Are Essential Oils Safe For You?
Here’s the deal - essential oils are pretty amazing. Even if you don’t find them amazing for their therapeutic properties, you can still love the straight-from-nature smells that are healthy alternatives to toxic candles, air fresheners, and cleaners. With that being said, you still need to be smart and use safe practices (as you would with anything natural or not).
Here are a few safety tips to consider:
1. Citrus oils are photosensitive and can cause irritation and increased UV sensitivity if used TOPICALLY in direct sunlight. So don’t roll on Orange oil if you are heading outside.
2. Avoid using “hot oils” such as peppermint, wintergreen, and eucalyptus around small kids. Always read labels and look for proper DILUTION ratios for kids by age and avoid altogether on babies and kids too young.
3. Pregnant? Pick up a guide to ensure you are using proper oils by trimester. There are TONS and tons that can be used safely, some to use with caution, and some should just be avoided.
4. Avoid high phenol oils such as oregano, clove, and thyme around pets. Cats in the house? Skip CITRUS oils in the diffuser.
5. Store oils safely, out of direct sunlight and out of reach of LITTLES. This is no different than anything so don’t freak. You wouldn’t want your kid accidentally drinking Febreeze or Chanel No. 5 either.
6. Don’t use CHEAP oils! These can be inherently dangerous due to them being adulterated, and contain ingredients not even listed. If you find Rose oil for $3 at the drugstore, trust me, it’s not made from roses. Oils are unregulated which means you need to take extra precaution on choosing company standards down to the soil and minutes an oil is distilled for. Yes, minutes.
7. Dilution is your friend, patch test when unsure, if you don’t know just do a little research or ask a professional. Read the labels for safety recommendations.
