Essential Oil Safety: What I Believed in 2012 and What I know Today

 

When I first became a certified aromatherapist, I was absolutely captivated by essential oils. I read every book I could get my hands on, attended classes, experimented with formulations, and shared what I learned here on my blog.  In 2012, I wrote one of my first articles on essential oil safety based on the best information I had available at the time.  

Looking back, I am proud of one thing: I encouraged people to respect essential oils. That message has not changed. What has changed is the science, and thankfully so have I. 

Over the past decade, researchers have learned much more about skin sensitization, oxidation, pregnancy, phototoxicity, ingredient purity, and proper dilution.  I have also had the privilege of learning from some of the brightest minds in aromatherapy and cosmetic science, including Dr. Robert Pappas, whose work in GC/MS testing has helped expose adulterated oils and improve quality standards across the industry. 

Perhaps the biggest lesson I have learned is not about a specific essential oil at all. It is that science is not meant to stand still.  As new evidence emerges, good educators do not cling to outdated recommendations; they grow alongside the research. That is exactly what I have tried to do over the years. 

Today, I still adore essential oils. I formulate with them, diffuse them, and enjoy the incredible complexity of their chemistry.  But I also use them more thoughtfully than I did fourteen years ago.  I generally formulate at lower concentrations, pay much closer attention to oxidation and skin sensitization, and I am much more careful about making health claims than I was when I first started writing this blog. 

If you have been following my blog for years, you will probably notice that some of my newer recipes look a little different than the ones I shared back in 2012, and that is intentional. My goal has never been to be right forever.  My goal has always been to keep learning and share the best information I have today.  Because when science improves, we should too. 

One of the greatest gifts of science and research is that it gives us permission to change our minds.  Every time we learn something new, we have an opportunity to make better choices. I hope that as you explore my formulas and articles on this blog, you will see not only my love of natural ingredients, but also my commitment to curiosity, evidence, and lifelong learning.