Clove Essential Oil: Eugenol, Winter Blends and Safe Dilution

In short: Clove essential oil (Syzygium aromaticum) is three quarters eugenol. It smells warmly spicy and 1–2 drops are enough in a diffuser. On the skin 0.5 % at most, that is 1 drop per 10 ml of carrier oil. Do not use it with blood-thinning medicines, in pregnancy and in children.

Clove is a scent that in winter "holds" the whole flat. A few drops with orange are enough and the room smells like mulled wine or gingerbread. The oil is at the same time one of the most concentrated you will find in a shop: a single substance, eugenol, makes up most of its volume.

Here you will find how to dose clove oil in a diffuser, how much of it may be in an oil for the skin, what is true about clove "for the teeth" and why people on blood-thinning medicines should not use it.

Eugenol: Why Clove Is So Strong

According to the assessment report of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), three main constituents make up almost the whole bud oil: eugenol 75–88 %, eugenyl acetate 4–15 % and β-caryophyllene 5–14 %. Eugenol is a phenol. It gives clove its typical scent, but also makes it irritating to the skin and mucous membranes.

Clove oil is distilled from three parts of the plant and this should be evident on the label:

What Clove Pairs With

On its own clove is heavy and a little "dentist-like". In a blend, however, it transforms. It works best with citrus, which lightens it, and with woody scents, which round it off:

• orange or blood orange: the base of every winter blend,
• cinnamon: 1 drop is enough, both oils are strong,
• Himalayan cedar or fir: a forest, evening note,
• lavender: a surprisingly good pair for a calmer scent,
• ginger: when you want to "warm" the scent even more.

Diffuser, Oil Burner and Home-Made Gifts

Dose clove sparingly in a diffuser: 1–2 drops per 100 ml of water and complement the rest with citrus. In an oil burner 1 drop is enough. After 30–60 minutes switch off the diffuser and ventilate. How many drops by room size is summarised in the article how many drops for a diffuser and oil burner.

Diffuser Blends for Autumn and Winter

• Mulled wine without alcohol: 1 drop of clove, 3 drops of orange, 1 drop of cinnamon.
• November evening: 1 drop of clove, 2 drops of cedar, 2 drops of mandarin (BIO mandarin).
• After cleaning: 1 drop of clove, 3 drops of lemon (BIO lemon).

Clove is also popular in home-made candles and reed diffusers. You will find step-by-step instructions in the article Christmas gifts with candles and diffusers with clove and about candles in general in the text how to make aromatherapy candles. Tips for other festive blends are in the overview Christmas scents for a diffuser.

On the Skin: 0.5 % Is the Ceiling

Tisserand and Young give clove bud a moderate risk of sensitisation and recommend 0.5 % at most on the skin. In practice:

1. Into 10 ml of carrier oil (for example jojoba) drop 1 drop of clove, into 30 ml 3 drops.
2. Mix and apply a little to the crook of the elbow. Wait 24 hours.
3. If there is no redness or itching, you can use the blend for a massage of the back or calves, not the face.
4. If there is burning or a rash, wash the blend off with soap and water and do not use it any more.

Do not put clove in the bath, even with an emulsifier, the risk of irritation is higher in water. Never on mucous membranes, in the nose or near the eyes. How to dilute oils in general is described in the article essential oils for the skin and choosing a carrier oil.

Clove and Toothache: What the EMA Really Says

Clove oil has an EMA monograph as a traditional herbal medicinal product, for minor inflammations in the mouth and throat (mouthwashes with 1–5 % of the oil) and for temporary relief of toothache in tooth decay. The monograph applies only to adults, not to children and adolescents under 18, for use of one week at most and with a warning that the oil must not get on the gums. Among the adverse effects it lists irritation of mucous membranes and allergic reactions.

This concerns registered medicinal products with a set dose, not dripping oil from an aromatherapy bottle into the mouth. Toothache is a reason to visit the dentist. The oil from our shop is intended for a diffuser and external use, not for internal use.

When to Leave Clove Out

• Blood-thinning medicines and surgery: in the laboratory eugenol suppresses platelet aggregation. Tisserand and Young therefore warn of a possible interaction with anticoagulants. If you take them or have a procedure ahead, do not use clove on the skin.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: the EMA does not recommend use because of a lack of data. Leave it out.
• Children: do not use clove in children, neither on the skin nor in a diffuser in their room. The EMA states that after drinking 5–10 ml of the oil, life-threatening conditions occurred in children under 2 years, so always close the bottle and store it out of reach. More in the article essential oils and children.
• Cats: cats break down phenols such as eugenol poorly. Do not run a diffuser in a room with a cat that cannot leave. Details in the article essential oils and pets.
• Allergy to Peru balsam: the EMA lists it as a contraindication, it is a cross-sensitivity.

What to Look for When Buying

On the label look for Syzygium aromaticum, the part of the plant (buds) and the country of origin. Bud oil is pale yellow to golden and darkens with time. Store in dark glass, cool and tightly closed. Eugenol attacks some plastics and rubber droppers, so do not leave the oil in the pipette for long.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many drops of clove oil in a diffuser?

1–2 drops per 100 ml of water, ideally with 2–3 drops of citrus. Clove on its own in a larger amount seems heavy and irritates the nose.

Does clove oil help with toothache?

The EMA recognises it as a traditional preparation for temporary relief in adults, but only in the form of a registered medicinal product and for a week at most. Do not put off toothache and go to the dentist; oil from an aromatherapy bottle does not belong in the mouth.

How do I dilute clove oil for the skin?

To 0.5 % at most: 1 drop per 10 ml or 3 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil. Before first use do a test in the crook of the elbow and do not put it on the face.

Is clove oil safe for cats and dogs?

Not for cats, they break down eugenol poorly. For dogs only briefly in a diffuser, in a room with the door open. Never put oils on animals' fur or into their bowl.

Can I use clove oil if I take warfarin or other blood-thinning medicines?

Not on the skin. Eugenol may affect blood clotting. A brief scent in a well-ventilated room is a different situation, but even so it is better to consult a doctor.

Recommended Products

• BIO Clove, essential oil 10 ml – oil from dried buds from Indonesia, the base of winter blends.
• BIO Orange, essential oil 10 ml – lightens clove and makes it a "mulled wine".
• BIO Cinnamon, essential oil 10 ml – a drop of cinnamon with clove gives a gingerbread scent.
• BIO Himalayan cedar, essential oil 10 ml – a woody base for an evening blend.
• BIO Jojoba 10 ml – a carrier oil when you want clove at low dilution for a massage.
• Ceramic oil burner, white, 12.5 × 10.5 cm – a larger oil burner for the living room.

Sources

• EMA: Caryophylli floris aetheroleum, EU monograph (traditional use) – ema.europa.eu
• EMA/HMPC: Community herbal monograph on Syzygium aromaticum, floris aetheroleum, EMA/HMPC/534924/2010 – PDF
• EMA/HMPC: Assessment report on Syzygium aromaticum, flos and floris aetheroleum – PDF
• Tisserand R., Young R.: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition, Churchill Livingstone 2014 (Clove bud profile).
• AromaWeb: Clove Bud Essential Oil, safety data – aromaweb.com

Updated: 27 September 2026