How To Read A Dilution Chart
Using undiluted essential oils frequently can be a one-way ticket to sensitized, irritated skin. Diluting not only saves your skin, but also saves you money and is a good practice to learn.
Though our aromatherapists have discussed how to dilute and even created a nifty dilution chart for oils and roll-ons, we at EG feel it is important to break down the dilution chart until everyone feels comfortable diluting. After all, what use is a dilution chart if you don’t know how to read it? Continue on to learn more.
The Diluent
When diluting, the first thing you’re going to need is a carrier oil. A carrier oil, or base oil, is a vegetable oil commonly derived from the following plant parts:
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Nuts
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Seeds
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Kernels
Examples of carrier oils include:
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Coconut Oil
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Oat Oil
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Shea Nut Oil
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Walnut Oil
Carrier oils are made up of fatty acids such as oleic and linoleic acids, whereas essential oils are a much more complex combination of volatile components. Fatty acids are skin-loving and combine with essential oils to make them safe as well. When used on their own, essential oils can cause skin irritation and sensitization. Furthermore, only a little essential oil is needed to make an effective topical application, thus diluting is necessary.
Dilution Percentages
Now that you know why it’s necessary to dilute essential oils, let’s uncover dilution percentages.
You’ll notice that we often recommend diluting your essential oils in one ounce of carrier oil. One ounce is also equal to 30 ml or 2 tablespoons. On a dilution chart, the amount of carrier oil you dilute in doesn’t change – it will always be the same amount.
What numbers do change on a dilution chart? The percentage of essential oil and the amount of essential oil.
Now let’s look at the dilution chart. The above example shows that a 1% dilution in one ounce of carrier oil equals to 6 drops of essential oil. This means that 6 drops of essential oil makes up 1% of the total essential oil in your final concentration and that the carrier oil makes up 99% of the final concentration.
But what if you want a blend with more essential oil in it, for example, a 3% dilution? In this case, you would keep the amount of carrier oil the same, one ounce, and multiply the 6 drops of essential oil that makes a 1% dilution by 3. Therefore a 3% dilution equals to 18 drops of essential oil combined with one ounce of carrier oil. In a 3% dilution, your essential oil makes up 3% of the blend and the carrier oil makes up 97%.
Let’s break this down further. To increase your essential oil dilution, you’ll always keep the carrier oil amount consistent and multiply the amount of essential oil drops that makeup a 1% dilution by the dilution ratio you desire. Using our dilution chart as an example, to increase your dilution concentration, the one ounce of carrier oil will remain the same and you’ll multiply the 6 drops of essential oil that makeup a 1% dilution rate in one ounce of carrier oil by your desired percentage. In the example above, we multiplied 6 drops by 3, meaning 18 drops of essential oil are needed to achieve a 3% dilution in one ounce of carrier oil.
Scaling Up And Down
What if you’re making a large, stock blend and want to use 4 ounces of carrier oil, or you’re making a blend in a 10 ml roll-on? In this case, you’ll need to make a few adjustments.
Let’s use our dilution chart as an example for scaling up to achieve a 1% dilution in 4 ounces of carrier oil. Because our chart is based on dilutions containing one ounce of carrier oil, multiply each number in our chart by 4. A 1% dilution in 4 ounces of carrier oil now equals to 24 drops of essential oil (6 multiplied by 4). And further, a 3% dilution in 4 ounces of carrier oil now equals to 72 drops of essential oil (18 multiplied by 4).
What about scaling down to a 10 ml roll-on? Again, because our chart is based on dilutions containing one ounce or 30 ml of carrier oil, divide each number in our chart by 3 – because 30 ml divided by 3 equals 10 ml. A 1% dilution in 10 ml of carrier oil now equals to 2 drops of essential oil (6 divided by 3) and a 3% dilution in 10 ml of carrier oil now equals to 6 drops of essential oil (18 divided by 3).
Skip The Dilution
Still have trouble diluting? Reach out to us, we’re always happy to help! Or try our range of prediluted and ready to use essential oil roll-ons and body oils. Don’t have a carrier oil to dilute your essential oils? We’ve got you covered with our range of 100% pure, high quality carrier oils. From Baobab Seed and Kukui Nut to Moringa and Raspberry Seed, our carrier oils help wrap skin in silky, nourishment. Find the carrier oil that’s right for you today with our carrier oil comparison chart.
DOWNLOAD THE ESSENTIAL OIL DILUTION CHART (OUNCES)
About the Author, Bella Martinez
Bella Martinez is a Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skincare Formulator and Edens Garden’s lead aromatherapist. An industry expert, Bella has spent years training and learning in the aromatherapy field, which she continues annually. Her passion is taking evidence-based aromatherapy and making it approachable for all.
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14 comments
DENISE SCHWEINFURTH
Why would you need different dilutions?
Edens Garden
Hi Sybil! Some essential oils have specific recommended maximum dilutions rates. You can find those oils and their dilution rates here: https://www.edensgarden.com/blogs/news/aaa-what-are-maximum-dilution-rates-of-essential-oils
Sybil T
Hello,
Do the ratio of the essential oil drops to carrier oil remains the same for all types of essential oil or it varies by essential oil? example would you dilute Frankincense and Peppermint Essential Oil according to the chart?
Lauren
I’ve read some of your other articles re: recommended dilutions of single oils, but I get confused with blends. I just bought your Shea nut carrier oil with the Skin Love synergy blend. Is there a max dilution you recommend with that blend?
Edens Garden
Hi Jim! Store-bought carrier oils like Avocado and Walnut are suitable diluents for essential oils. Dilution is also unnecessary if using essential oils in a water diffuser.
Jarmel Barnett
This is so simply explained and gives you a pattern to make any dilution. It is 1 drop of essential oil for each 5 ml of carrier oil for a 1% solution.
A. If you have more carrier oil, devise the amount by 5 and that’s how many drops of essential oil to add.
B. If you want a higher concentration (greater percentage), add 1 additional drop of essential oil for each percent increase in stronger dilutions than 1%.
C. When using a greater amount of carrier oil and greater (stronger) dilutions, combine the aspects of A. and B.
Thank you
Jim S
Hi Bella
So I was curious about a few things. First, are oils like avocado and walnut available in the supermarket suitable? I would think so since they are food grade meant to be taken internally. Second, is dilution necessary at all for use in a vaporizer?
Many thanks for the blog, I have learned a lot! Take care and have a great day.
Yasmin Abdelfattah
Thank you this was very helpful!
Elizabeth LevensteinT
Thank you for the information.
Christa Robertson
Thank you for this easy explanation about dilution. I love all your blogs on EO. Keep them coming.
Debbie
Now this was excellent!
Thank you💕
Lisa Marie Sullivan
Thank you SO much for providing an explanation of dilution with essential oils. Finally I understand! Thank you Edens Gardens for always sharing knowledge and helpful tips and recipes. Makes me love ya more! 😊♥️
Dominique
I dilute propolis from my beehives into 70 or 80 per cent alcohol (initially destined for human consumption) but I have no idea how to measure the percentage of propolis in the end result (I give it only to family or friends and they say it’s a lot more concentrated than anything they’ve had before). Many thanks for your help.
Edens Garden
July 12, 2021 at 9:07 am
Hi Denise! Different issues call for different doses. Likewise, different individuals (children, adults, the elderly, etc.) require different doses. You can learn more about what dilution rate to choose for your specific need and age range here: https://www.edensgarden.com/blogs/news/how-to-dilute-essential-oils-1