Safety

You should make your own assessment of the risks involved in making your own cosmetics or perfumes.

In general, the risks associated with making cosmetics should be no greater than those involved in the preparation of food in a household kitchen.

There are specific risks associated with handling essential oils:

- Avoid the use of essential oils during pregnancy unless you are given specific advice by a practitioner who is qualified and licensed to prescribe essential oils.
- Do not ingest essential oils unless advised so to do by a practitioner who is qualified and licensed to prescribe essential oils in this way.
- Do not apply undiluted essential oils to your skin.
- Avoid prolonged inhalation of essential oils.
- Do not expose essential oils to naked flames or high temperatures.
- Be aware that many essential oils are corrosive and will damage surfaces or containers other than glass or ceramics.

The General Safety Guidelines for using essential oils published by the Tisserand Institute are clear and useful.

There are many good online resources that you can use to research the specific risks associated with individual essential oils. You might consider consulting more than one source before making your own assessments.