Mixing Oils - Safe Percentages

[Guest guest]

Hey Susan,

 

> Butch wrote:

>>

>> But the real danger is percentage of EO to carrier. If we use one oil

>> with a proven safe dilution percentage of 10% .. another with 5% and

>> one more with 6% .. and we use those percentages for each oil .. we've

>> gone way beyond a level of safety because the effects are cumulative.

>

> We touched on the subject not long ago when I asked the question about

> essential oil chemicals having cumulative effects on the body. Butch

> and Martin had several helpful replies and I think Martin explained

> that when more than one oil goes into a blend the person would have to

> have a good understanding of chemistry and math to know exactly how

> much of the chemicals are blending so as to not exceed the safe level

> of exposure to chemicals that both essential oils share (I'm not

> quoting-just relating his idea). BUT regarding the above statment

> specifically: Does anyone maybe have an idea what percentage of

> dilution of eo to carrier may be within safe limits when blending

> oils? and I only mean mixing two or so oils together, not anything

> above 3-for example _______ % of blended oils in a carrier is small

> enough that even shared chemicals shouldn't be harmful. I'm already

> thinking this is one of those questions that probably can't really be

> answered as it would probably depend on what the " shared " chemicals

> are and if it is such a small amount maybe it wouldn't have any effect

> anyway but just thought I'd give it a try!

 

I can't answer your question .. maybe Martin can but I doubt it.

Reason is .. its just too broad .. you're talking about " oils " .. if

you were talking about 2 or 3 specific oils .. and if you had the

analysis for those oils (which you should demand when you purchase)

then you would be able to see the footprint of the major chemical

constituents .. and then you could use pages 20 through 36 of the

Safety Manual " Plant Aromatics " to calculate the safe percentages of

each oil .. tested for Irritation and Sensitization .. on human skin is.

 

If you see that you are using two oils that both share a rather high

percentage of major chemical components .. and the safe percentage for

one is 3% and for the other 4% .. obviously, using those percentages

for each oil could mean a 7% dilution .. so you would maybe want to go

for a 3.5% dilution of the combined two oils.

 

So .. you are absolutely correct when you write, " depends on what the

" shared " chemicals " . But you gotta know what they are .. and the best

way to find that out is with an analysis of that oil .. it can even be

a generic analysis.

 

Think about mixing drinks. A shot of vodka over ice is not gonna take

you to the moon .. nor will a double shot of Kahlua Coffee Liquor ..

but when you blend them together to make a Black Russian .. that's a

horse of a different color. ;-)

 

> Thank you, Susan

 

Welcome for sure .. y'all keep smiling. :-)

 

Butch http://www.AV-AT.com .. who .. has a new supply of Neroli

Hydrosol (Citrus aurantium) in now .. but its not yet listed on the

Hydrosol site at http://www.av-at.com/hydrosol.html

 

Prices are:

 

8 oz 16 oz 1/2 gallon 1 gallon

$ 7.99 $12.99 $46.98 $83.99

[Guest guest]

> Does anyone maybe have an idea what percentage of

> dilution of eo to carrier may be within safe limits when blending

> oils? …probably depend on what the " shared " chemicals

> are and if it is such a small amount maybe it wouldn't have any effect

> anyway

 

I can't answer your question .. just too broad ..

 

[Dave:] I’m following this one closely. It’s not a topic I know a lot

about because I’m a soapmaker and have not been very much into AT. That’s

changing, however, mostly due to what I’ve learned on this list. Even

though I’ve used EOs for years and years, the more I’ve learned about them

the more I realize I didn’t know and should have made an effort to find out,

and still don’t know. I’m just thankful that my instinct has always been to

use them sparingly.

 

Now, I have a question: In this thread as in so many others, mention is

constantly being made of “using” oils and combinations of oils. What uses,

exactly, are these? Since soap is a washoff product, I feel relatively safe

in experimenting with small amounts of EOs to enhance the natural scents of

my herbal soaps, but since I like the faint scent of the soap itself, I

don’t go hog-wild. I am more liberal in using oils that I know have

antibacterial or similar properties and are generally safe – most especially

lavender and tea tree, and to a lesser extent rosemary, clary sage,

eucalyptus, may chang and a few others. The ones I use for scent, that is,

in VERY small percentages, include patchouli, ylang ylang, lemongrass, and

even clove and wintergreen in tiny amounts. In all of this, I think I’ve

been pretty safe, and certainly I haven’t ever witnessed a bad reaction to

any of my products. In other products such as lip balms, lavender and tea

tree are the only EOs I’ve ventured to use. In the AT diffuser, I’ve gotten

a lot more creative and used almost the entire variety of oils at my

disposal, which is quite a few. The other use I’ve put EOs to is blended

into massage oils. My wife is disabled, and I am able to mix several blends

that help relieve some of here pains. Generally this involves adding a few

drops of wintergreen and/or lavender to a blend of grapeseed and emu oils,

or something along those lines. In addition, I know EOs are used in lotions

and other products that remain on the skin for some time.

 

Does this more or less cover the “uses” being spoken of, or are there others

of which I’m completely ignorant?

 

Being on this list has really sparked my interest in AT, and as I consider

using EOs more liberally to scent soaps, I’ll be learning more about sage

usage (pun intended – originally a mistype, though). If Martin’s book is

still on sale after next payday, Butch, expect an order from me!

 

 

--

 

 

Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.18/733 - Release 3/25/2007

11:07 AM

 

 

 

--

 

 

Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.18/733 - Release 3/25/2007

11:07 AM