Steam-distilled from the leaves of Eucalyptus globulus, organically grown. 10 ml in dark glass. This is the bold, instantly recognisable eucalyptus — sharp, camphorous and herbal, with a soft woody base underneath.
Its character comes almost entirely from one molecule: 1,8-cineole, which makes up the large majority of the oil. That is what gives it the cutting, cooling quality — and it is also the reason for the warning below, which matters more than anything else on this page.
Please read this before using it around a child
Never apply eucalyptus oil — or any cineole-rich or menthol-rich oil — to the face, nose or chest of a baby or a young child. 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 happened with ordinary chest rubs and drops on a pillow.
The safe rule is simple: keep it away from young children entirely. Do not put it on them, do not put it near them, and do not diffuse it in a room where a baby is sleeping. If you want something for a child's room, ask us and we will point you at oils that are appropriate.
Asthma: strong aromatic vapours provoke bronchospasm in some people with asthma, and eucalyptus is one of the more common triggers. If you have asthma, be cautious with diffusion and stop if it tightens your chest.
What an essential oil may and may not claim
Eucalyptus globulus is almost always sold as "the classic choice for clear, easy breathing", with an invitation to "diffuse it to open up the air, especially through the cooler months". That wording does not appear here. Under EU law a cosmetic or aromatic product may not claim to prevent, treat or relieve a condition, and a claim about breathing is a medicinal claim however gently it is phrased. No health claim is authorised for any essential oil.
What is true is that eucalyptus smells clean, sharp and bracing, and that many people find that pleasant. That is what we are selling.
How to use it
-
Diffusion: a few drops in water in an ultrasonic diffuser, in a well-ventilated room, for twenty to thirty minutes at a time rather than continuously. Not around babies, young children, pregnant women or pets — cats in particular cannot metabolise many of these compounds.
-
On skin: always diluted. One to two per cent in a carrier oil for an adult — that is roughly 6 to 12 drops in 30 ml. Never neat.
-
Patch test on the inner forearm and wait 24 hours before using a new dilution.
-
Household: a few drops in a bowl of hot water for scent, or in a homemade surface spray.
Safety — the essentials
-
Never swallow essential oils without the direct supervision of a qualified health professional. They are extremely concentrated and eucalyptus in particular is toxic if ingested — small amounts have poisoned children.
- Keep out of the reach of children, in the original bottle with the child-resistant cap.
- Keep away from eyes. If it gets in, flush with a plain vegetable oil rather than water — oil dissolves oil.
- Avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding unless a health professional advises otherwise.
-
In case of swallowing or any accident, in Portugal call the CIAV poisons centre on 800 250 250 — free, 24 hours a day. In an emergency call 112.
Storage
Cool, dark, tightly closed, upright. Essential oils oxidise on contact with air, and oxidised oil is more likely to irritate skin than fresh oil. Keep the cap on properly and use it within a couple of years of opening.
Propos'Nature
Propos'Nature
Propos'Nature
Propos'Nature
