Glossary
Dilution means mixing essential oil into a larger amount of carrier oil, lotion, cream, balm, or another suitable base before applying it to the skin.
What Dilution Means
In essential oil use, dilution describes the percentage of essential oil in a finished topical blend. For example, a 1% dilution means the essential oil makes up about 1% of the finished product, while the remaining 99% is the carrier or base.
Why It Matters
Essential oils are concentrated aromatic extracts. Dilution helps reduce unnecessary skin exposure, makes the blend easier to spread, and supports more measured topical use. It is one of the most important safety habits for body oils, massage oils, balms, roll-ons, and natural perfume oils.
Example in Essential Oil Use
A simple adult body oil might use about 1 drop of essential oil in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil for an approximate 1% dilution. This is only a rough starting point, because drop size varies and some oils need stricter limits.