Explore Essential Oils
A directory of commonly searched essential oils with their botanical names, and which ones have a guide on this site. Oils without a guide are listed but not linked.
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.
This directory lists commonly searched essential oils and their botanical names. Names were checked against the GBIF taxonomy on 2026-10-22, and a few are marked where sources disagree. [1] A linked oil has a written, sourced guide. An oil without a link does not have one yet, and we do not publish thin placeholder pages.
Every oil here can irritate skin or cause allergic reactions, and none should be swallowed. Read Essential oil safety first.
How the list is organized
Oils are grouped by how people search for them, not by medical effect. The first group holds the six oils with the most search interest in our keyword research. A group such as "Spice & Strong Oils" is flagged because these oils are strong irritants, but a missing warning for another oil is not evidence it is safe.Evidence snapshot
Counts of PubMed records that mention each oil's plant or product. A count shows how much has been published, not whether an oil works.| Oil or topic | Records tagged as randomized controlled trials | Records tagged as any clinical trial | All PubMed records that mention it | Check it yourself |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tea tree oil (Melaleuca) | 62 | 82 | 1,540 | PubMed search |
| Peppermint oil | 69 | 82 | 1,596 | PubMed search |
| Lavender | 289 | 330 | 3,029 | PubMed search |
| Eucalyptus | 44 | 64 | 6,881 | PubMed search |
| Rosemary | 75 | 89 | 3,635 | PubMed search |
| Frankincense / Boswellia | 87 | 101 | 1,358 | PubMed search |
| Aromatherapy | 381 | 435 | 2,300 | PubMed search |
| Essential oils (all) | 535 | 637 | 31,824 | PubMed search |
Counted 2026-10-22 using NCBI E-utilities. Counts include studies of extracts, blends and non-health topics, and a trial can find no effect. A higher count means more human research has been indexed, not that something works.
Names are in standard scientific form and were checked against NCBI Taxonomy and the GBIF checklist on October 22, 2026. Plain names show as links when a guide has been published, and as dashed labels when a guide is in preparation. Each mushroom has one guide, even when it appears in more than one group.
Most Searched Oils
The six oils people search for most.
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Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia): what it is, what NIH says about acne, athlete's foot and other uses, and why it must never be swallowed or used undiluted. Includes pet warnings.
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Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil (Mentha x piperita): what NIH says about IBS, nausea, headache and other uses, how it differs from peppermint tea, and why it should not be used near infants' faces.
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Lavender Oil
Lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia): what NIH says about anxiety, sleep, aromatherapy and skin use, side effects, and the hormone-related questions raised by NIEHS.
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Rosemary Oil
Salvia rosmarinus Spenn., formerly Rosmarinus officinalis L., which GBIF now lists as a synonym.
Guide in preparation
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Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus species, such as Eucalyptus globulus.
Guide in preparation
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Frankincense Oil
Boswellia species.
Guide in preparation
Citrus Oils
Pressed from fruit peel. Some citrus oils can make skin more sensitive to sun.
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Lemon Oil
Citrus limon.
Guide in preparation
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Orange Oil
Sweet orange, Citrus sinensis, which GBIF lists as a synonym of Citrus × aurantium.
Guide in preparation
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Bergamot Oil
Citrus bergamia. GBIF lists this name as a synonym, so taxonomy varies by source.
Guide in preparation
Floral & Herbal Oils
Oils from flowers and leafy herbs.
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Chamomile Oil
Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) and German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) are different plants.
Guide in preparation
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Geranium Oil
Pelargonium graveolens.
Guide in preparation
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Ylang Ylang Oil
Cananga odorata.
Guide in preparation
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Clary Sage Oil
Salvia sclarea.
Guide in preparation
Woody & Resin Oils
Oils from wood, bark and resin.
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Cedarwood Oil
Several species are sold under this name.
Guide in preparation
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Sandalwood Oil
Santalum album and related species.
Guide in preparation
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Myrrh Oil
Commiphora myrrha.
Guide in preparation
Spice & Strong Oils
Oils that are strong irritants. Extra caution applies.
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Cinnamon Oil
Cinnamomum species.
Guide in preparation
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Clove Oil
Syzygium aromaticum.
Guide in preparation
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Oregano Oil
Origanum vulgare.
Guide in preparation
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Thyme Oil
Thymus vulgaris.
Guide in preparation
About the PubMed counts: they come from a text search of PubMed (NCBI E-utilities) for the scientific and common names plus the "randomized controlled trial" publication type. They include studies of extracts, blends and non-health uses, and a trial can find no effect. A count shows how much human research has been indexed, not whether something works.
References
- GBIF Secretariat. GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Names checked 2026-10-22 through the GBIF species match service.