How to Dilute Essential Oils
Before using on the skin, you should always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil - such as grapeseed, sweet almond, jojoba or coconut oil (Please note: water is not a suitable method of diluting essential oils).
For general use, essential oils should be diluted at 2% strength.This means using a total of 4-5 drops of essential oils per 10ml carrier oil.
or example:
2 drops Mandarin + 1 drop Lavender + 1 drop Chamomile diluted in 10ml Grapeseed oil
This ratio can be easily scaled up or down. For example, this would equate to 40-50 drops of essential oil per 100ml carrier oil.
A weaker dilution of 0.5-1% should be used for children, pregnant women and those with sensitive skin.
Sometimes a stronger blend of 3-5% can be used for occasional or limited use on a localized area (such as a roller blend).
Be wary of misleading online advice about using undiluted essential oils directly on the skin - this can cause severe skin irritation, burns, blisters and/or sensitization.
Note: Essential oils should not be diluted when used in a diffuser
It’s not always appropriate to prescribe a generic blend ‘recipe’. The number of drops to use depends on several factors:
•Blend Objectives
Your objectives of the blend will influence the proportions of essential oils to use. Aromatherapy oils have unique properties, which can be combined to create a synergistic blend. A blend should be tailored to your individual requirements.
•Quantity
The overall number of drops to use will depend on the quantity of carrier oil that you are using in the blend. Use the app’s Dilution Calculator to work out how many drops you need.
•Age/Skin Type
The blend strength will depend on the age and skin type of the client - for example, a weaker dilution should be used on children, the elderly and those with sensitive skin. See How to Dilute Essential Oils (above) for more details.
