Essential Oil Safety Quick Reference: Warning Signs and Whom to Call
A one-page quick reference for essential oil warning signs and whom to call: Poison Help 1-800-222-1222, 911, 988 and a vet, with the oils that have caused the most serious poisonings.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
Urgent first. Call 911 for collapse, a seizure or trouble breathing. If anyone has swallowed an essential oil, or a product that contains one, or may have, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). Expert guidance is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, by phone or through Poison Control's online tool. [1] If someone is in crisis or may have swallowed an oil on purpose, call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US) as well; see mental health crisis and natural remedies. Outside the US, see Poison Help by country. This page does not state other phone numbers.
This page is a quick reference, not treatment advice. It repeats what poison centers, regulators and case reports say, so you can find the right help fast. It never suggests swallowing an oil.
Who to call, by situation
| If this happens | Who to call or what the sources say |
|---|---|
| Collapse, seizure, trouble breathing, or an allergic reaction with difficulty breathing | 911. Poison Control says any allergic reaction that includes difficulty breathing should be treated as a medical emergency. [1] |
| An oil, or a product containing one, was swallowed or may have been | Poison Help, 1-800-222-1222 (US). [1] Choking so that oil enters the lungs (aspiration) can cause pneumonia. [1] For a child who appears to have drunk oil, an aromatherapy association's guidance says to contact poison control, keep the bottle for identification, and not try to induce vomiting. [2] |
| A child is the one exposed | Poison Help. A study of eucalyptus oil ingestion in young children said the range of toxic amounts is wide, so at least a medical assessment is needed after ingestion. [3] In one Ontario poison-centre review, 251 children were reported to have swallowed an essential oil or product; the most common symptoms were cough and vomiting, and two had seizures. [4] |
| Rash, redness or burning after skin contact | Poison Control says to stop using the oil immediately and gently wash it off; if a rash occurs, wash off the remaining oil with soap and water. [1] If the rash persists, ask a pharmacist or clinician. |
| Blistering or burning of skin that met a citrus oil or bergamot and then sun or a tanning bed | See a clinician. A journal report describes blistering reactions 48 to 72 hours after bergamot oil and later ultraviolet exposure. [5] |
| Oil in the eye | An aromatherapy association says to flush the eyes immediately with cool water. [2] If pain, redness or blurred vision lasts, ask a clinician. |
| A pet has swallowed or been covered in an oil | Call a veterinarian or an animal poison line straight away. Pet Poison Helpline says signs of tea tree poisoning include drooling, stumbling, weakness, tremor and coma. [6] |
| Thoughts of self-harm | 988 (US), or 911 in an emergency. |
For a longer guide see essential oil poisoning: what to do first, when to seek medical help after essential oils and what to tell Poison Help when you call.
Oils and products with the most serious swallowing hazards
These entries describe documented harm. They are not instructions, and the amounts are those in the reports, not safe or unsafe thresholds.
| Oil or product | What the sources describe |
|---|---|
| Camphor | Poison Control says even a small amount is dangerous if swallowed and that seizures can begin within a few minutes. [1] Three children aged 15 to 36 months had seizures; two swallowed camphor and one had it rubbed repeatedly on the skin. [7] |
| Wintergreen oil and rubs containing methyl salicylate | One teaspoon (5 ml) of wintergreen oil is equivalent to about 21.7 adult aspirin tablets, and as little as 4 ml in a child can be fatal. [8] A review links a teaspoon or less to well-documented deaths in children under 6. [9] |
| Eucalyptus oil | Poison Control says swallowed eucalyptus oil can cause seizures. [1] Among children under five with actual or suspected ingestion in Victoria, Australia, 74% reached the oil through a home vaporizer unit. [3] |
| Tea tree oil | NCCIH says taking it by mouth can cause confusion, unsteadiness, inability to walk and coma. [10] |
| Clove oil | A 15-month-old developed fulminant hepatic failure after swallowing 10 ml; the liver impairment resolved after intravenous N-acetylcysteine in hospital. [11] |
| Pennyroyal oil | NIH's LiverTox says that taken by mouth it is highly toxic and linked to toxic liver injury and death. [12] |
| Sage (Salvia) oil | Poison Control says swallowing more than a very small amount has caused seizures in children. [1] |
| Lavender extract used as a home fragrance | An 18-month-old became extremely drowsy and confused after swallowing a small amount; he was back to normal in about 6 hours. [1] |
| Pine oil in household cleaners | A case report describes central nervous system depression and respiratory failure after one was swallowed. [13] A hospital series of 22 patients found irritation of the mouth and gut was most common. [14] |
Skin, sun and eyes
- Irritants. An aromatherapy association's list of dermal irritants includes cinnamon bark or leaf, clove bud, lemongrass, oregano and thyme. [2]
- Allergy. Poison Control says allergy to an essential oil is a very real possibility and the most common type of reaction is a skin rash. [1] In a dermatology clinic network, 6 of 12 oils tested gave more than 1% positive patch tests, led by ylang ylang at 3.9%; those patients had skin problems, so it is not a rate for the public. [15]
- Sun. The FDA notes that certain citrus oils used safely in food can be harmful in cosmetics on skin exposed to the sun. [16] The aromatherapy association's photosensitizer list includes bergamot, expressed lemon, expressed lime and expressed bitter orange. [2] See citrus oils and sunlight.
- Mucous membranes. Some oils have a heating or drying effect on the mouth, eyes, nose and reproductive organs. [2]
Babies and children
- Poison Control says children have thin skin and immature livers, which might make them more susceptible to toxic effects than adults. [1]
- NCCIH says menthol, which is in peppermint oil, should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child, because serious side effects may occur. [17] The EMA says its peppermint oil medicines must not be used under age 2. [18]
- The EMA says its eucalyptus oil medicines must not be given to children under 30 months, because of a risk of spasm of the larynx, or to children with a history of seizures. [19]
- NIEHS says clinical cases have linked skin use of essential oils with breast tissue growth in boys before puberty; they did not involve aromatherapy. [20]
- Keep bottles locked away, out of the sight and reach of children and pets. [1] See babies and children.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
A review says the use of herbs, herbal preparations or essential oils during pregnancy is questionable. [21] NCCIH says little is known about lavender in pregnancy or breastfeeding. [22] The EU herbal monograph for juniper oil says safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established and use is not recommended. [23] Ask a midwife, doctor or pharmacist before using any oil; see essential oils in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Pets
Pet Poison Helpline says higher concentrations of tea tree oil are toxic to pets and even a few concentrated drops applied to the skin or swallowed can cause severe poisoning. [6] The sources we read for this page do not describe other oils for cats and dogs, and that is not proof of safety. See essential oils and pets.
Breathing, asthma and medicines
- In a US survey, 64.3% of adults with asthma reported adverse health effects from fragranced products, including asthma attacks. [24] It covered fragranced products, not essential oils alone.
- Poison Control says essential oils may interact with medications. [1] NCCIH sees theoretical reasons lavender might interact with some sedative drugs or herbs, which matters before surgery. [22] A review says excessive use of topical methyl salicylate products in people taking warfarin may cause bleeding. [25]
- Never stop or change a prescribed medicine on your own. Ask the prescriber or pharmacist; see medication interactions and surgery and procedures.
Fire
An aromatherapy association says essential oils are highly flammable and should be kept away from direct contact with flames such as candles, fire, matches, cigarettes and gas cookers. [2] See fire and storage safety.
What this page does not cover
It does not cover treatment steps for poisoning, which only a poison center or clinician can direct. It does not list phone numbers outside the US. For storage and shelf life, see storing essential oils.
Frequently asked questions
What number do I call if a child swallows an essential oil?
In the US, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222; the service is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day. [1] Call 911 if the child collapses, has a seizure or has trouble breathing.
Should I make someone vomit after they swallow an oil?
Do not do this on your own. An aromatherapy association's guidance says not to try to induce vomiting. [2] Poison Control says choking so that oil enters the lungs can cause pneumonia. [1] Let Poison Help direct what happens next.
Which essential oils are the most dangerous to swallow?
Camphor, wintergreen, eucalyptus, tea tree, clove and pennyroyal all have documented serious harm in the sources above, and several of the reports involve young children. [1][12][11] Misuse of any essential oil can cause serious poisoning. [1]
Is a skin rash from an oil an emergency?
Poison Control says a rash is a reason to stop using the oil immediately and wash it off, and that any allergic reaction with difficulty breathing is a medical emergency. [1] If a rash persists, ask a pharmacist or clinician.
Who should I ask about oils and my medicines?
A pharmacist or your prescriber. Poison Control says essential oils may interact with medications. [1]
References
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA). Safety. Read 2026-10-23.
- Day LM et al. Aust N Z J Public Health. 1997. Eucalyptus oil poisoning among young children: mechanisms of access and the potential for prevention. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Flaman Z et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2001. Unintentional exposure of young children to camphor and eucalyptus oils. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Kaddu S et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2001. Accidental bullous phototoxic reactions to bergamot aromatherapy oil. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Pet Poison Helpline. Tea Tree Oil. Read 2026-10-23.
- Khine H et al. Pediatrics. 2009. A cluster of children with seizures caused by camphor poisoning. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Botma M et al. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2001. Laryngeal oedema caused by accidental ingestion of Oil of Wintergreen. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Davis JE. J Emerg Med. 2007. Are one or two dangerous? Methyl salicylate exposure in toddlers. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Tea Tree Oil. Read 2026-10-23.
- Janes SE et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2005. Essential oil poisoning: N-acetylcysteine for eugenol-induced hepatic failure and analysis of a national database. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- NIH LiverTox (NIDDK). Pennyroyal Oil. 2020 entry. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Welker JA, Zaloga GP. Chest. 1999. Pine oil ingestion: a common cause of poisoning. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Brook MP et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1989. Pine oil cleaner ingestion. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Geier J et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2022. Contact sensitization to essential oils: IVDK data of the years 2010-2019. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Aromatherapy. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Peppermint Oil. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency (EMA). Menthae piperitae aetheroleum - herbal medicinal product. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency (EMA). Eucalypti aetheroleum - herbal medicinal product. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Essential Oils. Last reviewed March 19, 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- Dosoky NS et al., review. Maternal Reproductive Toxicity of Some Essential Oils and Their Constituents. 2021 (PMC). Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Lavender. Read 2026-10-23.
- European Medicines Agency (EMA), HMPC. Community herbal monograph on Juniperus communis L., aetheroleum (EMA/HMPC/12402/2010). 2011. Read 2026-10-23.
- Steinemann A. Air Qual Atmos Health. 2018. Fragranced consumer products: effects on asthmatics. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.
- Chan TY. Hum Exp Toxicol. 1996. Potential dangers from topical preparations containing methyl salicylate. (abstract read via PubMed). Read 2026-10-23.