Candle aroma oil, the scented liquid in diffusers and refill bottles, smells lovely and belongs well out of small hands. In Australia, children make up most calls to poisons experts about essential oils. Nearly all of those cases are accidents, so simple habits can prevent them. Here is what the numbers show and what to do about it.

Candle Aroma Oil Needs A High, Safe Spot

A study in the Medical Journal of Australia looked at calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre from July 2014 to June 2018. The University of Sydney reported the results. There were 4,412 calls about essential oils. Children under 15 made up 63 per cent of them. Eight in ten were accidents.

The lead author, Dr Rose Cairns, said just 5 millilitres of some oils can cause rapid and life-threatening toxicity in children. That is about one teaspoon.

How common are reed diffuser accidents?

Consumer NZ reported nearly 600 calls to the New Zealand Poison Centre since 2019 about children getting into reed diffusers. Most were under two. That is New Zealand data, but our homes look much the same. If you own a reed diffuser, such as one from our reed diffuser range, give it a spot above toddler height.

Natural Smelling Candles And Oils Are Not Risk Free

People often assume a natural scent is a gentle one. The oils named most often in those calls were eucalyptus, tea tree and lavender. All three are natural.

The fragrance industry body IFRA puts it plainly: safety depends on how a substance behaves, not where it comes from. A natural label tells you the source. It does not tell you how much is too much.

Easy Habits For Homes With Little Kids

• Store oils and refills on a high shelf.
• Keep the original bottle and label. Never decant into drink bottles.
• Stand diffusers where a toddler cannot reach or tip them.
• Wipe up drips straight away, especially on floors.
• Save the Poisons Information number, 13 11 26, in your phone.

A Warm, Woody Scent For The Top Shelf

If you like deeper scents, the Exotic range leans woody and warm. A room spray is another option, since you can store the bottle high and use it from a distance. You get the scent without leaving liquid within reach.

Quick answers

Is a reed diffuser safe around toddlers?

Only with care. The liquid can harm a child who drinks it or gets it in their eyes. Keep it high, out of reach, and call 13 11 26 if anything is swallowed.

What should I do if a child swallows scented oil?

Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 straight away. It answers 24 hours a day. Consumer NZ advises rinsing the mouth with water, not making the child vomit. If they are unwell, call 000.

Have a look at the Exotic range if a warm, woody scent sounds like your kind of evening. If you shop through your ambassador's link, they get credited for the sale.

Related reading

• Fragrancing Your Home Around Children and Pets: a wider look at candles, sprays and diffusers in family homes
• Candle Scent Oil Explained: Natural Doesn't Mean Safer: what is in a scent oil and why natural is not a safety label
• Why We Use Essential Oils (And Why We Won't Cut Corners): how Glow thinks about the oils in its range