Cooking and flavoring with essential oils is a delightful way to improve both the flavor and nutritional properties of your food.
The oils that we list here are all organically steam-distilled or cold-pressed, which makes them the highest safety grade possible for each oil. That said, essential oils are very highly concentrated plant oils, and great care must be used when they are applied to the body externally, injested therapeutically, or as food flavorings. In most cases, a single drop is an appropriate maximum amount for internal use. Used as flavorings, consider a single drop per serving as a maximum amount. If injesting in a capsule, dilute first. Other use should be done only under the guidance of a skilled practitioner.
This list is based on the US Food & Drug Administration's list of essential oils which are GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) under the subchapter of Food for Human Consumption. The latest version, as well as the official annual published version, can be found HERE for reading or download. There are many other oils which are not addressed on the official FDA list, which are commonly used as natural flavors or ingredients in foods/candies and products such as cough drops, and there are essential oil websites and books which discuss the safety and properties of each of them in great detail. Some oils are not safe for any internal use, such as arnica - please research carefully before using any oil not on the GRAS list for anything but external use.
Other oils listed in this category are not technically "essential" oils but are food oils which we offer as carriers for the essentials due to their nutritive properties, cold-pressed from various parts of fruits, vegetables, or culinary herbs which are commonly eaten as food. These oils are still a concentration of the original food, and should be used with respectful caution.
Using any plant oil in a manner which is not recognized as safe is NOT recommended, and is done at your own risk.
