Dilution guidelines

Dilution Made Stupid-Simple (So You’ll Actually Do It)

If you haven’t read our article on how to use essential oils yet, peek at that first. Then come back and let’s mix smart.

How to dilute?

Dilution = mixing essential oil (EO) into a carrier (like jojoba, almond, or coconut) so it’s gentle enough for skin. Pure EOs are very concentrated; dilution keeps skin happy and helps the scent last longer.

Our House Rule (Bookmark This)

We’re going practical on purpose:
1 drop EO in 1 tablespoon carrier oil = 1% dilution.
So 2 drops = 2%, 5 drops = 5%, 10 drops = 10%, etc. Easy, right?

To jump to your help we actually set out to measure the capacity of a normal eating tablespoon as found in any Indian household. It holds up to approximately 100-120 drops. So all dilution will refer to this amazing measuring tool :) If you are more technical you should know that there there are about 200-250 drops in 10 ml depending on the size of the dropper.

Blending for different issues

• 1% — emotions, facial use, sensitive/compromised skin, pregnancy/breastfeeding basics.
• 2% — daily body use, general massage.
• 3–10% — short-term targeted stuff: headache, chest congestion, cough, muscle/joint pain.
• 25% — ultra-short, tiny spot use only (think severe cramps or a brutal tension point).
• Neat (undiluted) — only for small, localized, short-term uses with oils that are commonly tolerated neat (e.g., lavender, tea tree). Sensitization is real; don’t make “neat” your personality.

Age matters (because bodies change)

For kids we dedicated a full post. Pls do read it and bookmark it:)

Chest congestion example for the whole family:

• 3-year-old

  • Diffuse: frankincense, lemon, bergamot, ginger, lavender

  • Topical: up to 1-2% with very gentle oils (e.g., lavender, sandalwood, lemon) on chest/upper back or feet.

• 30-year-old

  • Diffuse: add stronger decongestants like peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary.

  • Topical: start 5%, go up to 10% short-term if symptoms are stubborn.

• 70-year-old

  • Diffuse: same as adults, adjust to comfort.

  • Topical: keep it ≤4–5% and short-term. Check meds/conditions—some oils aren’t for everyone.

Always check each oil’s cautions: photosensitivity (many citrus), blood pressure, meds, epilepsy/asthma flags, etc. Personal health > generic charts.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Stay around 1% and choose gentle oils. Common oils to avoid during pregnancy/breastfeeding include:
Anise, Birch, Black Seed, Carrot Seed, Cinnamon Bark, Blue Cypress (Callitris intratropica), Fennel, Ho Leaf (Cinnamomum camphora ct. camphor), Hyssop (H. officinalis ct. pinocamphone), Myrrh, Spanish Lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Oregano, Sage (S. officinalis, S. lavandulifolia), Wintergreen.

If a scent feels “too much,” it probably is—especially for little humans. Adjust the % or swap the oil.
Questions or edge cases? Message us; a real human from The Oil Stories will help you tweak it. 💧

Be well,
The Oil Stories team