Can I use Peppermint Essential Oil undiluted? (2024)
Short answer: NOPE!Like most essential oils, peppermint essential oil is extremely potent and should most definitely be diluted before use.
If you’ve spent any time around wild peppermint, you know that this little planthas some potent chemistry. When I mow our lawn and some of our garden’s escaped peppermint gets cut, the perfume takes over the entire backyard! My Goldendoodle starts sneezing and coughing from the tingly-mint smell and can’t stop until she’s spent a good hour detoxing her nose in our living room.
And that’s just the fragrance. Peppermint essential oil is so potent that undiluted it will cause your skin to tingle or burn. It can cause your eyes to water and nose to run. Ingest it undiluted and it’s an intense diuretic. In fact, it's surprisingly easy to accidentally get too much peppermint in your systemwhich can be potentially lethal.
That's because essential oils are intensely concentrated. For instance,it takes 220 pounds of lavender flowersto make a 1 fluid pound of lavender essential oil. For you math junkies out there, that's ~14 times the weight in flowers to oil.No wonder they can pack a punch!
That's why we discourage anyone from applying essential oil in its undiluted or "neat" form. Don’t get me wrong; peppermint is a truly miraculous little plant. But it’s definitelynotsomething you'll want to slather on your body or gulp down with lunch. In fact,most beauty and health expertsstrongly recommend diluting peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil, such as Coconut, Jojoba, or Apricot kernel oil. This will allow you to reap the many benefits of peppermint without suffering from it’s more caustic side.
If you're looking to use peppermint essential oil for an at home DIY spa, be sure to use only a small amount of oil in your mixtures. For a safer bet, get products with organic, natural peppermint ingredients.
We hope this helped you clear up any confusion you might have had about using undiluted peppermint essential oil.
Do you have any other ingredient questions? Ask in the comments below. If you hadn't noticed, we're obsessive when it comes to natural ingredients. 💁🏽♀️
It's also important to remember that peppermint essential oil is very concentrated and should always be diluted properly before topical use. Only a few drops of essential oil are needed for diluting in an ounce of carrier oil. In some cases, peppermint oil that's applied to the skin may cause irritation or a rash.
It's important to note that peppermint essential oil is intense and far more concentrated than other essential oils. The topical application of peppermint oil is generally safe, although it is necessary to dilute with a carrier oil like almond or jojoba oil.
The use of undiluted essential oils on sensitive skin or in the nostrils can irritate or burn. Susceptible people may also develop an allergic reaction and a skin rash.
The less carrier oil you use in ratio to essential oils, the more likely you are to become sensitized. The more carrier oil you use in ratio to essential oils, the less likely you are to become sensitized. Generally, we recommend sticking to a 1-2% dilution.
Here are a few different ways you can use peppermint oil on your skin: Relieve joint and muscle pain: Dilute 2-3 drops of the oil and rub directly into the target area a few times a day. Alternatively, dilute the oil and add 5 drops to warm bath water filled with Epsom salt.
According to many aromatherapy practitioners, Lavandula angustifolia, Melaleuca alternifolia, Helichrysum italicum, and Chamaemelum nobile are the only essential oils that can be safely used undiluted.
In fact, most beauty and health experts strongly recommend diluting peppermint essential oil with a carrier oil, such as Coconut, Jojoba, or Apricot kernel oil. This will allow you to reap the many benefits of peppermint without suffering from it's more caustic side.
Side effects of applying peppermint oil to the skin can include skin rashes and irritation. Peppermint oil should not be applied to the face of infants or young children because serious side effects may occur if they inhale the menthol in the oil.
Always dilute essential oils before using them topically and be sure to use a dilution ratio that takes the specific needs and risk factors of the end user into consideration. Even non-topical applications of essential oils should be treated with caution and diluted to prevent adverse reactions.
With the exception of Lavender Essential Oil and Tea Tree Essential Oils, most essential oils in their stand-alone state are too strong to be applied directly to the skin. However, even when using essential oils undiluted, it's essential to do a patch test first to check for any adverse reactions.
Essential oils are highly concentrated compounds extracted from plants to capture the purest essence of nature. But with purity comes potency and volatility. Essential oils are often too strong to apply directly to the skin and because of this, appropriate dilution is necessary to ensure everyone's safety.
People should never apply essential oils directly to the skin without diluting them, unless under the direct guidance of a healthcare professional. It is also dangerous to swallow essential oils. Not only are essential oils extremely concentrated, but they can also irritate the sensitive cells inside the body.
This means it should always be diluted before being applied topically, otherwise it could irritate the skin and cause an allergic reaction. In more serious cases, if the oil is not diluted properly, it could cause respiratory issues in people who are particularly sensitive, although this is very rare.
Peppermint oil can cause issues when used undiluted. Always mix it with a carrier oil first. It is best to do a patch test before actually using this oil. Try rubbing out a small dab of diluted peppermint oil on a hidden piece of skin (like your wrist inside).
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