How to Use Turmeric Essential Oil Safely: Dilution and Blends
Turmeric is one of the most familiar spices in Middle Eastern and South Asian kitchens. Its essential oil is something else entirely: pale, concentrated and warmly scented, it is made to be blended into a carrier oil, never used on its own. Here is how to use it well.
What is turmeric essential oil?
Turmeric essential oil is distilled from the root of turmeric (Curcuma longa). Unlike the bright yellow powder, the oil is pale golden, with a warm, earthy, lightly spicy scent. FAYNAN Turmeric Essential Oil is a single ingredient, with nothing added.
The most important rule: always dilute
Essential oils are concentrates. They must always be mixed into a carrier oil before they touch the skin. As the FDA notes, a plant origin does not by itself make an ingredient safe for the skin. If you are new to them, read Essential Oils and Carrier Oils first.
| Use | Turmeric essential oil | Carrier oil |
|---|---|---|
| Face | 1 drop | 1 teaspoon (5 mL) |
| Body | 1 to 2 drops | 1 teaspoon (5 mL) |
| Room | A few drops | In a diffuser, following its instructions |
Before first use: the patch test
Mix your blend, then apply a little to a small area of skin, such as the inner arm. Wait 24 hours. If there is no irritation, the blend is ready to use.
An evening face blend
- Pour one teaspoon of Pure Pomegranate Seed Oil into a small dish or empty bottle.
- Add one drop of turmeric essential oil and mix well.
- Press two or three drops onto clean skin in the evening, avoiding the eye area.
Blended this way, it adds a warm scent and a radiant-looking glow to your evening ritual. Jojoba or Prickly Pear Seed Oil make lighter bases.
A warm body blend
Mix one or two drops into a teaspoon of Date Seed or Jojoba Oil, and massage over damp skin after the shower. For a fresher, greener scent, try Dill Seed Essential Oil instead, at one drop per teaspoon.
Mix small, mix often
Make only as much blend as you will use within a few days, in a clean glass container, and label it. Fresh blends smell best.
Who should not use it
- Not for use on children.
- If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under medical care, consult a healthcare professional before use.
- Do not apply undiluted, and never near the eyes or mucous membranes.
- Do not apply to broken or irritated skin.
A few practical notes
- It may stain fabrics: let blends settle before dressing.
- Keep the bottle tightly closed, away from heat and open flame, and out of reach of children.
- For external use only.
For a warm, resinous companion, read How to Use Frankincense Essential Oil. Rosemary is another favorite essential oil for blends: read How to Dilute Rosemary Essential Oil. Browse every single botanical in the Pure Botanicals collection.