Peppermint Oil Safety: Children, Pets and Menthol
What health agencies and poison experts say about peppermint oil, the menthol in it, and young children, pets, skin reactions and allergy, with the gaps in the evidence stated plainly.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Supplements can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read mushroom safety and interactions before you use any mushroom product.
Safety first. Peppermint oil should not be applied to the face of an infant or young child, because serious side effects may occur if they inhale the menthol in it. [1] If a child or pet may have swallowed an essential oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If someone has collapsed, had a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911. For animals, see Pet and animal poisoning, because animal poison lines are separate.
Children and babies: what NCCIH says
NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH, page last updated May 2025) says menthol should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child because it may negatively affect their breathing. [1] The same page advises that peppermint oil applied to the breast area of a breastfeeding mother should be used only after feeding and wiped off before the next feeding. [1]Poison Control, a US poison center resource, adds that children have thin skin and immature livers, which might make them more susceptible to toxic effects than adults. [2] It also advises keeping essential oils locked up, out of sight and out of reach of children and pets. [2]
Menthol is not the same as camphor or eucalyptus oil
A published review by Kolassa (2013) notes that the European Medicines Agency had concluded there was a risk of neurological problems, especially convulsions, in infants and small children from suppositories containing terpene compounds such as camphor, eucalyptol, thujone and menthol. [3] The author argued that the compounds differ: convulsions follow camphor, thujone and eucalyptus oil overdose, whereas no convulsions have been reported in cases of menthol overdose or poisoning. [3] This is one author's argument in a review, not a statement that menthol is safe for children, and it does not change the NCCIH advice about the face and breathing above. See Camphor oil dangers for the oil that poison centers single out for seizures.Skin reactions and allergy
NCCIH lists skin rashes and irritation as possible side effects of peppermint oil applied to skin, and says allergic reactions can occur rarely. [1] In a large patch-testing study of people sent to contact-dermatitis clinics, 0.9% of North American patients reacted to Mentha piperita tested at 2% in petrolatum. [4] That group is not a sample of the general public, so it does not give the chance of a reaction for an average person. Poison Control says to stop using an essential oil and gently wash it off if a rash or other skin reaction occurs. [2] More on reactions: Essential oil skin reactions.Pets
| Question | What the sources we read say | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Are mint plants a risk to dogs and cats? | The ASPCA lists garden mint (Mentha sp.) as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, with essential oils as the toxic principle and vomiting and diarrhea with large ingestions. [5] | Poison-center listing, plant not oil |
| Is peppermint oil itself, or a diffuser, safe around cats and dogs? | Not described in the sources we read. We looked for a dedicated Pet Poison Helpline page on peppermint oil and did not find one. | Proper evidence not found |
| Do other essential oils harm pets? | A study of poison-center records found dogs and cats had significant adverse effects from plant-based flea products made of essential-oil mixtures, even when used as labeled. [6] | Case records, mixed oils |
Because the pet evidence for peppermint oil specifically is thin, the safest reading is caution: ask a veterinarian before putting any essential oil on or near an animal. See Essential oils and pets.
Who should ask a clinician first
- Parents of babies and young children, before using any menthol-containing product near the face.
- Anyone who takes medicines: NCCIH says some herbs and medicines interact in harmful ways, so talk with a health care provider first. [1] See medication interactions.
- People who are pregnant or breastfeeding. NCCIH says oral peppermint in food amounts is likely safe, but little is known about medicinal amounts. [1] See pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions
Is peppermint oil safe for babies and young children?
NCCIH says peppermint oil should not be applied to the face of infants or young children because serious side effects may occur if they inhale the menthol. [1] Ask a pediatric clinician about any product that contains menthol.
Can menthol make a child stop breathing?
NCCIH says menthol inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child may negatively affect their breathing. [1] The sources we read do not give a rate for how often this happens.
Is peppermint oil safe for cats and dogs?
Proper evidence not found for peppermint oil specifically in the sources we read. The ASPCA lists mint plants as toxic to dogs and cats. [5] Ask a veterinarian before using any essential oil around animals.
Can peppermint oil cause an allergic rash?
Yes, it can. NCCIH lists skin rashes and irritation, and rare allergic reactions. [1] Poison Control advises stopping use and gently washing the oil off if a rash appears. [2]
What should I do if a child swallows peppermint oil?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US, or use the online tool. [2] Call 911 for collapse, seizure or trouble breathing. See Poisoning: what to do first.
References
- Peppermint Oil (NCCIH, last updated May 2025). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/peppermint-oil. Read 2026-10-23.
- Essential oils: Poisonous when misused (Poison Control). https://www.poison.org/articles/essential-oils. Read 2026-10-23.
- Kolassa N. Menthol differs from other terpenic essential oil constituents. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2013;65(1):115-118. PubMed 23207345. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Warshaw EM et al. Positive patch-test reactions to essential oils in consecutive patients from North America and Central Europe. Dermatitis. 2017;28(4):246-252. PubMed 28614106. Abstract read 2026-10-23.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Mint (ASPCA). https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/mint. Read 2026-10-23.
- Genovese AG, McLean MK, Khan SA. Adverse reactions from essential oil-containing natural flea products exempted from EPA regulations in dogs and cats. J Vet Emerg Crit Care. 2012;22(4):470-475. PubMed 22805458. Abstract read 2026-10-23.