Essential oils are increasingly popular and used for their numerous aromatic, cosmetic and even therapeutic properties. Concentrated in active molecules, they are far from being innocuous and can in certain cases provoke undesirable reactions, notably allergies.
This phenomenon remains little known to the general public, who tend to minimize the risks associated with the use of essential oils. However, it is essential to be well informed about their potential side effects in order to use them with complete peace of mind and without danger.
Whether you are a professional who uses essential oils in your products or an individual, this article aims to provide you with all the keys to understand, identify and prevent allergies to essential oils. Complete information, expert advice and essential precautions: everything you need to know to tame these powerful natural products with confidence.
Here are the 3 main takeaways from this article on allergies to essential oils:
In summary, allergies to essential oils are a reality that must be kept in mind in order to use them safely. Carefully choosing your oils, testing your tolerance beforehand and respecting the rules of good use allows you to benefit from their advantages while limiting the risks of undesirable reactions.
An allergy is an excessive and inappropriate reaction of the immune system to a normally harmless foreign substance, called an allergen. In most people, these substances do not cause a reaction. But in allergic people, the immune system mistakenly identifies the allergen as a threat and triggers a response to defend against it.
Upon first contact with the allergen, the body produces specific antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies attach to certain immune cells, mast cells and basophils. During subsequent exposures, the allergen is recognized by the IgE, which activates the mast cells and basophils. These cells then release inflammatory substances such as histamine, responsible for the symptoms of the allergy.
This hypersensitivity reaction can manifest itself through various symptoms depending on the organ affected:
Allergens can be of very varied nature:
Certain chemical substances present in essential oils can also be allergens in sensitive people and trigger skin or respiratory reactions. This is notably the case for terpenes (limonene, linalool), aldehydes or certain alcohols.
In summary, an allergy is an exaggerated and specific immune response of the body to a foreign substance. It involves the production of particular antibodies, IgE, which trigger an inflammatory reaction responsible for various symptoms. Many natural or chemical substances can be allergens, including some components of essential oils.
Although 100% natural in origin, essential oils are far from harmless. They contain a multitude of complex biochemical molecules, some of which are known for their allergenic potential.
Among the chemical families most often implicated, we find:
These molecules are not dangerous per se but can, even at low doses, trigger an excessive reaction of the immune system in predisposed people. The risk of sensitisation depends on several factors such as each person's atopic background, the concentration of allergens in the essential oil and the route of administration, with the skin being the most exposed.
While it is difficult to have precise figures, allergies to essential oils are far from anecdotal. It is estimated that about 1 to 3% of the general population is affected by a contact allergy to these substances.
But this risk is higher in certain categories:
A study conducted in 2010 on more than 1500 patients consulting in dermatology showed that 1.1% of them had an allergy to at least one essential oil, with linalool being the most frequent allergen. Among aromatherapists, this figure rises to nearly 10%.
With the growing enthusiasm for essential oils, both in the domestic sphere and in cosmetics, cases of allergies are likely to increase in the coming years. Hence the importance of clear information on the potential risks and precautions for use of these highly concentrated substances.
Although all essential oils can potentially cause allergic reactions, some are considered more at risk due to their composition rich in allergenic molecules.
Citrus zest essential oils such as Lemon (Citrus limon), Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis), Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) or Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) contain high amounts of limonene, a highly allergenic terpene. Fine Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil is also rich in linalool, an allergenic terpene alcohol.
Cinnamon bark (Cinnamomum verum) essential oil contains up to 75% cinnamaldehyde, an extremely irritating and allergenic aromatic aldehyde for the skin.
Other essential oils such as Cumin (Cumimum cyminum) or Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) are also to be monitored for their aldehyde content.
Among the essential oils known to be allergenic, we can also mention:
Conversely, some essential oils are considered to be little or not allergenic, such as Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), Italian Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum), Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora) or Niaouli (Melaleuca quinquinervia). They constitute good alternatives for people with sensitive skin or an allergic background.
An allergy to essential oils can manifest itself in different ways depending on the mode of exposure (cutaneous, respiratory, oral...) and the sensitivity of the person.
On the skin, the most frequent symptoms are:
These skin reactions usually appear within hours of applying the essential oil.
Inhaling essential oil vapors can also trigger respiratory symptoms in allergic or asthmatic people:
If you experience symptoms after using an essential oil, it is recommended to:
The best way to avoid the inconvenience of allergies is to take a few precautions before using an essential oil.
Favour essential oils that are:
Landema.com proves to be a supplier of choice: Landema essential oils are pure and authentic, largely certified organic, COSMOS or FFL and we guarantee their origin and quality.
Before using an essential oil for the first time, it is essential to perform a skin tolerance test:
To reduce the risk of allergy, strictly follow the recommendations:
Increased vigilance is necessary for certain more vulnerable populations:
In these cases, it is preferable to seek the advice of a doctor or aromatherapist before use.
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Since 2009, European regulation EC 1223/2009 requires cosmetic product manufacturers to mention on labels the possible presence of 26 allergens in their products, including 12 that are present in essential oils:
Since July 26, 2023, this regulation has been amended by regulation EC 2023/1545, and the list of allergens to be labeled has been increased to 82. It should be noted that it includes not only molecules but also essential oils such as Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata), Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) and Peppermint (Mentha x piperita).
In most cases, essential oil suppliers provide an Allergen Certificate. At Landema.com, this certificate can be directly downloaded from the product sheets as soon as you are logged into your customer account. To create your customer account now, go to https://landema.com/register
In the food products sector, there is also since 2011 a requirement to label 14 allergens (INCO regulation 1169/2011), but essential oils are not part of it.
For cosmetic products, these allergens must be labeled as soon as their concentration exceeds a certain threshold, set at 0.001% in leave-on products and 0.01% in rinse-off products.
The IFRA (International Fragrance Association), which plays an important role in the perfume industry, sets in its Code of Practice maximum concentrations not to be exceeded for certain allergenic components of essential oils. For example:
As for the use of essential oils as food flavorings, the usage dose is set at a maximum of 2%.
However, some exceptions exist, such as for essential oils naturally present in food products.
These regulations allow consumers to be better informed about the composition of products and to more easily identify the possible presence of allergens. They can thus make informed choices, by avoiding products containing substances to which they are allergic.
Essential oils are powerful natural products that deserve to be used with caution and discernment. Although rare, allergies represent a risk that should not be neglected, especially since their symptoms can be disabling.
By being well informed about the risks of allergy, by choosing quality essential oils, by testing your tolerance beforehand and by respecting the advice for use, it is quite possible to serenely enjoy the virtues of essential oils without danger, whether for professional or personal use.
By following the advice given in this article, you will have all the keys to tame essential oils with complete peace of mind:
Do not hesitate to seek advice from your doctor, your aromatherapist or Landema.com if in doubt.
Thus informed, you can fully enjoy the countless benefits of essential oils, without fearing possible inconveniences related to allergies. A serene use, with full knowledge of the facts!
To learn more about the subject, you can consult these reference sites: