Table of Contents
Updated November 2026
When it comes to essential oils for pregnancy, I use only six oils for the first 16 weeks, and only in a diffuser or personal inhaler, after checking with your doctor or midwife: lavender, sweet orange, lemon, ginger, cedarwood (Virginian), and frankincense. After that, a wider list of oils can be used on skin at 0.5 to 1%.
Below you'll find my pregnancy guidelines at a glance, the six early-pregnancy oils, 25 oils for after 16 weeks, oils to avoid, breastfeeding tips, and 7 easy recipes. Jump to the oils to avoid or the recipes.
How I Chose These Oils
There's no single official list of essential oils for pregnancy, and sources don't always agree. I base mine on Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young's Essential Oil Safety, my Aromahead training, and NAHA's safety guidelines. Many sources say to wait until after the first trimester; I wait until 16 weeks to give a little extra margin. Where experts differ, I follow the more cautious advice, and I always suggest checking with your doctor or midwife first.
This post is for education, not medical advice.
Pregnancy at a Glance
| When | What I use | How |
|---|---|---|
| First 16 weeks | Six oils only: lavender, sweet orange, lemon, ginger, cedarwood (Virginian), and frankincense | Diffuser or personal inhaler only. No oils on skin. |
| After 16 weeks | The 25 oils below, skipping the avoid list | 0.5 to 1% on skin. Inhalers use half the adult drops (5 to 6). |
| Breastfeeding | The same oils, skipping the avoid list | 0.5 to 1% on skin, kept off the chest and breasts |
Need help with drops? See my dilution chart. For 0.5 to 1%, that's 1 to 2 drops in a 10 ml roller, or 3 to 6 drops in 1 oz of carrier oil.
The 6 Early-Pregnancy Oils
These are the only oils I use in the first 16 weeks, in a diffuser or personal inhaler.
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): soft and floral; a relaxing scent for bedtime.
- Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis): bright and juicy; a cheerful scent for mornings.
- Lemon (Citrus limon): clean and fresh. One small 2014 study found that inhaling lemon oil helped some pregnant women feel less queasy. It's promising, but not proven.
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale): warm and spicy. Many people like its warm scent on queasy days, though a 2018 Cochrane review found the evidence for aromatherapy and nausea weak.
- Cedarwood, Virginian (Juniperus virginiana): soft and woody; a grounding scent for winding down.
- Frankincense (Boswellia carterii): warm and resinous; lovely for quiet moments. Look for Boswellia carterii on the label so you know which frankincense you're buying.
25 Essential Oils for After 16 Weeks
After 16 weeks, these essential oils for pregnancy can be used on skin at 0.5 to 1% or diffused, after checking with your doctor or midwife. Oils marked with ★ are the six early-pregnancy oils, which are also fine in a diffuser or inhaler in the first 16 weeks. Everyone reacts differently, so patch test first and stop using any oil that bothers you.
- Bergamot FCF (Citrus bergamia): bright, sweet citrus with a floral edge; a cheerful scent for a heavy day. Use the FCF version on skin, since regular bergamot is sun-sensitizing.
- Black Pepper (Piper nigrum): warm and spicy; cozy in a massage oil for a tired back and legs.
- Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum): sweet, spicy, and fresh; lovely in a diffuser with citrus.
- ★ Cedarwood, Virginian (Juniperus virginiana): soft and woody; a grounding scent for winding down.
- Chamomile, German (Matricaria chamomilla): sweet and herbal; a nice addition to skin care for dry, stretched skin.
- Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile): sweet and apple-like; a calming scent for bedtime.
- Coriander Seed (Coriandrum sativum): sweet, spicy, and woody; pairs nicely with citrus.
- ★ Frankincense (Boswellia carterii): warm and resinous; lovely for quiet moments and in belly oils.
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens): rosy and green; makes skin care blends smell like a garden.
- ★ Ginger (Zingiber officinale): warm and spicy; cozy in a foot soak or massage oil.
- Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi): bright and juicy; an uplifting diffuser scent. Cold-pressed grapefruit can make skin sun-sensitive above 4%.
- ★ Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): soft and floral; a relaxing scent for bedtime and my go-to for pregnancy blends.
- ★ Lemon (Citrus limon): clean and fresh; a bright diffuser scent. Cold-pressed lemon can make skin sun-sensitive above 2%.
- Mandarin (Citrus reticulata): sweet and soft; a mellow citrus for skin and the diffuser.
- Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium): warm, honeyed, and herbal; a softer cousin of tea tree.
- Neroli (Citrus aurantium, flower): sweet and honeyed floral; a comforting scent for an emotional day.
- ★ Orange, Sweet (Citrus sinensis): bright and juicy; a cheerful scent for mornings.
- Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin): rich and earthy; a few drops ground a citrus or floral blend.
- Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium, leaf): fresh, green, and floral; a balanced, easygoing scent.
- Rose (Rosa damascena): rich and floral; a comforting scent, and a little goes a long way. Keep it at 0.6% or less on skin.
- Sandalwood (Santalum spicatum or Santalum album): soft, creamy, and woody; a calming scent for bedtime.
- Spearmint (Mentha spicata): sweet and fresh; a softer mint than peppermint, nice in a back rub.
- Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana): warm and herbal; relaxing in a foot soak or massage oil.
- Tangerine (Citrus reticulata): sweet and tangy; a happy, easy citrus.
- Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia): fresh and earthy; best known for homemade cleaners. Use fresh oil.
This isn't a closed list. Some oils not listed here may be fine, and an oil without an avoid tag isn't automatically safe in pregnancy, so check with your doctor or midwife. My list of 150 essential oils marks oil to avoid in pregnancy with 🤰.
Essential Oils to Avoid During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Skip these oils while you're pregnant or breastfeeding:
- Angelica root (Angelica archangelica)
- Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum)
- Basil, holy (tulsi) (Ocimum sanctum)
- Basil, methyl chavicol type (Ocimum basilicum)
- Birch, sweet (Betula lenta)
- Blue cypress (Callitris intratropica)
- Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)
- Carrot seed (Daucus carota)
- Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia)
- Celery seed (Apium graveolens)
- Cinnamon bark and leaf (Cinnamomum verum)
- Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)
- Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)
- Davana (Artemisia pallens)
- Fennel, sweet and bitter (Foeniculum vulgare)
- Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
- Lavender, spike (Lavandula latifolia)
- Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha)
- Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- Ravensara leaf (Ravensara aromatica)
- Rosemary, camphor type (Salvia rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis, ct. camphor)
- Sage, Dalmatian and Spanish (Salvia officinalis and Salvia lavandulifolia)
- Savory, summer and winter (Satureja hortensis and Satureja montana)
- Star anise (Illicium verum)
- Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
- Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
- Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus)
- Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Never use these oils at all: parsley seed or leaf (Petroselinum crispum), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), rue (Ruta graveolens), thuja (Thuja occidentalis), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), and tansy (Tanacetum vulgare).
Watch the chemotype: rosemary is fine after 16 weeks only in a bottle labeled ct. cineole or ct. verbenone, and basil only as ct. linalool. Skip bottles with no chemotype listed. For more, see the NAHA safety guidelines.
Essential Oils While Breastfeeding
- Keep all oils off the chest and breasts, and off any skin your baby's face may touch.
- Wash blends off your upper body before nursing.
- Keep skin blends at 0.5 to 1%, and skip the avoid list above.
- Some moms skip peppermint while nursing.
- Diffuse only in rooms your baby isn't in, since I don't use essential oils around babies under 2.
Essential Oil Recipes for Pregnancy
Only the first recipe is for the first 16 weeks. The rest are for after 16 weeks, once your doctor or midwife says it's okay.
No Worries Diffuser Blend
Diffuser · Ages 5+ · 6 drops per 100 to 200 ml
Soft lavender and bright citrus, made only with early-pregnancy oils.
- 2 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 2 drops sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
- 1 drop lemon (Citrus limon)
- 1 drop frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
New to diffusing? Here's how I use a diffuser.
No Worries Roller
Roller · Ages 5+ · 1%
The same cheerful pair, ready to roll onto your wrists.
- 1 drop sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
- 1 drop lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Jojoba oil (affiliate link) to fill a 10 ml roller.
Note: Save this one for after the first 16 weeks.
Back Rub Body Oil
Body oil · Ages 5+ · 1%
Fresh mint and warm marjoram for a slow back rub at the end of the day.
- 2 drops spearmint (Mentha spicata)
- 2 drops sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- 2 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 1 oz carrier oil
- 1 oz dropper bottle
Note: Save this one for after the first 16 weeks.
Frankincense Lavender Bath
Bath · Ages 5+ · 4 drops
A warm, resinous soak for when you need a quiet half hour.
- 2 drops frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- 2 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 1 Tbsp unscented castile soap
- ¼ cup Epsom salt
Directions: Stir the oils into the castile soap and pour it into the running bath. Then add the Epsom salt and swirl. Don't premix the soap and salt in a jar, since they react.
Note: Save this one for after the first 16 weeks. Keep the water warm, not hot, and take care getting in and out, since soap makes the tub slick.
Relaxing Shower Drops
Shower · Ages 5+ · 3 drops
Sweet chamomile and orange to fill a steamy shower.
- 2 drops German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 1 drop sweet orange (Citrus sinensis)
Directions: Put the drops on a clean washcloth and set it on a ledge, out of the water stream. Never put oils on the shower floor.
Note: Save this one for after the first 16 weeks.
Warm Foot Soak
Foot soak · Ages 5+ · 3 drops
Herbal and rosy, for feet that have been on the go all day.
- 2 drops sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- 1 drop geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- 1 tsp unscented castile soap
- 1 Tbsp Epsom salt
Directions: Stir the oils into the castile soap and swirl it into a basin of comfortably warm water. Then add the Epsom salt and soak for about 10 minutes.
Note: Save this one for after the first 16 weeks.
Growing Belly Oil
Body oil · Ages 5+ · 1%
Rich, nourishing oils for a growing belly, with a soft floral scent.
- 3 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- 2 drops frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- 1 drop geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- 1 Tbsp avocado oil
- 1 Tbsp rosehip oil
- 1 oz dropper bottle
Directions: Add everything to the bottle, cap, and shake. Smooth a little over your belly as often as you like.
Note: Save this one for after the first 16 weeks.
A Few Safety Basics
• Check with your doctor or midwife before using essential oils while pregnant or breastfeeding.
• First 16 weeks: only the six early-pregnancy oils, in a diffuser or inhaler. After that, skin blends stay at 0.5 to 1%, and inhalers use half the drops.
• Keep essential oils away from babies under 2, including diffusing in a room they're in.
• Patch test a new blend on your inner forearm for 24 to 48 hours.
• Never put oils on pets, and diffuse with a door open so they can leave. Cats are especially sensitive, including to tea tree, citrus, peppermint, eucalyptus, pine, wintergreen, cinnamon, clove, and ylang ylang.
• Never swallow essential oils. If someone does, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
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More for Moms and Families
- 50 Kid Safe Essential Oils List
- Diluting Essential Oils: Dilution Calculator and Chart
- Lavender Diffuser Blends and Essential Oil Guide
- Aromatherapy Massage Oils
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