when you made it.
- Patch test: a small amount on the inside of the elbow, then wait 24 hours.
- Store it cool and dark. The shelf life of the finished blend depends on the carrier oil, not the essential oil.
Special cases
On the face. One per cent maximum. Facial skin is thinner and more sensitive. Use citrus oils in the evening, not the morning.
With children. Under three, preferably nothing. Between three and six, 0.25–0.5%, and only a few reliably gentle oils. Between six and twelve, 1%. Peppermint and eucalyptus are not advised under six.
During pregnancy. Ask your doctor or midwife. The lists circulating online contradict each other, and pregnancy is not the situation for experimenting.
In the bath. Never straight into the water. The oil stays concentrated on the surface, and that is how it meets your skin. Disperse it first: a tablespoon of carrier oil, milk, or a handful of salt.
The most common mistake
Someone reads this, agrees with it, and then drips a drop onto their skin anyway, because “it is only one drop”. Most sensitisation does not develop from a single occasion but from many small, undiluted uses. The risk accumulates.
Diluting takes three seconds. Sensitisation is for life.
