Essential Oils Not Recommended for Young Children

Essential oils flagged as not suitable for young children. Children need far lower dilutions and greater caution than adults. 119 oils listed.

Not medical advice. Consult a professional before using any essential oil on or around children, and follow age-appropriate dilution.

Get the right drops-per-bottle with the drops & dilution calculator.

Oil	Aroma family	Max on body
Agarwood (Oud) CO2	Woody	2%
Allspice	Spicy	0.5%
Angelica Root	Earthy	0.8%
Anise	Herbaceous	2.4%
Basil (Holy / Tulsi)	Herbaceous	1.5%
Basil (Sweet)	Herbaceous	1.5%
Bay (West Indies)	Spicy	0.5%
Bay Laurel	Spicy	3%
Birch (Sweet)	Minty	2.4%
Birch Tar (Rectified)	Woody	1%
Bitter Almond (FFPA)	Specialty	5%
Black Copal Resinoid	Resinous	1%
Black Currant Bud Absolute	Green	1%
Blue Lotus Absolute	Specialty	2%
Boronia Absolute	Floral	1%
Bran Absolute	Specialty	1%
Buchu Leaf	Herbaceous	1%
Cade	Woody	1%
Cajeput	Minty	4%
Calamus / Sweet Flag	Spicy	0.12%
Carnation Absolute	Floral	0.5%
Carrot Seed	Earthy	3%
Cassie Absolute	Floral	1%
Catnip	Herbaceous	3%
Celery Seed CO2	Herbaceous	1%
Champaca Absolute	Specialty	2%
Choya Ral	Resinous	1%
Cinnamon Bark	Spicy	0.07%
Cinnamon Leaf	Spicy	0.5%
Clary Sage Absolute	Herbaceous	0.25%
Clove Bud	Spicy	0.5%
Coffee CO2	Specialty	2%
Cognac Absolute	Specialty	1%
Cornmint	Minty	5%
Costus	Earthy	0.5%
Cumin	Spicy	0.4%
Cyclamen	Floral	1%
Davana	Specialty	3%
Dill	Herbaceous	3%
Elecampane	Herbaceous	0.03%
Eucalyptus (Globulus)	Minty	No specific limit
Eucalyptus (Peppermint/Dives)	Herbaceous	5%
Fennel (Bitter)	Herbaceous	1.8%
Fennel (Sweet)	Herbaceous	2.5%
Fig Leaf Absolute	Green	0.05%
Galangal	Earthy	3%
Galbanum	Green	3%
Galbanum Resinoid	Green	3%
Gardenia Absolute	Floral	1%
Genet Absolute	Floral	1%
Gurjum Balsam	Resinous	1%
Hay Absolute	Specialty	2%
Heliotrope Absolute	Floral	2%
Honeysuckle Absolute	Floral	1%
Hyacinth Absolute	Floral	1%
Hyssop	Herbaceous	1%
Hyssop Decumbens	Herbaceous	2%
Inula	Herbaceous	5%
Jasmine Sambac	Floral	0.7%
Jonquil Absolute	Floral	1%
Labdanum Absolute	Resinous	0.5%
Lavandin	Floral	11%
Lavender Absolute	Floral	0.1%
Lavender Spike	Floral	5%
Lemon Myrtle	Green	0.7%
Lemon Tea Tree	Herbaceous	0.8%
Lemongrass	Citrus	2%
Lilac	Floral	1%
Lily of the Valley / Muguet	Floral	1%
Linden Blossom Absolute	Floral	1%
Lotus Absolute	Floral	2%
Lovage Root	Herbaceous	0.5%
Marjoram (Spanish)	Herbaceous	10%
Massoia Bark	Woody	0.01%
Melissa (Lemon Balm)	Floral	2%
Mimosa Absolute	Specialty	2%
Myrrh Resinoid	Resinous	3%
Narcissus Absolute	Floral	1%
Niaouli	Minty	5%
Nutmeg	Spicy	2%
Oakmoss Absolute	Earthy	0.1%
Oregano	Herbaceous	1.1%
Orris Butter / Concrete	Floral	1%
Orris Root	Earthy	3%
Osmanthus Absolute	Floral	2%
Oud (Agarwood)	Specialty	2%
Papyrus	Green	1%
Parsley Seed	Herbaceous	2%
Peony	Floral	1%
Peppermint	Minty	5.4%
Peru Balsam	Resinous	0.4%
Rose Absolute	Floral	5%
Rose de Mai Absolute	Floral	0.6%
Rosemary (Camphor ct.)	Herbaceous	16.5%
Rosemary (Cineole)	Herbaceous	6.5%
Rosemary (Verbenone)	Herbaceous	6.5%
Saffron CO2	Spicy	1%
Sage (Dalmatian)	Herbaceous	1%
Sage (Spanish)	Herbaceous	12.5%
Saro (Mandravasarotra)	Herbaceous	5%
Savory (Winter)	Herbaceous	0.5%
Styrax	Resinous	2%
Sweet Pea	Floral	1%
Tagetes (Marigold)	Herbaceous	0.01%
Tarragon	Herbaceous	0.1%
Tejpat (Indian Bay Leaf)	Spicy	3%
Thuja / Cedar Leaf	Woody	0.25%
Thyme (Thymol)	Herbaceous	1%
Tobacco Absolute	Specialty	2%
Tolu Balsam	Resinous	0.4%
Tonka Bean Absolute	Specialty	0.9%
Treemoss Absolute	Earthy	0.1%
Tuberose Absolute	Floral	2%
Valerian	Earthy	1%
Violet Flower Absolute	Floral	1%
Violet Leaf	Green	2%
Wintergreen	Minty	2.4%
Wisteria	Floral	1%
Wormwood	Herbaceous	0.5%

How these figures are sourced is explained in our safety-data methodology.