Steam-distilled from the leaves of Eucalyptus radiata, the narrow-leaved peppermint eucalypt. Crisp and clean, threaded with soft citrus and faintly floral notes — recognisably eucalyptus, and noticeably rounder and less harsh than the classic.
Radiata and globulus — the honest comparison
Both are cineole-type eucalypts and both are dominated by 1,8-cineole. The difference is in the supporting cast: radiata carries more alpha-terpineol and a lighter, sweeter top note, so it smells softer and is generally considered the gentler of the two.
Gentler is not the same as gentle, and the crucial warning applies to both.
Please read this before using it around a child
Never apply eucalyptus of any kind — or any cineole-rich or menthol-rich oil — to the face, nose or chest of a baby or a young child, and do not diffuse it where one is sleeping. In infants and small children these compounds can trigger laryngospasm, a sudden closing of the airway. Cases of serious breathing difficulty and respiratory arrest are documented, and they have followed ordinary chest rubs and drops on a pillow.
You will find radiata described online as "the one that is safe for children". It is not, and please do not treat it that way. If you want something for a child's room, ask us and we will point you at oils that are appropriate.
Asthma: strong aromatic vapour provokes bronchospasm in some people, and eucalyptus is a common trigger. Stop if it tightens your chest.
What an essential oil may and may not claim
Eucalyptus is almost always sold on the promise that it "supports a healthy respiratory system", "eases the discomfort of congestion", is "a welcome companion through the seasonal-sniffle months" and "helps clear the head and keep you focused". None of that appears here. Claims about the respiratory system, about congestion and about concentration are health claims, and none is authorised in the EU for any essential oil. A reference to seasonal sniffles is a reference to an illness, however lightly phrased.
What is true: it smells clean and bracing, and it is one of the pleasantest smells to have in a house in winter.
How to use it
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Diffusion: a few drops in a ventilated room, twenty to thirty minutes at a time rather than continuously. Not around babies, young children, pregnant women or pets — cats in particular.
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On skin: one to two per cent in a carrier oil (6–12 drops in 30 ml), adults only. Never neat. Patch test and wait 24 hours.
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Household: excellent in a vinegar-and-water surface spray, or a drop in the vacuum. Keep it off unsealed wood and painted surfaces.
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Blending: lovely with lemon, rosemary, lavender, pine, peppermint and cedarwood.
Safety — the essentials
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Never swallow essential oils without the direct supervision of a qualified health professional. Eucalyptus is genuinely toxic if ingested and small amounts have poisoned children.
- Keep out of reach of children, in the original bottle with the child-resistant cap.
- In eyes: flush with plain vegetable oil rather than water.
- Accident or swallowing: in Portugal call CIAV on 800 250 250 — free, 24 hours. In an emergency, 112.
Storage: cool, dark, tightly closed, upright. Oxidised oil irritates skin more than fresh oil.
Propos'Nature
Propos'Nature
Propos'Nature
