Essential oils are highly concentrated, powerful substances. Although they have amazing qualities, they need to be treated with respect and caution. Some essential oils are more potentially irritating and/or caustic than others, but here are some general rules to follow to insure safe use of essential oils in any aromatherapy application.

1. Always research the essential oil or oils you are working with. Read, read, read! Some essential oils should not be taken internally, while others should never be put on the skin “neat” (that means undiluted). Some essential oils could have a negative effect on those with high blood pressure, epilepsy and other medical conditions. There are also essential oils that should only be used for a short period of time (not for weeks on end), and others should not be used in a diffuser and/or nebulizer.

2. Keep essential oils away from children and pets. Treat them as if they were prescription medicines — potentially helpful in the right circumstances, but potentially harmful in others. There have been reports of children becoming deathly ill after ingesting large quantities of, for example, eucalyptus oil left in a diffuser.

3. Do not put essential oils on your skin and go into sunlight unless you are certain it is safe to do so. Some essential oils, such as bergamot (citris bergamia), angelica (angelica archangelica), lemon (citrus limon), tangerine (citrus reticulata) and others may cause a rash or dark pigmentation if you do so. Avoid tanning booths as well when using these photo-sensitive essential oils.

4. Remember that essential oils can interact with prescription medications. If you are taking any prescription medication, it is imperative that you research the potential interactions of your medication(s) and the essential oil(s) you choose to use. For example, if you are on coumadin, you want to be certain that the essential oil you use does not have further blood-thinning effects. Remember that you do not have to take an essential oil internally for it to have effects on your whole body. Even essential oils applied externally may affect your whole body.

5. If you are pregnant, consult with a qualified aromatherapist and/or medical professional before using any essential oils.

6. Never put an undiluted essential oil on your skin unless you are absolutely certain that it is safe to do so. For example, lavender (lavandula augustifolia) essential oil and tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil are widely considered to be safe to be applied neat to the skin. However, remember that “skin” is not the same thing as “mucosal skin”. Mucosal skin is the skin inside your mouth, nose, vagina and rectum. Mucosal skin is usually too sensitive for neat application of even the safest essential oils. Always highly dilute essential oils before using them on mucosal skin.

7. Before putting an essential oil, neat or diluted, on a large area of your skin, put a tiny amount on a sensitive area, such as your inner arm, as a test. Wait 30 minutes or more to insure there is no burning or irritation. Some aromatherapy professionals advocate waiting 24 hours before trying the oil on a larger area of skin.

8. Never get essential oil anywhere near your eyes! It will burn horribly and could damage the sensitive eye surfaces.

9. Avoid putting undiluted essential oils near your lips, as it will burn like crazy. If you are taking essential oils internally, place them in an empty vegetable or gelatin capsule with an eye dropper or a pipette. Remember to read up on any essential oil before taking it internally. It is always better to err on the side of caution and not take an oil internally if you are not 100% certain the essential oil is safe to ingest.

10. Never put undiluted essential oils in the ear canal. In fact, never put essential oils in any form in the ear canal except under the supervision of a qualified medical professional.

11. Wear gloves when handling undiluted essential oils. Remember that the oil will create holes in latex gloves, so it’s best to wear vinyl gloves.

12. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling essential oils. If your hands still smell strongly of the oil, wash them again with soap and water.

13. If your skin burns from the application of a neat or diluted essential oil, DO NOT WASH THE AREA WITH WATER! Water will simply spread the oil over a larger area of skin. Use a carrier oil, such as olive oil or jojoba oil to dilute the essential oil. Gently rub some carrier oil into the irritated skin. The burning sensation should calm down within a few minutes. It’s a good idea to keep a small bottle of carrier oil nearby whenever you work with essential oils.

14. Never leave a candle diffuser unattended, and do not let nebulizing diffusers run for long periods of time by themselves.

15. Do not add essential oils to candle wax unless you are absolutely certain it is safe. Some essential oils have very low flash-points and are not safe to use around a flame.

16. Keep essential oils away from any open flame or potential spark.

17. Keep your bottles of essential oil tightly closed, in dark containers, stored in a cool, dark, dry place. Do not expose them to sunlight.

18. Do not add undiluted essential oils to bath water. If you do so, the undiluted oil will simply float on top of the water, and can irritate sensitive skin.

This list of safe aromatherapy essential oil safety tips is not meant to be all-inclusive or exhaustive. Consultation with a qualified aromatherapist and/or medical practitioner before using any essential oil is highly advisable.