Tool

Essential Oil Safety Lookup

Filter the oils in our reference by who will be around them, and see the caution for each in plain language with a link to its full page.

47 oils in our reference

Essential oils and their safety flags
Oil	Pregnancy	Children	Dogs	Cats	Sunlight	Max on skin
Balsam fir Abies balsamea Safety notes Tisserand and Young advise against using balsam fir once it has oxidised, so keep it fresh and capped, and AromaWeb advises keeping it out of the bath because it irritates more easily there. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list. Fir is a close relative of the pine oils Pet Poison Helpline lists as toxic to dogs and cats, so treat it with caution around pets.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Bergamot Citrus bergamia Safety notes Pressed bergamot is strongly phototoxic: the IFRA citrus standard caps its phototoxic compounds in leave-on skin products, which Tisserand and Young put at 0.4% for bergamot oil. Furocoumarin-free (FCF) bergamot is not phototoxic, though it can still oxidise. Citrus oils are on Pet Poison Helpline's list of oils toxic to cats.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 0.4%
Black pepper Piper nigrum Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no special precautions for black pepper oil, but advise against using it once it has oxidised, so keep it fresh and capped. It is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy. The oil contains none of the piperine found in the spice. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Cardamom Elettaria cardamomum Safety notes Its 1,8-cineole can cause breathing problems in young children, and Tisserand and Young advise against using it on or near the faces of infants and children; we use age 10, as for eucalyptus. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 10	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Cedarwood (Virginian) Juniperus virginiana Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no particular hazards for Virginian cedarwood, and it is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Do not confuse it with cedar leaf (thuja) oil: the Merck Veterinary Manual lists 'cedar' among oils that can cause seizures in pets, so we keep cats and dogs at caution.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Cinnamon leaf Cinnamomum verum Safety notes Eugenol makes cinnamon leaf a skin and mucous-membrane irritant: keep it to 0.6% on skin, never in the bath, and we suggest no skin use before age 6. The IFPA lists cinnamon among oils to avoid in pregnancy, and Pet Poison Helpline lists cinnamon as toxic to both dogs and cats.	Pregnancy Avoid	Children From age 6	Dogs Avoid	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 0.6%
Cistus Cistus ladanifer Safety notes Tisserand and Young advise against using oxidised cistus oil, because it can then sensitise skin; otherwise no skin limit is set. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Citronella Cymbopogon nardus, Cymbopogon winterianus Safety notes Tisserand and Young suggest a skin maximum of 18.2% and flag a risk of interaction with some medicines, so check with a pharmacist if you take any regularly. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Pet poison lines do not flag the oil, but cats process many oil compounds slowly, so diffuse briefly and let them leave the room.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 18.2%
Clary sage Salvia sclarea Safety notes No skin limit is set for the distilled oil. The IFPA lists it among oils used in pregnancy, but other guidance warns against it because of long-standing claims that it can bring on contractions, so we take the cautious view. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Clove bud Syzygium aromaticum Safety notes Clove irritates skin and mucous membranes: 0.5% at most, never in the bath, and while Tisserand and Young rule out skin use only up to age 2, we suggest waiting until 6. Swallowed clove oil has caused liver failure in young children, so store it out of reach. The IFPA lists clove among oils to avoid in pregnancy, and Pet Poison Helpline lists it as toxic to cats.	Pregnancy Avoid	Children From age 6	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 0.5%
Coriander seed Coriandrum sativum Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no known hazards for coriander seed oil, and no skin limit is set. The leaf oil (cilantro) is a different product with a different scent. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Cypress Cupressus sempervirens Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no known hazards for cypress, but oxidised oil is more likely to sensitise skin, so keep it fresh. It is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy. It is rich in pinene, like the pine oils pet poison lines flag, so treat it with caution around pets.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus Safety notes Its main compound, 1,8-cineole, can cause breathing problems in young children, so keep it off and away from the faces of children under 10. Pet Poison Helpline lists eucalyptus as toxic to both dogs and cats. The pregnancy list we follow names only a milder species, Eucalyptus smithii, so we mark blue gum as a caution.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 10	Dogs Avoid	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 20%
Frankincense Boswellia carterii Safety notes No skin limit is commonly set, but frankincense is rich in pinene and limonene, and oxidised oil is more likely to cause skin sensitisation. It is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy. Pet poison lines do not flag it, but cats process many oil compounds slowly, so diffuse briefly and let them leave the room.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Geranium Pelargonium graveolens Safety notes Tisserand and Young suggest up to 17.5%, but IFRA caps geraniol and citronellol in leave-on body products, which works out to about 6% for the richest geranium oils, so we use 6%. Patch test first if you have sensitive skin. Pet poison lines do not flag it, but we keep it at caution around pets.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 6%
Ginger Zingiber officinale Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no particular hazards for the distilled oil and consider the slight phototoxic effect sometimes reported to be insignificant. It is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Grapefruit Citrus × paradisi Safety notes Pressed grapefruit is mildly phototoxic: NAHA rates the risk as low, but IFRA and Tisserand and Young still set a limit, so we keep 4% for skin that will see the sun, or 24 hours of covering above that. Citrus oils are on Pet Poison Helpline's list of oils toxic to cats.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 4%
Helichrysum Helichrysum italicum Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no special precautions for Helichrysum italicum, and no skin limit is set. Other Helichrysum species are sold under the same name with different chemistry, so check the Latin name. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Juniper berry Juniperus communis Safety notes No skin limit is commonly set. Older texts warned against juniper in pregnancy and kidney disease; Tisserand and Young and the IFPA call those warnings outdated, but guides still disagree, so we keep pregnancy at caution. It is rich in pinene, like the pine oils pet poison lines flag, so treat it with caution around pets.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia Safety notes No skin limit is commonly set for true lavender, but old, air-exposed oil irritates more easily, so keep it fresh and capped. Pet Poison Helpline does not list lavender, but a Texas A&M veterinary toxicologist names it among oils harmful to cats, so we take the stricter view for cats and keep dogs at caution.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Lemon Citrus limon Safety notes Cold-pressed lemon is phototoxic: keep skin blends at 2% or less, or keep that skin out of sun and tanning beds for 24 hours, the longer of the waiting times we found (NAHA's figure). Steam-distilled lemon is not phototoxic. Pet Poison Helpline lists citrus oils as toxic to cats; dogs are less sensitive, but concentrated oil can still harm them.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 2%
Lemon eucalyptus Corymbia citriodora Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no known hazards for lemon eucalyptus oil, and it is low in the 1,8-cineole that makes blue gum unsuitable for small children. It is not the same product as the refined insect-repellent ingredient sold as "oil of lemon eucalyptus". It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list. Pet Poison Helpline lists eucalyptus oil as toxic to dogs and cats without naming a species, so we take the stricter view for both.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Avoid	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Lemongrass Cymbopogon flexuosus Safety notes Citral makes lemongrass a skin sensitiser: Tisserand and Young suggest 0.7%, but IFRA caps citral at 0.15% in leave-on body products, so we use 0.15% (and suggest waiting until age 6 for any skin use). Tisserand and Young flag a possible risk to an unborn baby, so we list it as avoid in pregnancy, and NAHA advises keeping it out of the bath.	Pregnancy Avoid	Children From age 6	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 0.15%
Lime Citrus aurantifolia Safety notes Cold-pressed lime is strongly phototoxic: keep skin blends at 0.7% or less, or keep that skin out of sun and tanning beds for 24 hours; steam-distilled lime is not phototoxic. Lime is not named on the IFPA pregnancy list, but we treat it like the citrus oils that are. Citrus oils are on Pet Poison Helpline's list of oils toxic to cats.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 0.7%
Mandarin Citrus reticulata Safety notes Tisserand and Young confirm that pressed mandarin peel oil is not phototoxic, though mandarin petitgrain (from the leaves) is. Store it cool and capped, because oxidised oil can sensitise skin. It is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy. Pet Poison Helpline lists citrus oils as toxic to cats; dogs are less sensitive, but diffuse lightly and leave the dog free to walk away.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Manuka Leptospermum scoparium Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no special precautions for manuka, and no skin limit is set. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Pet poison lines do not name manuka, but it is sold as "New Zealand tea tree", and true tea tree is the oil most often reported in pet poisonings, so we keep dogs and cats at caution and never apply it to a pet.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Neroli Citrus aurantium Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no special precautions for neroli, and it is not phototoxic, unlike the pressed peel of the same bitter orange tree. It is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy. Pet Poison Helpline lists citrus oils (limonene) as toxic to cats; neroli contains limonene, so we take the stricter view for cats and keep dogs at caution.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Niaouli Melaleuca quinquenervia Safety notes The common 1,8-cineole type can cause breathing problems in young children, and Tisserand and Young advise against using it on or near the faces of infants and children; we use age 10, as for eucalyptus. Other chemotypes exist, so check the analysis. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list. Niaouli is a Melaleuca, and Pet Poison Helpline lists tea tree (melaleuca) oil as toxic to dogs and cats, so we take the stricter view for both.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 10	Dogs Avoid	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Nutmeg Myristica fragrans Safety notes Tisserand and Young warn that nutmeg oil is potentially carcinogenic and can be psychotropic in high doses. They suggest 0.8% on skin for East Indian oil and 5% for West Indian; we use the lower figure. Our sources set no age for children; because of those hazards we suggest no skin use before 6, and the bottle belongs well out of reach. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list. Pet poison lines do not name it, but we keep dogs and cats at caution.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 6	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 0.8%
Patchouli Pogostemon cablin Safety notes No skin limit is commonly set. Tisserand and Young note it may inhibit blood clotting, so check with a pharmacist if you take blood-thinning medicine; it is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Peppermint Mentha × piperita Safety notes Menthol can slow or disturb breathing in babies and small children, so keep peppermint away from children's faces; guides differ on the age, and we use the stricter cut-off of 6. Pet Poison Helpline lists peppermint as toxic to cats; dogs are less sensitive, but concentrated oil can still harm them, so never apply it to a dog.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 6	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 5.4%
Petitgrain Citrus aurantium var. amara Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no special precautions for petitgrain bigarade, and unlike many citrus oils it is not phototoxic. It is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy. Pet Poison Helpline lists citrus oils (limonene) as toxic to cats; petitgrain contains limonene, so we take the stricter view for cats and keep dogs at caution.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Ravintsara Cinnamomum camphora Safety notes Ravintsara from Madagascar is rich in 1,8-cineole, which can cause breathing problems in young children; Tisserand and Young advise against using it near the faces of babies and children, and we use age 10, as for eucalyptus. Oil of the same species from China may contain safrole and methyleugenol, so check the origin. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list. Pet poison lines do not name it, but its main compound is that of eucalyptus oil, which they flag, so treat it with caution around pets.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 10	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Roman chamomile Chamaemelum nobile Safety notes No skin limit is commonly set, but it belongs to the daisy family, so people allergic to ragweed or chrysanthemums should patch test first. The IFPA notes chamomile can occasionally irritate skin in pregnancy. Pet poison lines do not flag it, but we keep it at caution around pets.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Rose otto Rosa damascena Safety notes Rose otto can contain methyleugenol, so Tisserand and Young suggest at most 0.6% on skin; EU and IFRA rules set lower limits on methyleugenol itself in cosmetics. Rose otto is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy, which names the centifolia rose. Rose absolute is a different, solvent-extracted product. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 0.6%
Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus Safety notes Camphor and 1,8-cineole make rosemary unsuitable on or near children's faces; we use age 10, as for eucalyptus, and people with epilepsy should avoid it. The 16.5% limit is for the camphor type; the verbenone type is lower at 6.5%. A Texas A&M veterinary toxicologist lists rosemary among oils harmful to cats.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 10	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 16.5%
Sandalwood Santalum album Safety notes Tisserand and Young suggest a 2% skin limit because of rare skin reactions. It is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy. Pet poison lines do not flag it; diffuse briefly around cats.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 2%
Scots pine Pinus sylvestris Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no special precautions for Scots pine, but advise against using it once it has oxidised, so keep it fresh and capped. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Pet Poison Helpline lists pine oils as toxic to both dogs and cats.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Avoid	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Spearmint Mentha spicata Safety notes Tisserand and Young suggest a skin maximum of 1.7% and note it can irritate mucous membranes and carries a low risk of skin sensitisation. Our sources set no age for children; we use 6, as for peppermint, and keep it away from children's faces. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Pet Poison Helpline names peppermint and pennyroyal, not spearmint, but as a close relative we keep dogs and cats at caution.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 6	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 1.7%
Sweet basil Ocimum basilicum Safety notes Basil oils vary: some are rich in methyl chavicol (estragole), which may be carcinogenic in high doses. Tisserand and Young suggest a skin maximum of 15% only for oil with no more than 0.8% estragole, so check the analysis and use it sparingly. AromaWeb, citing Julia Lawless, advises avoiding basil oil in pregnancy. Basil can dominate a blend, so start with a single drop. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Avoid	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 15%
Sweet fennel Foeniculum vulgare Safety notes Tisserand and Young set a skin maximum of 2.5% and list pregnancy, breastfeeding, endometriosis, oestrogen-dependent cancers and children under 5 as contraindications, so we suggest no use before age 6. It may interact with medicines and inhibit blood clotting, so check with a pharmacist if you take any regularly. Oxidised oil is more likely to sensitise skin. The IFPA names fennel among oils to take care with. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Avoid	Children From age 6	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 2.5%
Sweet marjoram Origanum majorana Safety notes Tisserand and Young list no special precautions for sweet marjoram, and no skin limit is set. Sweet marjoram is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy. Do not confuse it with Spanish marjoram, a different plant with a different safety profile. Pet poison lines do not flag it, but cats process many oil compounds slowly, so diffuse briefly and let them leave the room.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Sweet orange Citrus sinensis Safety notes Sweet orange is not phototoxic (bitter orange is), and no skin limit is commonly set, but oxidised orange oil can irritate, so use it fresh. Pet Poison Helpline lists citrus oils as toxic to cats; dogs are less sensitive, but diffuse lightly and leave the dog free to walk away.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia Safety notes Use fresh oil: oxidised tea tree is a known skin sensitiser. It is the oil most often reported in pet poisonings, and the ASPCA notes problems from as little as seven or eight drops of concentrated oil, so never apply it to a pet and keep bottles out of reach. It is on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy, which also warns that skin can be more reactive then.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Avoid	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 15%
Turmeric Curcuma longa Safety notes Tisserand and Young note that turmeric oil may interact with diabetes medicines, so check with a pharmacist if you take them. The oil contains only traces of curcumin; its aroma comes from turmerones. It is not on the IFPA pregnancy list, so pregnancy stays at caution. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin No published maximum
Vetiver Chrysopogon zizanioides Safety notes Tisserand and Young suggest up to 15% on skin, well above normal use. It is not on the IFPA list of oils used in pregnancy, so we mark it as a caution. Pet poison lines do not flag it.	Pregnancy Use with caution	Children From age 2	Dogs Generally well tolerated	Cats Use with caution	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 15%
Ylang-ylang Cananga odorata Safety notes Tisserand and Young suggest 0.8% on skin, but IFRA's ylang-ylang standard allows only 0.18% in leave-on body products, so we use the lower figure; keep it off sensitive or damaged skin. Pet Poison Helpline lists ylang-ylang as toxic to cats.	Pregnancy Generally well tolerated	Children From age 2	Dogs Use with caution	Cats Avoid	Sunlight Not phototoxic	Max on skin Up to 0.18%

How this works

Every row comes from our essential oil reference, which rates each oil for pregnancy, children, dogs and cats, notes whether it is phototoxic and gives its skin maximum, with the sources on each oil's page. The filters keep only the oils that meet every setting you choose; the children filter keeps oils rated for that age or younger.

Where the sources we follow disagree, the oil pages take the stricter view and say why in the safety notes, which you can open under each oil's name. To check a strength on skin, use the dilution calculator; to see the flags for several oils together, use the blend builder.

Assumptions and limits

The ratings are general guidance for healthy people and animals. Allergies, asthma, epilepsy, medicines and health conditions can change what is suitable.
"Use with caution" means a lower strength, a shorter time and good ventilation, not a green light. Read the safety notes for each oil.
Pet ratings are about oils in the home. Never put essential oils on a pet's skin or fur, and keep bottles where animals cannot reach them.
Phototoxicity applies to cold-pressed citrus oils on skin. Steam-distilled and furocoumarin-free versions are not phototoxic, so check the label.
The list covers the 47 oils in our reference. An oil that is missing has not been rated here, which does not mean it is safe.

Questions

Which essential oils are safe to diffuse around cats?: None of the oils in our reference is rated generally well tolerated around cats. Cats process many oil compounds slowly, so the milder oils (28 of them) are marked use with caution: diffuse briefly, in a room the cat can leave, and never put oil on a cat. Set the cats filter to "Leave out oils to avoid" to see them.
Which oils are suitable during pregnancy?: Choose "Generally well tolerated only" under pregnancy to see the oils our reference rates as suitable, based mainly on the pregnancy guidelines of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists. Those guidelines suggest keeping skin blends at 1% or less. Check with your midwife or doctor before using any oil while pregnant.
Why are there no oils for children under 2?: The guidance we follow starts even the mildest oils at age 2. Babies have thinner skin and smaller airways, and strong-smelling compounds such as menthol and 1,8-cineole can affect their breathing. Ask your pediatrician before using any oil around a baby.
What does phototoxic mean?: Some cold-pressed citrus oils, such as bergamot, lime and lemon, can cause burns, blisters or dark patches on skin that sees sunlight or a tanning bed after use. Keep skin blends with these oils at or under their skin maximum, or keep that skin covered for 24 hours. It does not apply in a diffuser.

Sources

Safety, National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA). Accessed October 26, 2026
Aromatherapy and pregnancy guidelines, International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (hosted by NAHA). Accessed October 26, 2026
Peppermint and eucalyptus for children, Tisserand Institute. Accessed October 26, 2026
Cats and essential oil safety, Tisserand Institute. Accessed October 26, 2026
Updates on essential oils, Pet Poison Helpline. Accessed October 26, 2026
Citruses: a comparison of different oils, Tisserand Institute. Accessed October 26, 2026