Making a roller or a body blend and not sure how many drops to add? 🌿 Tell the calculator your bottle size and what the blend is for. It will give you the drops of essential oil, the carrier oil to top it up, and a safe dilution to stay within.
1. How big is your bottle or blend?
2. Who is it for, and where does it go?
Pick a bottle size and a use first.
Why the dilution matters
Essential oils are very concentrated. They are made for a carrier oil, not for bare skin. A gentle dilution keeps a blend comfortable and lowers the chance of a skin reaction. Fragrances and essential oils are common skin sensitisers, and repeated or neat contact is what tends to cause trouble. So the rule of thumb is simple: a little oil, a lot of carrier.
How the calculator works
The maths behind it is easy. Your bottle size, times the dilution percentage, gives the amount of essential oil. The rest of the bottle is carrier oil. For planning, about 20 drops equal 1 ml, so we turn that oil amount into drops for you. Drop size does vary with the oil, the dropper and the day, so treat the drop count as a close guide rather than a lab measure. 🕯️
The tool keeps you inside a safe range on purpose. It offers 1% for the face and for gentle use, 2% for an everyday adult body blend, and 3% only for a small patch used briefly. Stronger than that is a job for a qualified aromatherapist, not a home roller.
A quick guide to strengths
| Blend is for | Dilution | Drops per 10 ml carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Face or sensitive skin | 1% | about 2 drops |
| Child (2+) or pregnancy* | 1% | about 2 drops |
| General adult body or massage | 2% | about 4 drops |
| Small area, short term, adult | 3% | about 6 drops |
*For children and during pregnancy, please talk with your midwife or GP before you start. Essential oils are not a medicine here, so a professional is the right person to guide their use.
How to use your result
Pour your carrier oil first, then add the drops and roll the bottle gently to mix. Good carrier choices are almond, jojoba or fractionated coconut. Before the blend goes anywhere it matters, patch test it: dab a little on your inner arm and leave it for a day. A reaction can be slow, so watch for up to two or three days. If the skin stings, reddens or itches, wash it off and stop. You can read more in our safe dilution guide and our carrier oil guide.
Stay safe with essential oils
- Always dilute in a carrier oil before skin. Neat oil is too strong.
- Patch test every new blend and wait a day or two.
- Never swallow essential oils, and keep them away from your eyes.
- Keep oils and blends away from children and pets.
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or on medicines? Check with your midwife, GP or pharmacist first.
- Stop if your skin reacts, and follow each oil's own label.
Ready to blend? 🌿 Browse our essential oils and aromatherapy range, or start with a soft, well-loved bottle of lavender essential oil. For scent ideas, our guide to oils for a calm, aware mood is a lovely place to wander.
FAQs
How many drops of essential oil are in 1 ml?
About 20 drops make roughly 1 ml. It is a handy planning figure, but real drops vary with the oil's thickness, the dropper and the temperature. The millilitre amount is the exact one; treat the drop count as a close approximation.
What dilution percentage should I use?
For the face or sensitive skin, keep to about 1%. For a general adult body blend, 2% is the usual choice. A 3% blend suits a small area used briefly. Children and pregnancy call for gentler use and a chat with a health professional first.
Can I use this calculator for every essential oil?
Think of it as a blending helper, not a full safety check. Some oils have their own stricter limits or should be avoided in certain situations. Always read the label of the exact oil you are using, and lower the strength if its guidance is stricter than the tool's.
Do I still need to patch test?
Yes. Even a well-diluted blend can bother sensitive skin, and a reaction can take a day or two to show. Test a small patch, wait, and only then use the blend more widely.
Come and see us
Prefer to choose in person? 🕯️ Visit Rivendell at Shop 62, Westfield Manukau. Our team will happily help you pick an oil and a carrier that suit what you are making.