4 ms·

I (re)discovered an interest in natural scents earlier this year when I tried eliminating petrochemical skin products. Coconut oil and aloe vera (about 80:20),

I (re)discovered an interest in natural scents earlier this year when I tried eliminating petrochemical skin products. Coconut oil and aloe vera (about 80:20), olive oil liquid soap, and essential oils - including patchouli, cedar, oak moss, lavender, vetiver, (European) bay, tea tree, melissa. My best effort so far is a rosemary/eucalyptus/bay aftershave balm.

zasdffaa 4y ago
I guess a word to the wise, or others who may not have your experience, be careful about assuming natural stuff is safe. Some essential oils are irritating, and some can be bad for you unless carefully handled (eg jasmine oil should be well diluted into a carrier oil before it touches your skin).
- colechristensen 4y ago
  Yup. Natural smells are very often poisons targeting insects, infections or grazers. The target isn’t often humans or mammals in general which is why things are relatively safe, but many are still active to some degree.
- ajb 4y ago
  I read somewhere that basically all essential oils are dangerous because they are so concentrated. They have to be diluted to be safe. The article claimed that some individuals had given themselves an allergy to lavender by using the essential oil undiluted. Unfortunately I don't have a reference (read that a few years ago). Would be interested to know if it's true.
  - mrspuratic 4y ago
    Essential oils have high concentrations of lipophilic compounds which have little trouble crossing membranes. As luck would have it chapter 7 "The safety issue in aromatherapy" of Aromatherapy Science (ISBN: 0 85369 578 4) is a freely available sample chapter (pharmpress.com)
    - ajb 4y ago
      Ah thanks. Seems basically true then.
- mrspuratic 4y ago
  Yes, absolutely. Dilution to 1% for anything applied to my face (about 3 drops/15ml), and I test anything new elsewhere first (no reactions so far!). Stick to good quality high purity oils suitable for massage, avoid photosensitising oils (citrus types, as a rule of thumb). The only thing I use neat oils on is hardwood handled cutlery, a good use for expired citrus oils.
- Gordonjcp 4y ago
  > be careful about assuming natural stuff is safe Giant hogweed is completely natural. You do not want it on your skin, in any concentration.

zasdffaa 4y ago

I guess a word to the wise, or others who may not have your experience, be careful about assuming natural stuff is safe. Some essential oils are irritating, and some can be bad for you unless carefully handled (eg jasmine oil should be well diluted into a carrier oil before it touches your skin).

colechristensen 4y ago
Yup. Natural smells are very often poisons targeting insects, infections or grazers. The target isn’t often humans or mammals in general which is why things are relatively safe, but many are still active to some degree.
ajb 4y ago
I read somewhere that basically all essential oils are dangerous because they are so concentrated. They have to be diluted to be safe. The article claimed that some individuals had given themselves an allergy to lavender by using the essential oil undiluted. Unfortunately I don't have a reference (read that a few years ago). Would be interested to know if it's true.
- mrspuratic 4y ago
  Essential oils have high concentrations of lipophilic compounds which have little trouble crossing membranes. As luck would have it chapter 7 "The safety issue in aromatherapy" of Aromatherapy Science (ISBN: 0 85369 578 4) is a freely available sample chapter (pharmpress.com)
  - ajb 4y ago
    Ah thanks. Seems basically true then.
mrspuratic 4y ago
Yes, absolutely. Dilution to 1% for anything applied to my face (about 3 drops/15ml), and I test anything new elsewhere first (no reactions so far!). Stick to good quality high purity oils suitable for massage, avoid photosensitising oils (citrus types, as a rule of thumb). The only thing I use neat oils on is hardwood handled cutlery, a good use for expired citrus oils.
Gordonjcp 4y ago
> be careful about assuming natural stuff is safe Giant hogweed is completely natural. You do not want it on your skin, in any concentration.