safety

carrier oil

Essential oils are highly concentrated substances and should be diluted in a carrier oil such as fractionated coconut, jojoba, sweet almond or sesame before being applied on the skin in order to prevent skin irritation (exception is Lavender and Tea Tree essential oil which can be applied without carrier oil, also known as “neat”). If any skin irritation should occur as a result of using essential oils, immediately apply additional carrier oil to the area. This will further dilute the concentration and will quickly soothe the skin.

ingestion

The Ethica Company is a member of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, and as such, we follow their guidelines and take a conservative approach with regard to ingestion of essential oils. We recommend consuming essential oils only under the care of a medical doctor or qualified aromatherapy practitioner.

eye contact

When applying essential oils on the skin, be careful to not get the oils into your eyes. If this should occur, flush with cool water for several minutes.

pregnancy

Care must be taken when using carrier and essential oils during pregnancy. Small amounts (two to three drops at one time) of the following essential oils are known to be safe during pregnancy: Bergamot, Coriander, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Ginger, Grapefruit, Lavandin, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Neroli, Orange, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Sandalwood, Tangelo, Tangerine and Tea Tree. Sesame oil can be used as a carrier oil during pregnancy.

flammable

Keep away from flame, heat and ignition sources as essential oils are flammable.

phototoxic

After an essential oil blend has been applied on the skin, avoid direct exposure to sunlight for at least four hours to prevent the possibility of skin irritation. This precaution is especially important when using phototoxic oils, primarily citrus essential oils. Only a few essential oils contain these phototoxic components. While it is usually in amounts of less than 2%, and even after the oil has been diluted with a carrier to a 1 – 3% concentration, these oils are still capable of producing phototoxic effects if the skin is then exposed to sunlight or UV rays.

• Essential Oils that are strongly phototoxic include: Cold Pressed* Bergamot, Cold Pressed* Lime, Lemon Verbena, Taget, Rue and Opopanax.
  
• Essential oils that are moderately phototoxic include: Cold Pressed* Bitter, Blood and Sweet Orange, Cold Pressed* Pink and White Grapefruit, Cold Pressed* Lemon, Cold Pressed* Mandarin, Cold Pressed* Tangerine and Cumin.
  
• Essential Oils that are mildly phototoxic include: Angelic Root, Caraway, Cassia and Cinnamon Bark.
  
• Citrus Essential oils that are not phototoxic include: Bergamot FCF (bergaptene free), Steam Distilled Bergamot, Steam Distilled Pink and White Grapefruit, Steam Distilled Lemon, Steam Distilled Lime, Steam Distilled Bitter, Blood and Sweet Orange, Steam Distilled Mandarin, Steam Distilled Tangerine.