Potentially Carcinogenic Essential Oils

Essential oils which contain potentially carcinogenic constituents such as estragole, methyleugenol, and safrole.
See also : Aromatherapy

Essential oils which contain one or more potentially carcinogenic constituents

• Anise/Aniseed Pimpinella anisum
• Anise (Star) Illicium verum
• Basil (estragole CT) Ocimum basilicum
• Basil (Madagascan, Pungent) Ocimum gratissimum, Ocimum viride
• Bay (West Indian) Pimenta racemosa var. racemosa
• Camphor (brown, yellow) Cinnamomum camphora, Laurus camphora
• Fennel (Bitter) Foeniculum vulgare subsp. Capillaceum
• Fennel (Sweet) Foeniculum vulgare
• Laurel Leaf Laurus nobilis : Robert Tisserand advises potentially carcinogenic based on methyleugenol content
• Mace Myristica gragrans, Myristica officinalis, Myristica moschata, Myristica aromatica, Myristica amboinensis
• Myrtle Myrtus communis
• Myrtle (Aniseed) Backhousia anisata
• Nutmeg Myristica gragrans, Myristica officinalis, Myristica moschata, Myristica aromatica, Myristica amboinensis
• Pine (Huon, Ponderosa) Dacrydium franklinii, Lagarostrobos franklinii
• Ravensara Bark & Leaf Ravensara aromatica, Ravensara anisata : Robert Tisserand advises potentially carcinogenic based on methyleugenol content
• Sassafras Sassafras albidum, Nectandra sanguinea, Ocotea odorifera, Cinnamomum porrectum, Cinnamomum ridigissimum
• Sugandha Cinnamomum cecidodaphne, Cinnamomum glaucescens
• Tarragon Artemisia dracunculus
  
  

Potentially Carcinogenic Essential Oil Dilution Guide for Topical Use
Essential oil name and Latin name	Do not exceed this dilution
Anise/Aniseed Pimpinella anisum	2.4%
Anise (Star) Illicium verum	1.75%
Basil (estragole CT) Ocimum basilicum	0.1%
Basil (Madagascan) Ocimum gratissimum, Ocimum viride	0.2%
Basil (Pungent) Ocimum gratissimum, Ocimum viride	0.8%
Bay (West Indian) Pimenta racemosa var. racemosa	0.9%
Camphor (brown) Cinnamomum camphora, Laurus camphora	do not use
Camphor (yellow) Cinnamomum camphora, Laurus camphora	0.25%
Fennel (Bitter) Foeniculum vulgare subsp. Capillaceum	1.8%
Fennel (Sweet) Foeniculum vulgare	2.5%
Mace (East Indian) Myristica gragrans, Myristica officinalis, Myristica moschata, Myristica aromatica, Myristica amboinensis	2%
Mace (Indian) Myristica gragrans, Myristica officinalis, Myristica moschata, Myristica aromatica, Myristica amboinensis	4.1%
Myrtle Myrtus communis	1.9%
Myrtle (Aniseed) Backhousia anisata	2.7%
Nutmeg (East Indian) Myristica gragrans, Myristica officinalis, Myristica moschata, Myristica aromatica, Myristica amboinensis	0.8%
Nutmeg (West Indian) Myristica gragrans, Myristica officinalis, Myristica moschata, Myristica aromatica, Myristica amboinensis	5%
Pine (Huon) Dacrydium franklinii, Lagarostrobos franklinii	do not use
Pine (Ponderosa) Dacrydium franklinii, Lagarostrobos franklinii	0.5%
Ravensara Bark Ravensara aromatica, Ravensara anisata	0.1%
Ravensara Leaf Ravensara aromatica, Ravensara anisata	1.0%
Sassafras Sassafras albidum, Nectandra sanguinea, Ocotea odorifera, Cinnamomum porrectum, Cinnamomum ridigissimum	do not use
Sugandha Cinnamomum cecidodaphne, Cinnamomum glaucescens	3.3%
Tarragon Artemisia dracunculus	0.1%