Essential Oil Dilution Calculator for Natural Perfumers | NPA
Calculate Top, Middle & Base Note Ratios and Final Dilution
This tool helps you calculate the dilution percentage of each part of your blend — Top, Middle, and Base — along with the overall dilution. Simply enter the number of drops for each note and the total carrier volume in ml. It's a perfect tool for beginners and intermediate users looking to align their blends with safety guidelines and develop balanced accords.
Please note: This calculator is best used when each note group is already blended. It does not break down multi-ingredient formulas — for that, try our Advanced Formula Calculator
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Top Notes
Middle Notes
Base Notes
Overall Blend
* Based on an average of 20 drops = 1ml essential oil
How to Use this Tool Responsibly
🛡️ Safety & EU Regulations: Using This Tool Responsibly
In the EU, essential oil usage in perfumes, cosmetics, and body products is highly regulated to protect consumers from sensitisation, phototoxicity, and irritation. These regulations are guided by IFRA standards, Cosmetic Product Safety Reports (CPSR), and the CLP regulation for labelling.
This calculator is a starting point to help you:
🔍 Estimate your essential oil concentration (as a % of the total product)
📊 Compare that percentage to known dermal limits
✅ Adjust your formula until it aligns with safe limits — especially for oils with restrictions (like Cinnamon Bark, Bergamot, or Clove)
⚠️ Example: Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
EU IFRA limit for leave-on skin products: 0.4%
Let’s say you make a blend with 2 drops of Bergamot in 10 ml of carrier:
2 drops = 0.1 ml (20 drops = 1ml)
0.1 ml in 10 ml = 1% dilution
👉 This is above the safe limit!
Use the tool to either reduce the drops, or increase the carrier volume until you reach 0.4% or lower.
🌿 Where to Find Dermal Limits
We recommend checking:
IFRA Standards Library
Tisserand & Young’s Essential Oil Safety (2nd ed.)
Your Cosmetic Safety Assessor (for EU product compliance)
🧪 Rule of Thumb for Leave-On Products:
| Oil Type | Max Safe Dermal Limit |
|---|---|
| Cinnamon Bark | 0.07% |
| Clove Bud | 0.5% |
| Bergamot (non-FCF) | 0.4% |
| Lemon or Lime (cold-pressed) | ~0.7–2% (phototoxic) |
| Ylang Ylang | ~0.8–1% |
| Rose Absolute | ~0.6–1% |