Frequently Asked Questions

Essential oils are volatile, highly aromatic liquids from plants, extracted through different methods such as steam distillation, or through cold pressing (in the case of citrus fruits).

Although referred to as “oils”, they aren't oily fats, but tiny volatile molecules that vaporise readily to disperse a distinct aroma. They are found in tiny sacs or globules within the plant.

Essential oils can be extracted from the leaves, stems, roots, bark, flowers, fruits or resin of the plant. These therapeutic fragrances are extensively used in the perfume, cosmetics and skincare industry.

The lighter viscosity oils such as Citrus, Lavender and Ylang Ylang work best in a diffuser. Others of similar weight can be used too. However, carrier oils such as Sweet Almond oil are thicker, more viscous and are not meant to be used in a diffuser.

If you would like to use a higher viscosity essential oil, make sure to dilute it with lower viscosity essential oils to create a blend that will be suitable for a diffuser.

Yes, it absolutely is!

Essential oils are highly concentrated and potent extracts of nature. Using undiluted (neat) essential oils repeatedly on your skin may lead to irritation and sensitisation. Hence, it is safe to use essential oils topically when diluted in a suitable carrier oil.

Further, we highly recommend performing a patch test for each essential oil, especially if you are using them for the first time on your skin.

Depending on the essential oil, the application and the end user – blends need to be carefully crafted.

Follow the recipes and our dilution guide and always start with less dilution percentage to be absolutely safe.

To ensure that an essential oil doesn't cause any allergic reaction or sensitivity, always perform a simple patch test –

1. Add 1 drop of the essential oil to be tested to 30 drops of a carrier oil (you may choose Fractionated Coconut oil, Sweet Almond oil, Grapeseed oil or Jojoba oil) in a small glass container and gently swirl the mixture.

2. Using a cotton swab, spread a tiny amount of the blend as a thin layer on the inner side of the arm, near the crook of the elbow.

3. Do not wash the test area for 24 hours and observe it carefully.

4. Watch out for any signs of allergic reactions, skin sensitivity or any other skin irritations including redness, itchiness, rashes, etc.

5. Also observe carefully for any nausea or respiratory reactions due to the scent.

6. If you notice any negative reactions, wash the area with a mild soap & warm water and discontinue use of the oil immediately.

7. Contact your general practitioner or an appropriate health professional if any of the symptoms continue.

If there is no allergic reaction or skin sensitivity, this oil is likely safe to use on your skin.

If you’re using alcohol to create a blend like a mosquito repellent spray or a hand sanitiser spray, always mix the oils at room temperature.

In case the oil doesn’t mix completely into the alcohol, shake the bottle as often as required to help speed up the process but never heat alcohol due to fire hazard.

Remember to label, date and record your dilution blend so that you can re-create your favourites easily!

Using the dilution guide below and based on your requirements, determine the dilution % you need. Then follow the simple steps of mixing a certain number of drops of essential oil(s) with a fixed volume of carrier oil to produce your unique, ready-to-use blend.

Remember to label, date and record your dilution blend so that you can re-create your favourites easily!

Essential oils are chemically very complex. ‘Constituents’ are the chemicals that make up an essential oil giving it its signature aroma, therapeutic properties and potential risk properties.

A chemotype is a chemically distinct component of a plant. Plants that are botanically identical but vary in the environment in which they grow have different chemical compositions.

For example, both Rosemary ct. cineole and Rosemary ct. camphor are from the same species (Rosmarinus officinalis), but grown under very different climates & regions, thereby creating different chemical constituents in their essential oils.

Essential oils should be stored in dark glass bottles closed with a tight-fitting cap (to ensure minimal exposure to air in order to prevent oxidation). They should be stored away from direct sunlight and heat.

While refrigeration is not necessary, in very hot climates, you may want to store some of your oils in the fridge (especially citrus oils and carrier oils).

That said, our biophotonic (violet) glass packaging ensures long shelf life by blocking visible light and our air-tight stoppers efficiently prevent exposure to air.

Shelf life of an oil is influenced by many factors including storage and handling conditions. It also varies for different types of oils.

Most oils will last at least 2 years before starting to degrade. Always check the label for the best before date.

It is also important to note that heat and/or oxidation will not spoil or degrade the oils after a few exposures. However, essential oils will slowly lose their potency over time and their therapeutic benefits will decline if repeatedly exposed to heat, light or air (oxidation).

It is very important to understand the overall effects essential oils can have on children. It is best to treat them as potentially dangerous and keep the oils out of their immediate reach.

When used on children, it must always be under adult supervision. Their smaller bodies may react differently from an adult, so we recommend using lower dilutions for children (see dilution guide). Please do your research and use essential oils with caution and always perform a patch test when trying out a new oil.

Despite our essential oils being the 100% pure and organic, we do not recommend internal use of essential oils.

Many oils are considered to be GRAS (‘Generally Recognized as Safe’ for human consumption) which means they are recognised as safe by the FDA.

What this means is that it is ok to use essential oils in food flavourings, but it does not mean it’s safe to ingest for internal use as medicine.

There are many potential risks involved with ingesting essential oils orally, especially for those who do not correctly understand dilutions and ratios. Considering how potent and concentrated Iryasa's essential oils are, we recommend using them for inhalation and topical applications only.

Irrespective of which essential oil entered your eyes, quickly swab your eyes with a soft, lint-free cloth soaked in plant oil (coconut, sweet almond, etc). Some essential oils are much more irritating than others (e.g. cinnamon essential oil) and if any irritation continues, we recommend you visit your physician without further delay.

The essential oils that are photosensitive make the skin more sensitive to the sun when applied topically.

Many citrus essential oils like Bergamot are photosensitive.