Serenity of Harrogate

Aromatherapy Safety.

As a holistic clinical aromatherapist it is my aim to ensure that you enjoy our products, and that you receive the benefits of using aromatherapy products in a safe manner. For this reason I have detailed below a list of general safety guidelines that should be observed when using our products and especially our pure essential oils range.

1. Keep all essential oils out of reach of unattended children, pets and anyone with special needs. Always ensure the integral dropper is in place as this acts as a guard against spillage and accidental ingestion.
2. Keep products away from delicate eye areas, and away from the nose and mouth. If an accident occurs with neat essential oil flush the eyes with cold full fat milk or vegetable oil to dilute the oils. If an accident occurs with a diluted oil flush the area with clean warm water. If stinging is still present seek immediate medical advice.
3. As aromatherapy oils are volatile please keep products away from plastics, polished surfaces and all naked flames or sources of ignition. Essential oils should be stored in dark coloured glass bottles, in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
4. Do not assume that an essential oil has the same properties as the plant from which it is extracted.
5. Do not take essential oils internally.
6. Never use an undiluted essential oil directly on the skin. These should always be diluted in a suitable base product such as almond oil. Lavender & Tea Tree can be used neat in very small amounts 1-2 drops but not on a regular basis.
7. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, suffer from epilepsy, high or low blood pressure, or any other specific condition please seek medical advise before using any of our products. Care must also be taken with certain oils (especially citrus oils) before exposure to direct sunlight. All of our products are clearly labelled and include information as to which products should not be used if you have any of the above conditions or are pregnant. Remember if you are at all unsure about a product don't use it. We are available for advice on any of our products and can be contacted on info@serenityofharrogate.co.uk.
8. If you choose to use a pure essential oil in the bath rather than our pre-blended bath products then dilute the oil first in a small amount of full fat milk or dispersing bath oil base. If neither is available be sure to agitate the water after adding the oil so it does not settle on the top of the water and cause irritation.
9. Try to regulate the use of any essential oil as constant use over time may in isolated cases cause sensitisation, nausea or headaches. Do not use more than the recommended doses as stated in our essential oil usage guidelines - less is sometimes more!
10. As with all natural products certain oils may cause skin sensitivity or an adverse reaction in some individuals. If this should happen to you discontinue use immediately. If you are susceptible to this kind of reaction it is always best to do a patch test before use. We recommend that you test the product on the inside of your elbow before using on a larger area.
11. Do not use machinery or drive a motor vehicle immediately following a relaxation treatment especially after using soporific oils e.g. Clary sage.

DISCLAIMER: - The above information is provided as a guide only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the above information is accurate and up to date Serenity of Harrogate accepts no liability in respect of any omission or error in the information provided. The buyer should always satisfy itself as to the ultimate suitability for an intended application. Serenity of Harrogate accepts no liability in the unlikely event of an adverse reaction occurring when using any of its products. No liability is accepted in respect of any reputed therapeutic characteristic. The information relates to essential oils available from Serenity of Harrogate, who cannot accept liability for the use of essential oils from other companies.

Remember: If you are unsure whether a product is suitable for use. DON'T USE IT

Always seek professional and/of medical advice before use if unsure.

In Case of Accident

If essential oil is splashed in the eyes dab gently with olive oil or good quality carrier oil on cotton wool. WATER DOES NOT REMOVE OIL FROM THE EYE

Remove neat essential oil from the hands by washing thoroughly with mild detergent to prevent transference to other parts of the body.

If essential oil is ingested in quantity, you must seek medical assistance. If a person shows signs of illness after consuming a few drops of oil, this may be an idiosyncratic, allergic reaction - seek immediate medical assistance.

Tips on Buying Natural & Organic Skin Care Products for the first time

Please read before you purchase:
Important, if you have not used essential oil based skin care before you may suffer from an adverse reaction.  This is because Natural and organic skin care products rely heavily on natural chemicals found in essential oils and herbs, so there is a potential for irritations.  We use essential oils for their anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. As these may irritate we recommend that you limit your choice to a few products at a time, whilst you establish your skin's compatibility.  With natural and organic skin care products, you do not need to use huge amounts of product to obtain good results; a little goes a long way.

As all our products are freshly made they come with a recommended use by date. In order that you obtain the best from your products we recommend that you do not bulk buy - only purchase what you need. 

Your skin has 5 layers and takes from 15 days (in younger people) to 45 days (in older people) to renew itself.  It can take the full renewal cycle for you to see how the product is working for you.  It is not possible to assess within just 2 or 3 days if a product works or not.  However, there are a few exceptions to this rule:

1. if the product is too oily, it can cause instant spots if your skin type is oily.
2. If the product is not hydrating drier skins.
3. If an unpleasant reaction occurs. In this case you should stop using the product immediately.

Always keep natural and organic products out of direct sunlight.

Don't be tempted to 'save' natural and organic products - best results are assured when the fresh products are used straight away.

Important: If you have found that you are indeed allergic to essential oils, it would be better for you to try our unscented range.  This also goes for people who desperately want to try natural and organic, but have had difficulty and countless reactions to petro-chemical skin care ingredients in the past.  You need to give your skin some time to calm down before trying herbal and aromatherapy based items.  Immediately changing from petro-chemical ingredients to the more loaded herbal and essential oil based products can possibly leave you with the same problems. Stick with the baby/child and unscented products for the time being.

Taking on board the above recommendations will hopefully enable you to enjoy this experience instead of coming up with new problems.  Take it slowly, purchase smaller quantities and listen to what your skin truly desires.  Hopefully this will mean that you spend less and find better results with these beautiful products.