Table of Contents
Updated November 2026
Kid safe essential oils are mild oils that can be used with children when they're diluted for their age or diffused for short periods. For kids 2 to 4, I use only six starter oils at 0.5%: lavender, Roman chamomile, sweet orange, tangerine or mandarin, cedarwood, and frankincense. Kids 5 to 11 can use a wider list of kid-friendly oils at 0.5 to 1%. I don't use any essential oils with babies under 2, including diffusing.
Below you'll find the six starter oils, five more favorites for older kids, a kids' dilution chart, my full list of 50 kid safe essential oils, and easy combinations. Jump to the list of 50 oils.
Kids and essential oils: my ground rules
• Under 2: no essential oils at all, including diffusing. Use hydrosols, carrier oils, and butters instead.
• Ages 2 to 4: the six starter oils only, at 0.5%, after checking with your pediatrician.
• Ages 5 to 11: kid-friendly oils from the list below, at 0.5 to 1%.
• Oils with their own ages: peppermint is for 6 and up; rosemary, eucalyptus radiata or globulus, spike lavender, and other oils high in 1,8-cineole are for 10 and up; and clove and cinnamon are for 12 and up.
• Age limits apply to diffusing, inhalers, and shower drops too.
• Keep every bottle out of reach, and never let children swallow essential oils.
These 50 are the oils I recommend parents start with. Other oils can be fine for kids too, and my list of 150 essential oils shows the minimum age for every oil I cover.
How I Chose These Oils
There's no single official kid-safe list. Robert Tisserand advises keeping oils high in 1,8-cineole and menthol, like eucalyptus and peppermint, off and away from children's faces. Aromahead keeps skin use for ages 2 to 4 at very low dilutions (0.25 to 0.5%) and uses about 1% for ages 5 to 10, and NAHA advises special caution with children under 10. Where experts differ, I follow the more cautious advice, and I always suggest checking with your pediatrician first.
This post is for education, not medical advice.
Are Essential Oils Safe for Children?
Some essential oils can be used safely with children, and some should be avoided. Children have smaller bodies, thinner and more sensitive skin, and airways that are more easily irritated, so they need milder oils and lower dilutions than adults.
The oils on this list are ones I'm comfortable using with children, used the right way for their age. Every child is different, so start slowly, patch test, and stop using any oil that seems to bother your child. Kids love the fun of aromatherapy too, and it can be a nice part of back-to-school routines.
The 6 Starter Oils for Kids 2 and Up
These are the only oils I use with kids ages 2 to 4, at 0.5% on skin, after checking with your pediatrician. They're also lovely for older kids and adults.
1. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender is my number one oil for kids. Its soft, calming floral scent is a natural fit for bedtime routines and quiet time. Diffuse it in the bedroom before sleep, or add it to a body oil at the right dilution for your child's age.
2. Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
Roman chamomile has a sweet, apple-like scent, and a little goes a long way. It pairs beautifully with lavender for a calming bedtime blend.
3. Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis)
Kids love the happy, sweet scent of orange. It's a cheerful everyday diffuser oil for playrooms and homework time. Sweet orange isn't known to make skin sun-sensitive. Read more about citrus essential oils.
4. Tangerine or Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)
Tangerine and mandarin have a sweet, soft citrus scent that's a little mellower than orange. Like sweet orange, they aren't sun-sensitive.
5. Cedarwood, Virginian or Atlas (Juniperus virginiana or Cedrus atlantica)
Cedarwood has a warm, woody, comforting scent that's relaxing at bedtime. It's one of my favorites for kids' bedtime blends. Virginian is my pick, since Atlas cedar is endangered in the wild. Read more about cedarwood essential oil for sleep.
6. Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
Frankincense has a sweet, earthy, resinous scent that feels calm and grounding. Try it with lavender or Roman chamomile at bedtime. Look for Boswellia carterii on the label so you know which frankincense you're buying. For children, follow the kids' dilutions below.
5 More Favorites for Kids 5 to 11
These oils are lovely for school-age kids at 0.5 to 1%.
German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
German chamomile is deep blue and has a sweet, herbaceous scent. It's a nice addition to skin care, and I like it in a diluted body oil or a bath for dry skin. Learn more in my German chamomile spotlight.
Sandalwood (Australian, Hawaiian, or East Indian)
Sandalwood has a soft, warm, woody scent that feels calming. It's lovely after a bad dream or a big day. The types share a similar scent and can be used interchangeably, and East Indian sandalwood has been over-harvested, so look for sustainably sourced oil. Try one of my sandalwood diffuser blends.
Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides)
Vetiver has a deep, earthy, smoky scent that feels grounding and settling. It's thick and strong, so 1 drop in a blend is plenty. Diffusing vetiver with lavender or orange makes a lovely wind-down blend.
Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Spearmint is the kid-friendly mint. It's sweeter and softer than peppermint, which I don't use with children under 6. Its fresh, wake-up scent is nice for homework time. Read all about spearmint essential oil.
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Tea tree has a fresh, earthy scent, and I use it most in kid-friendly cleaners and for freshening sports gear. Use fresh oil, since older tea tree is more likely to irritate skin, and keep it away from cats. See my tea tree essential oil guide.
What About Eucalyptus for Kids?
Most eucalyptus oils, like Eucalyptus radiata and Eucalyptus globulus, are high in 1,8-cineole. Cineole-rich oils can be too strong for young children's breathing, so I don't use those around kids under 10. The same goes for rosemary and other cineole-rich oils like cajeput and niaouli.
Lemon eucalyptus (Corymbia citriodora) is different. It contains very little 1,8-cineole, so it's on my kid-friendly list for ages 5 and up. Always check the botanical name on the label, because "eucalyptus" alone usually means radiata or globulus.
How to Use Essential Oils Safely with Children
Always Dilute for Skin
Never apply undiluted essential oils to a child's skin. Mix them into a carrier oil like jojoba or fractionated coconut oil, using the dilution for your child's age.
| Carrier oil | Ages 2 to 4 (0.5%, starter oils) | Ages 5 to 11 (0.5 to 1%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 ml roller bottle | 1 drop | 1 to 2 drops |
| 1 tablespoon (15 ml) | 1 to 2 drops | 2 to 3 drops |
| 1 oz (30 ml) | 3 drops | 3 to 6 drops |
| 2 oz (60 ml) | 6 drops | 6 to 12 drops |
Label each blend with your child's name and the dilution. For more sizes, see my dilution chart.
Bath Time
Never add undiluted essential oils to bath water. Oil and water don't mix, so the drops float on top and can land on your child's skin full strength. Stir 1 to 2 drops into a tablespoon of unscented castile soap first, then add it to the bath. Carrier oil alone won't spread the oil through the water. Stay with little ones in the tub, since soap makes it slick.
Diffuse Safely
Diffusing is one of the easiest ways for kids to enjoy aromatherapy. Use the low end of the drop range, keep sessions short, and leave a door open. Keep the diffuser out of reach and away from your child's face. Here's more on how long to diffuse essential oils.
Aroma Jars and Inhalers
Aroma jars are a fun alternative to a diffuser for kids 5 and up. Fill a small jar with cotton balls, add a few drops of a kid-friendly oil, and close the lid. When your child wants a scent break, they open the jar, take a few breaths, and close it again. Kids love making their own with your supervision. You can do the same with essential oil inhalers, using half the adult drops (5 to 6) and a name on each one so it isn't shared.
Keep Oils Away From
- Eyes, the inside of the nose and ears, the mouth, and other sensitive areas.
- Little hands. Store every bottle out of reach, ideally up high or locked. Swallowing even a small amount of essential oil can be dangerous for a child. If it happens, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
- Pets. Diffuse with a door open so pets can leave, and take extra care with cats and birds.
Do a Skin Patch Test
Before using a new oil on a larger area of your child's skin, do a patch test on the inner forearm and check the spot over 24 to 48 hours. Stop using any oil that causes redness, itching, a headache, nausea, or breathing trouble.
Watch for Sun-Sensitive Citrus
Some cold-pressed citrus oils, like lemon, lime, and grapefruit, can make skin sensitive to the sun. Keep them in the diffuser, or use them on skin only under their sun-safe limits (lime 0.7%, lemon 2%, grapefruit 4%). Learn more about photosensitive essential oils.
Use Fresh Oils
Citrus, pine, fir, spruce, tea tree, frankincense, and black pepper oils oxidize faster than most, and old oils are more likely to irritate skin. Here's how to tell if essential oils have expired.
50 Kid Safe Essential Oils List
These oils are kid-friendly for ages 5 to 11 when diffused or diluted to 0.5 to 1% for skin. Oils marked with ★ are the six starter oils, which are also for ages 2 to 4 at 0.5%. Every child is different, so stop using any oil that causes a reaction. Oils marked with a sun note can make skin sun-sensitive.
- Amyris (Amyris balsamifera): soft, woody, and relaxing.
- Bergamot FCF (Citrus bergamia): bright and cheerful citrus; the "FCF" version is made to be sun-safe. Regular bergamot is sun-sensitizing.
- Bergamot Mint (Mentha citrata): soft, floral mint with a calm, easy scent. Not the same as peppermint.
- Black Pepper (Piper nigrum): warm and spicy; a nice accent in cozy blends.
- Black Spruce (Picea mariana): fresh and grounding, like a walk in the forest.
- Blue Cypress (Callitris intratropica): woody, slightly sweet, and grounding.
- Cedarwood, Texas or Himalayan (Juniperus mexicana, sometimes J. ashei, or Cedrus deodara): warm and woody; a bedtime favorite.
- ★ Cedarwood, Virginian or Atlas (Juniperus virginiana or Cedrus atlantica): soft and woody; a starter oil for bedtime blends. Choose Virginian if you're buying new, since Atlas cedar is endangered.
- Chamomile, German (Matricaria chamomilla): sweet and herbal; a nice addition to skin care.
- ★ Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile): sweet and apple-like; a calming bedtime scent.
- Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum, leaf): fresh, green, and herbal.
- Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus or C. winterianus): fresh, lemony, and grassy; popular for outdoor time. Can irritate skin, so keep it at 1% or less and patch test. It's not a bug repellent on its own.
- Clementine (Citrus clementina): sweet, juicy, and mood-lifting.
- Copaiba (Copaifera officinalis): soft, woody, balsamic, and relaxing.
- Coriander (Coriandrum sativum, seed): sweet, spicy, and calming.
- Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens): fresh, clean, and woody.
- Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii): bright, sweet, and refreshing forest scent.
- Eucalyptus, Lemon (Corymbia citriodora): fresh and lemony; very low in 1,8-cineole, unlike most eucalyptus.
- Fir Balsam (Abies balsamea): sweet, woodsy, holiday scent.
- ★ Frankincense (Boswellia carterii): warm, resinous, calm, and grounding.
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens): rosy and green; a nice addition to skin care.
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale): warm and spicy; cozy in blends.
- Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi): bright, juicy, and uplifting. Sun note: cold-pressed grapefruit can be sun-sensitizing above 4%.
- Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum): warm and honey-herbal; a nice addition to skin care.
- Ho Wood (Cinnamomum camphora ct. linalool): soft, floral, woody, and relaxing. Only the linalool chemotype is kid-friendly. Camphor-type oil from this plant is not.
- Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis): fresh, woody, and slightly fruity.
- ★ Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): soft and floral; a calming scent for bedtime routines.
- Lemon (Citrus limon): bright and clean; kids love it. Sun note: cold-pressed lemon is sun-sensitizing.
- Lime (Citrus aurantifolia): zesty citrus; great for freshening the air. Sun note: cold-pressed lime is sun-sensitizing. Steam-distilled lime isn't.
- ★ Mandarin (Citrus reticulata): sweet, soft, and calming citrus.
- Neroli (Citrus aurantium, flower): sweet, honeyed, and soothing floral.
- ★ Orange (Citrus sinensis): sweet, cheerful citrus; a kid favorite.
- Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii): sweet, rosy, and grassy; a nice addition to skin care.
- Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin): rich, earthy, and grounding.
- Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium, leaf): fresh, green, and floral; a balanced, easygoing scent.
- Pine (Pinus sylvestris): crisp and refreshing forest scent. Use fresh oil.
- Pink Pepper (Schinus molle): light, spicy, and fruity.
- Rose (Rosa × centifolia or Rosa damascena): rich, floral, and comforting. Rose absolute works too.
- Rose Geranium (Pelargonium roseum): sweet, rosy, and balancing.
- Sandalwood (Australian, Hawaiian, or East Indian): soft, creamy, and woody; a calming bedtime scent.
- Siberian Fir (Abies sibirica): fresh, sweet, and woodsy; lovely in winter blends.
- Spearmint (Mentha spicata): sweet, soft mint; the kid-friendly mint.
- Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana): warm, herbal, and relaxing.
- ★ Tangerine (Citrus reticulata): sweet, tangy, calm, and cheerful.
- Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia): fresh and earthy; great in kid-friendly cleaners. Use fresh oil and keep away from cats.
- Thyme ct. linalool (Thymus vulgaris ct. linalool): sweet, soft, and herbal. Check the label for "ct. linalool," since other thyme types are hot oils for 12 and up.
- Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia): sweet, warm, creamy scent kids love. It's usually sold as a CO2 extract or absolute, and a little goes a long way.
- Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides): deep, earthy, smoky, and grounding.
- Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata): rich, sweet, and relaxing floral. Very strong, so 1 drop is plenty.
- Yuzu (Citrus junos): bright, tart, and uplifting citrus.
7 Kid Friendly Essential Oil Combinations
Here are some of my favorite two-oil combinations for kids. Use them in the diffuser, an aroma jar, or an inhaler, or on skin at the dilution for your child's age. For more ideas, see my favorite essential oil combinations.
- Sweet Dreams: lavender and cedarwood (ages 2+)
- Calm and Cozy: frankincense and Roman chamomile (ages 2+)
- Forest Sunshine: black spruce and bergamot FCF (ages 5+)
- Smile: lemon and orange (ages 5+; diffuser only, since lemon is sun-sensitizing)
- Warm Hug: tangerine and ginger (ages 5+)
- Focused Mind: spearmint and orange (ages 5+)
- Spark Imagination: sweet orange and vetiver (ages 5+)
With supervision, let your child choose which oils to combine. It's a fun way to learn what scents they love.
A Few Safety Basics
• Keep essential oils away from babies under 2, including diffusing in a room they're in.
• Always dilute oils before they touch skin, and patch test a new blend on the inner forearm for 24 to 48 hours.
• Kids 2 to 4 use only six starter oils at 0.5%, after checking with your pediatrician. Kids 5 to 11 stay at 0.5 to 1%, and their inhalers use half the drops.
• Diffuse for 30 to 60 minutes with a door open so pets can leave the room, and never put oils on pets. Cats are especially sensitive to citrus oils.
• Never swallow essential oils. If someone does, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
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More Posts for Families
- List of 150 Essential Oils A to Z, with Ages
- Essential Oils for Pregnancy: Safe List and Oils to Avoid
- 5 Essential Oil Blends for Back to School
- Essential Oils for Beginners
- 7 Essential Oil Safety Tips
- Diluting Essential Oils Guide with Dilution Chart
- Lavender Diffuser Blends and Essential Oil Guide
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