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Before we get into the use of essential oils in our soaps, let's have a little chit-chat
about some of their uses and cautions.
There is a difference between essential oils and fragrance oils.
Essential oils are generally made from the distillation of the actual plant itself and are highly concentrated. Some of these essential oils can be quite pricey due to the quantity of the plant and/or its parts needed to make the essential oil. As an example, it takes approximately 60,000 rose petals to produce 1 ounce of pure rose essential oil.
Fragrance oils on the other hand are copied and synthetically produced. Some fragrance oils may or may not have any of the plant material as part of the process. Fragrance oils are a good substitute for obtaining the aromatic results you may be looking to achieve without the high cost. And when you consider that for the most part, the soap containing the fragrance oils sits on the skin for a short period of time, any of the benefits of the true essential oil goes down the drain with the beautiful bubbles.
However, there are certain precautions I do like to take. And here is one of them.
Pregnancy: Although some aroma-therapists argue that a more diluted mixture of EO (essential oil) and carrier oil is safe; I tend to error on the side of caution, and advise against a few EOs if you are pregnant. Especially in the first and second trimester.
The following list, includes, but is not limited to all of the herbs and essential oils that are classified as "EMMENAGOGUES" which are herbs that promote menstruation, usually causing it to occur either earlier or with increased menstrual flow when it is scanty. This means it can cause the fetus to abort in the early stages of pregnancy. You should also avoid the following herbs if you are considering pregnancy. This caution should also apply to large quantities of the herbs itself. When in doubt, consult your physician.
I have listed both the common name as well as the Latin name, as all herbs are not created equal. When working with these herbs and essential oils, look for the Latin name.
Please don't panic when you read some of these herbs. The caution is intended for large quantities. The amounts used in cooking is small in comparison. But again, consult your physician with any questions or concerns.
Vegetable Oils and Butters
Infused Oils
*These herbs are also classified as abortifacients: They may cause a pregnancy to end prematurely or causes a non-surgical abortion. During the first five weeks of pregnancy they act to block the action of progesterone so that the uterus sloughs off the embryo.
Abortifacients are strong, powerful herbs and should only be used for short periods of time. They are hard on certain body organs such as the liver and kidneys if used for prolonged periods of time.
Essential oils should never been taken internally. You know the drill! Consult your physician for advise.
Please feel free to copy this information. Although it took quite some time to accumulate it, I wish to educate people, especially women, on the uses of essential oils and herbs.
There is a difference between essential oils and fragrance oils.
Essential oils are generally made from the distillation of the actual plant itself and are highly concentrated. Some of these essential oils can be quite pricey due to the quantity of the plant and/or its parts needed to make the essential oil. As an example, it takes approximately 60,000 rose petals to produce 1 ounce of pure rose essential oil.
Fragrance oils on the other hand are copied and synthetically produced. Some fragrance oils may or may not have any of the plant material as part of the process. Fragrance oils are a good substitute for obtaining the aromatic results you may be looking to achieve without the high cost. And when you consider that for the most part, the soap containing the fragrance oils sits on the skin for a short period of time, any of the benefits of the true essential oil goes down the drain with the beautiful bubbles.
However, there are certain precautions I do like to take. And here is one of them.
Pregnancy: Although some aroma-therapists argue that a more diluted mixture of EO (essential oil) and carrier oil is safe; I tend to error on the side of caution, and advise against a few EOs if you are pregnant. Especially in the first and second trimester.
The following list, includes, but is not limited to all of the herbs and essential oils that are classified as "EMMENAGOGUES" which are herbs that promote menstruation, usually causing it to occur either earlier or with increased menstrual flow when it is scanty. This means it can cause the fetus to abort in the early stages of pregnancy. You should also avoid the following herbs if you are considering pregnancy. This caution should also apply to large quantities of the herbs itself. When in doubt, consult your physician.
I have listed both the common name as well as the Latin name, as all herbs are not created equal. When working with these herbs and essential oils, look for the Latin name.
Please don't panic when you read some of these herbs. The caution is intended for large quantities. The amounts used in cooking is small in comparison. But again, consult your physician with any questions or concerns.
| Common Name | Latin Name |
| Angelica | Angelica archangelica, A. officinalis |
| Basil* | Ocimum basilicum |
| Bay (Sweet) | Laurus nobilis |
| Calamint (Catnip) | Calamintha clinopodium, C. grandiflora, C. officinalis, Nepeta cataria, Satureja calamintha |
| Caraway* | Apium carvi, Carum carvi |
| Cassia | Cinnamomum aromaticum, C. cassia, Laurus cassia |
| Cedarwood | Juniperus virginiana |
| Celery* | Apium graveolens |
| Chamomile (German & Roman) | Matricaria chamomilla, M. recutica (German chamomile); Anthemis nobilis, Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile) |
| Chamomile (Moroccan) | Anthemis mixta, Ormenis mixta, O. multicaulis |
| Cinnamon Bark & Leaf | Cinnamomum verum, C. zeylanicum, Laurus cinnamomum |
| Citronella | Andropogon nardus, Cymbopogon nardus |
| Clary Sage | Salvia sclarea |
| Cumin | Cuminum cyminum, C. odorum |
| Dill Seed & Weed | Anethum graveolens, Fructus anethi, Peucedanum graveolens |
| Elecampane | Aster officinalis, Helenium grandiflorum, Inula helenium |
| Fennel | Anethum foeniculum, Foeniculum officinale, F. vulgare |
| Frankincense | Boswellia carteri, B. thurifera |
| Galangal | Alpinia officinarum, Languas officinarum |
| Galbanum | Ferula galbaniflua, F. gummosa, F. rubicaulis |
| Ginger | Zingiber officinale |
| Hops | Humulus lupulus |
| Hyssop | Hyssopus officinalis (Hyssop); Hyssop officinalis var. decumbens (Hyssops decumbens) |
| Juniper Berries | Juniperus communis |
| Labdanum (Cistus or Rock Rose) | Citus ladanifer |
| Lantana | Lantana camara |
| Lavandin | Lavandula fragrans, L. hortensis, L. hybrida |
| Lavender | Lavandula augustifolia, L. officinalis, L. vera |
| Lovage | Angelica levisticum, Levisticum officinale, Ligusticum levisticum |
| Marjoram (Spanish & Sweet) | Thymus mastichina (Spanish); Majorana hortensis, Origanum majorana (Sweet) |
| Melissa (Lemon Balm) | Melissa officinalis |
| Mugwort* | Artemisia vulgaris |
| Myrrh | Balsamodendrom myrrha, Commiphora myrrha |
| Nutmeg | Myristica aromata, M. fragrans, M. officinalis |
| Oregano | Origanum vulgare |
| Parsley* | Apium petroselinum, Carum petroselinum, Petroselinum hortense, P. sativum |
| Pennyroyal* | Mentha pulegium |
| Peppermint | Mentha piperita |
| Ravensara Anisata | Cinnamonum camphora, Ravensara anisata |
| Rose | Rosa |
| Rosemary | Rosmarinum coronarium, R. officinalis |
| Rue | Ruta graveolens |
| Sage & Sage (Spanish) | Salvia lavanduifolia (Spanish Sage); Salvia officinalis (Sage) |
| Santolina (Lavender Cotton) | Lavandula taemina, Santolina chamaecyparissus |
| Sassafras | Sassafras albidum |
| Savory | Calamintha montana, Satureja montana, S. obovata (Winter savory); Calamintha hortensis, Satureja hortensis (Summer savory) |
| Spearmint | Mentha spicata, M. viridis |
| Spikenard | Nardostachys jatamansi |
| St. John's Wort | Hypericum perforatum |
| Tagetes | Tagetes erecta, T. minuta, T. patula |
| Tarragon | Artemisia dracunculus |
| Thuja (Cedar Leaf) | Thuja occidentalis |
| Thyme | Thymus aestivus, T. citriodora, T. ilerdensis, T. satureiodes, T. valentianus, T. vulgaris, T. vulgaris var. linalol, T. webbianus |
| Vanilla | Vanilla fragrans, V. planifolia |
| Vetiver | Andropogon muricatus, Vetiveria zizanoides |
| Wintergreen | Gaultheria procumbens |
| Wormwood" | Artemisia absinthium |
| Yarrow* | Achillea millefolium |
Vegetable Oils and Butters
| Carrot | Daucus carota |
| Cotton Seed* | The oil should be considered unsafe for consumption or skin use. The seed, stem, and root of the plant produces a substance called Gossypol, which suppresses sperm production in men. It has been used as an anti-fertility agent in China. Twelve months after discontinuing the intake of Gossypol, more than 50% of the males still showed a sperm count of zero. Female animals are also affected by having aborted pregnancies. (Huang, Kee Chang. The Pharmacology of Chines Herbs. CRC Press, 1993. p. 255) |
Infused Oils
| Aloe Vera | Aloe barbadensis, A. vera |
| Calendula Marigold) | Calendula officinalis |
*These herbs are also classified as abortifacients: They may cause a pregnancy to end prematurely or causes a non-surgical abortion. During the first five weeks of pregnancy they act to block the action of progesterone so that the uterus sloughs off the embryo.
Abortifacients are strong, powerful herbs and should only be used for short periods of time. They are hard on certain body organs such as the liver and kidneys if used for prolonged periods of time.
Essential oils should never been taken internally. You know the drill! Consult your physician for advise.
Please feel free to copy this information. Although it took quite some time to accumulate it, I wish to educate people, especially women, on the uses of essential oils and herbs.
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