Confused about how to dilute essential oils for ultimate safety and efficacy? Then you’ll want to keep this essential oils dilution chart handy! I keep this one and our KidSafe dilution chart magnetized to the side of my fridge. But first, you need to know how to read it. Let us explain.
How to Read the Essential Oils Dilution Chart
We often get asked just HOW in the world you read this thing. We realize that this might seem intimidating – but we promise it’s not as bad as it seems! It’s important to remember that ANYTIME you apply essential oils to the skin, you’ll want to use a carrier oil. This chart helps you find the right ratio for your situation.
And for even more in-depth information about dilution, check out our Ultimate Guide to Diluting Essential Oils!
How do I know which dilution rate to use?
For normal, daily use we recommend a dilution rate of 2%. For acute situations, like an injury or temporary condition you can even go up to 5%-10% for a SHORT period of time. How long is this? Typically less than 2 weeks.
How do I get .5 of a drop of essential oil?
You don’t. If you really want to be exact, you need to increase the amount of carrier until you come across a whole number! If you can’t do this, just round DOWN to the next whole number (example 1.5 drops of lavender oil becomes just 1 drop).
What about use on the face?
This normally means you’d like to blend into a facial serum or cream and will be using it daily. Stick to 1% dilution – the skin on your face is more sensitive and you should use a lower dilution.
How do I safely dilute essential oils for my kids?
For use with children, you can see guidelines in the bottom block. For the most part, we feel like a 2% dilution for spot treatments is fine. You’ll notice that this block refers to WHOLE BODY APPLICATION. Since we rarely cover our entire bodies in essential oils – a 2% dilution is fine.
What is “whole body application”?
In the case of a massage (or body cream) where a large portion of the skin is covered, you want to use a lower dilution. Since so much surface area is affected, this increases the total rate of absorption for your body.
You can join our Facebook group Safe Essential Oil Recipes and participate in a lively conversation with other essential oils users. We have your safety in mind – so come hang out with us to learn even more! We look forward to seeing you there!
