Ask an Aromatherapist: Can Essential Oils Really Kill Germs?

When you think about it, plants live in the dirt, outside. They are constantly exposed to germs like bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Plants don’t have an immune system, so how do they fight off this onslaught of germs?

Well for one thing, not all microbes are “bad”, but that’s a topic for another time.

But when it comes to pathogenic problems, aka germs, plants have a creative solution in the chemical compounds they create.

Plants can produce potent chemical compounds that can hamper the growth of a wide array of microorganisms.

And some of these compounds show up in essential oils.

Every essential oil most likely has the ability to thwart germs, but some are better than others at doing so.

For example, terpinen-4-ol rich tea tree, thymol rich thyme, and cinnamaldehyde rich cinnamon bark oil are examples of powerhouse plants that can effectively obliterate germs.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have oils like linalool rich lavender that are gentle on the skin, mind, and body and are better suited at soothing that obliterating germs – but they still fight a good fight as essential oils.

So yes, essential oils can be used to fight germs. They can be diffused to clear the air of germs, used in inhalers and steams as well as used topically and in cleaning to support wellness and thwart germs.

And if I can go a step further – eating plants is also a great way to support wellness and fight germs. Adding garlic, onions, herbs, fruits, and vegetables to your diet is a fantastic way to support wellness and benefit from the germ fighting power of plants.

And now a few suggestions for my fellow Aromatic Formulators:

Inhaler or Diffuser Blend Suggestions:

Immune Support Blend:

5 drops Tea Tree essential oil

5 drops Eucalyptus essential oil

6 drops Sweet Orange essential oil

Add either to an inhaler or diffuser and enjoy.

For some additional blend ideas check out this blog post – Four Blends that Support Immune and Respiratory Wellness

Or if you’d rather purchase blends or products to support wellness I offer the Be Resilient blend and Breathe Easy Blend as well as other products to support wellness and and showcase the benefits of essential oils.