The simplistic answer is, in the wrong hands, ‘no’.
Yes, essential oils are good for treating a variety of conditions and provide wonderful fragrances for home and body products. Should these be used by inexperienced people without the correct knowledge and qualifications to say that this is absolutely 100% safe? Absolutely not.
Contrary to popular misconceptions, not all things ‘natural’ are safe to use in cosmetics or other products, and this goes for essential oils too. Plus, what is safe for a human may not be safe for an animal.
Having studied aromatherapy myself, I know that the human body and animals’ bodies are different. Yes, there may be similarities, but would you give your baby the same food as an adult? No, and they’re the same species. Cats, dogs, birds and other small furries have different respiratory systems to ours. Rabbits for example have extremely sensitive respiratory systems. The diffuser units on sale that disperse minute particles in a mist form into the air can cause problems for animals particularly. Dogs have many, many times the sense of smell as humans do. Just because we treat them as human does not mean that they are.
Though there are some essential oils that are said to be safe to be applied directly to skin, such as lavender and tea tree, (though it is not recommended you do so as you can become sensitised to them and this can cause problems with dermatitis etc), most are not. They all have various and different properties that can aid various ailments. For example, an oil may have antispasmodic properties, and so could be useful in a blend for a soothing gel for someone suffering from stomach cramps, but the same oil may have serious contraindications that make it extremely dangerous if it is not used correctly.
Any essential oil should be used with caution, whether it’s in room fragrances such as diffusers or candles and wax melts, or in products that go directly onto your skin. For some animals, just inhaling a product with essential oils can cause illness, so having scented products around the house or in cleaning solutions can be hazardous.
Anyone thinking of buying anything for their pet such as a shampoo etc from a friend or neighbour down the road who makes wax melts or sells the odd pet product or diffuser (in fact anything containing essential oils or fragrance oils come to that), please stop and think! If a neighbour gave your baby an onion to eat and said it would be okay, would you let your baby eat it? Of course not. Do you see where I’m going with this? Many essential oils have ‘contraindications’, that is, circumstances when they should not be used or should be used in a certain manner depending on the oil chosen.
It worries me that more and more people are using essential oils (particularly hobbyists who make their own products and often sell them without compliance and without following the legalities), without understanding the contraindications of the oils they are using, or how to use them safely.
For example, Wintergreen can be used safely in a variety of ways (but should only be used by a competent, experienced, qualified aromatherapist/herbalist.) Wintergreen, like other essential oils, has contraindications – one being that it must not be used on individuals who are on anti-coagulant medication or who are about to have surgery. It can cause internal haemorraging and people who suffer from haemophilia should avoid it altogether. It is also advised that children under 12 are best to avoid it. It can even kill small children if they were to ingest even a small amount either orally or through the skin. So, you see, while it can be used in a very useful manner by someone who is educated in its correct use, it can be deadly to someone who isn’t aware of its contraindications. It is for this reason that it is unsafe for use by the general public/hobbyists.
The trouble is, you don’t know what you don’t know. Someone making perfectly nice smelling products can often be blissfully unaware of the severe and sometimes deadly consequences of the oils they are using. They think that because they’re natural, and are currently popular in use, then they must be okay to use, or think it will be okay as it’s only a candle. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Although there are many legal hoops to jump through, and it may not seem important at the time when buying that lovely smelling fragrance from your local car boot or from a cheap seller online, it is.
The rules and regulations are there to keep you, the customer (and your pets!) safe, but it is imperative that you help yourself. So next time you are thinking of buying something for the home, or something to go on your skin ask, are they compliant? If the seller doesn’t know what you’re talking about, buy from someone else, for your own sake.