Guidelines to Dilution

Newbies to the world of Aromatherapy are likely to feel overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice in regards to topical and internal use of essential oils. Some sources will give you a list of oils that must be diluted while others will insist on every oil being diluted. With the rise of MLM companies and their marketing of essential oils out of people’s homes there are far more voices offering advice on aromatherapy practices than ever before.... so I may as well add my voice to the choir.

In my opinion dilution is a key principle in aromatherapy. Dilution will help ensure safe topical and internal applications while also help you extend the uses per bottle of your essential oils. Essential oils are volatile substances which mean they will evaporate quickly at room temperature and dilution will help minimize their evaporation. Many essential oils naturally contain harsh alcohols or acids and undiluted oils can irritate and even damage the skin and other soft tissues in the body, so diluting them can insure that you will not to more harm than good.

Before I dive into more about dilution I feel I should reference the sources that have helped me better understand safe practices of essential oil use.

The best guide I can offer is the book “Essential Oil Safety” by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young. I recommend it to anyone who is serious about being an aromatherapist. This massive textbook contains profiles for over 400 essential oils and their safe uses.

For the amateur, or aspiring, aromatherapist you will get some excellent basic safety guidelines from the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.

While safety guidelines for aromatherapy can be expanded on many subjects I am going to focus now on dilution only.

Dilution refers to the process of dispelling a small amount of essential oil into a base or carrier. Although there are many effective bases for essential oil dilutions it is important to note that water is not an appropriate option because essential oils are not water soluble.
An ideal option for a carrier would be an unscented vegetable oil. My personal favorite is Jojoba oil for a number of reasons. Jojoba oil has no natural fragrance and a very long shelf life. Jojoba oil is also very compatible with our skin because it closely resembles sebum, the natural chemical secreted by the skin. Other vegetable oils like coconut, grape seed, hazelnut, almond, and even olive oil can be used effectively as well.

Sometimes an oil base is not an effective means for aromatherapy treatments. For example, using vegetable oils as carriers for the bath will effectively help against irritation but could leave the bottom of your bathtub greasy and slippery. Instead of using a vegetable oil you could dilute your essential oils in a naturally-based unscented bath gel or you could mix it with a water soluble emulsifier. Time Laboratories carries a coconut emulsifier that helps essential oils disperse in water.

When creating personal fragrances, room sprays, or linen sprays you can add a little bit of isopropyl alcohol or even vodka to help make your essential oils disperse in some distilled water...however you will still need to shake before each use.

Because essential oils are so varied there is no universal dilution ratio. Some essential oils are recommended in a 1% dilution (or less) while others can be effective at a 10% dilution. Be sure to do your research or consult a qualified aromatherapist for recommendations. You can find a general guide to dilution ratios here.

When it comes to the internal use of essential oils I have some opinions that may go against what readers have been led to understand. I NEVER recommend ingesting essential oils unless they are safely diluted and prescribed by a qualified professional. The number of times I have had to advise people against adding drops of essential oil to their drinking water is alarming. As I mentioned before, essential oils are not water soluble so a drop of essential oil in your drinking water will simply float on the surface. That floating oil can potentially cause damage and irritation when it clings to the soft tissues of your mouth, throat, or stomach. There are arguably great benefits to ingesting essential oils but it must be done properly. Never ingest more than a single drop of oil per dose and always dilute that drop of oil in a carrier that will allow it to disperse.

Internal dilution ratios are also much different than topical suggestions. The internal blends I have used and recommend to others actually contain LESS THAN A DROP of any single oil per dose and are very effective. The essential oils are also diluted in either a mother tincture blend or a vegetable oil and never in water.

Although it may take a bit more effort and time it is definitely in one’s best interest to dilute your essential oils every time you use them. Look for products that are pre-formulated and invest in bottles, beakers, etc. to create your own dilutions at home. Your bottles of essential oils will last longer and I promise they will be just as effective.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Written By:

Phil Shepard

Store Manager

Time Laboratories





About Phil


Phil Shepherd is an avid aromatherapy enthusiast who enjoys working for Time Laboratories and Windrose Aromatics. As a southeast Idaho native, Phil enjoys working in his local community theater and spending time at home with his husband and his pets.

Phil loves working with aromatherapy, particularly making custom fragrance blends. Phil manages the local retail outlet for Time Laboratories, is a proud NAHA volunteer, and feels privileged to have had the opportunity to work closely with a pioneer of American aromatherapy, Ms. Annemarie Buhler.