Diluting Essential Oils
When we begin using essential oils with our pets (or children, and even adults who are sensitive and perhaps unfamiliar). we want to begin using the oils with a carrier. A Carrier Oil is something like Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil and many others.
Many people call this a dilution. But I want to clarify and differentiate two important interpretations of dilution from my point of view.
Applying with a carrier:
When you put a drop of essential oil in your palm and mix with any amount of carrier and then begin to apply the essential oil to your dog (or baby, or self), you are still applying a full drop of essential oil to that body.
In this format, the carrier is helping you distribute the essential oil over a larger area vs just applying a drop in a single spot.
Carriers used this way also slow down the absorption and allow it to cover a broader surface area. It keeps the essential oil on the skin longer and because the molecule size of the essential oil is smaller than the molecule size of the carrier, it will slow down absorption & also help prevent the oils from “flashing” off the body into the atmosphere.
A True Dilution, ie a 1/2 drop or 1/4 drop of oil, however, is important for many…. especially if we are looking at smaller animals (think cats, puppies, birds, very small dogs, etc)
A true dilution a calculation or ratio of the # of drops of oil relative to the # of drops of the carrier.
Example:
1 Drop of Oil to 10 Drops of Carrier — is a 90% dilution
2 Drops of Oil to 8 Drops of Carrier is an 80% dilution
1 Drop of Oil to 3 Drops of Carrier is a 75% Dilution
1 Drop of Oil to 1 Drop of Carrier is a 50% Dilution
3 Drops Oil to 1 Drop of Carrier is a 25% Dilution
Sometimes — you’ll even see it suggested to dip a toothpick into an oil, and then use the toothpick to stir into a carrier — getting far less than 1 drop of essential oil.
In short — you are making a new mixture and then taking a drop of the new mixture. So you are getting less than 1 drop for the application.
There will be many times we suggest you use it neat, and certainly as you get more experience and your pet is more “oily” you’ll have a better awareness of tolerance for neat or whether dilution is appropriate in certain situations. I rarely dilute essential oils for some of the more "acute" uses -- ie first aid, but if I'm using for a more long-term application, less is often more.
Understand the difference in a true dilution to get a % of one drop of oil vs just using a carrier to distribute, hold on the skin, or ease the feel of a “hot” oil.
Read About Carrier Oil Options Here!