Essential Oils for Viruses – What Research Shows & Wellness Uses
Essential oils for viruses have attracted scientific interest because certain essential oils and their naturally occurring constituents have demonstrated antiviral activity in laboratory research. However, laboratory antiviral activity does not mean that diffusing or applying an essential oil prevents or treats a viral infection in people.
For everyday wellness, essential oils are better suited to aromatherapy, relaxation, household freshening, and cleaning routines. Oils such as eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon, lavender, tea tree, and clove also provide fresh botanical aromas that make them popular additions to seasonal home-care routines.
What Does Research Say About Essential Oils for Viruses?
Scientists have investigated numerous essential oils and their individual constituents for antiviral activity.
For example, a scientific review of essential oils and herpes simplex viruses found experimental evidence of antiviral activity from several oils and constituents, while also emphasizing the need for additional clinical trials.
Research involving respiratory viruses is considerably more limited in humans. A rapid review examining clinical studies of essential oils for viral respiratory infections found some evidence involving specific orally administered commercial preparations, but found no clinical evidence demonstrating an effect from essential-oil inhalation for acute respiratory viral infections.
For this reason, essential oils should be considered complementary aromatherapy and wellness products rather than treatments for viral infections.
Bandits Essential Oil Blend – Bold, Spicy Aromatherapy
Bandits Essential Oil Blend combines five intensely aromatic essential oils:
Clove and cinnamon create the blend’s distinctive warm, spicy character, while eucalyptus and rosemary contribute fresh herbal notes and lemon provides a bright citrus finish.
The result is a powerful aromatic blend especially well suited to diffusion and household freshening during the fall and winter months.
Benefits of the Essential Oils in Bandits
Clove Bud Essential Oil contains naturally occurring constituents including eugenol and provides an intensely warm, spicy aroma.
Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil contributes a rich, warming fragrance and naturally contains aromatic compounds including cinnamaldehyde.
Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil provides the blend’s penetrating, fresh aroma and naturally contains 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol).
Rosemary Essential Oil contributes an invigorating herbal aroma that complements eucalyptus.
Lemon Essential Oil provides a bright citrus note and is naturally rich in limonene.
Together, these oils create a strong aromatic combination for people who enjoy spicy, citrus-herbal scents in their home.
How to Use Bandits Essential Oil Blend
Diffusion
Add Bandits Essential Oil Blend to your diffuser according to the diffuser manufacturer’s directions.
Its combination of citrus, spice, eucalyptus, and rosemary creates a fresh, distinctive aroma especially suited to seasonal home aromatherapy.
Diffuse intermittently in a well-ventilated area.
Household Freshening
Bandits can also be incorporated into DIY household freshening preparations for its bold botanical fragrance.
Essential oils can add fragrance to a cleaning routine, but homemade essential-oil cleaners should not be represented as substitutes for EPA-registered disinfectants when actual surface disinfection is required. EPA requires disinfectants to demonstrate effectiveness against specified microorganisms and be used according to their approved label directions.
Bandits Essential Oil Blend Safety
Bandits contains several potent essential oils, including clove and cinnamon bark, so appropriate dilution and careful use are especially important.
- For external use only.
- Do not ingest.
- Dilute appropriately before topical application.
- Avoid eyes, mucous membranes, and damaged or sensitive skin.
- Not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Keep away from infants and young children.
- Follow appropriate sun/UV precautions for phototoxic citrus oils when applicable.
- Discontinue use if irritation or sensitivity develops.
Visit our Essential Oil Safety Information page for additional guidance.
Essential Oils for Natural Household Cleaning & Freshening
Essential oils can add pleasant botanical aromas to homemade household cleaners and freshening products.
Popular choices include:
Depending on the recipe and surface, essential oils can be incorporated into household preparations for cleaning and deodorizing kitchens, bathrooms, floors, and other areas.
When disinfection rather than ordinary cleaning is necessary, use an appropriately EPA-registered disinfectant according to its label directions. EPA distinguishes cleaning—which removes dirt and organic material—from disinfecting, which uses registered chemical products to kill viruses and bacteria on surfaces.
Essential Oils for Laundry Freshening
Eucalyptus Essential Oil has a crisp, penetrating aroma that makes it popular for household freshening.
Rather than applying undiluted essential oil directly to clothing, incorporate eucalyptus into laundry care using an appropriate method or product designed to disperse essential oils safely.
The result is a fresh botanical fragrance without the need to claim that the essential oil sanitizes or disinfects laundry.
Essential Oils for Fresh-Smelling Indoor Spaces
Diffusion is one of the simplest ways to enjoy essential oils at home.
Try citrus essential oils such as:
These bright citrus aromas can create a fresh, uplifting atmosphere, particularly when a home has been closed up during colder weather.
Follow your diffuser manufacturer’s recommendations for the appropriate amount of essential oil and diffuse intermittently in a well-ventilated area.
Lavender Massage Oil for Restorative Self-Care
Rest and relaxation are important parts of caring for yourself when you’re feeling physically or emotionally depleted.
Lavender Kissable Massage Oil combines Lavender Essential Oil with a nourishing massage-oil base.
Lavender is widely used in relaxation-oriented aromatherapy, making this ready-to-use massage oil a simple addition to an evening wind-down or restorative self-care ritual.
Use it for massage when you want to slow down, relax, and enjoy lavender’s familiar floral-herbal aroma.
Frequently Asked Questions About Essential Oils and Viruses
Do essential oils kill viruses?
Some essential oils and individual constituents have demonstrated antiviral activity against certain viruses in laboratory studies. Research involving herpes simplex viruses is one example. However, laboratory findings do not establish that diffusing or applying an essential oil prevents or treats viral infection in humans.
Can essential oils prevent viral infections?
There is not sufficient clinical evidence that routine essential-oil diffusion or topical application prevents viral infections.
Essential oils can instead be incorporated into aromatherapy, relaxation, and household freshening routines.
Can essential oils be used to disinfect surfaces?
A product marketed as a disinfectant in the United States is subject to EPA requirements. EPA-registered disinfectants have been evaluated for efficacy against specified microorganisms and include instructions such as concentration, application method, and required surface contact time.
DIY essential-oil cleaning preparations are better described as cleaners, fresheners, or deodorizing preparations unless the finished product has the required registration and substantiation for disinfectant claims.
What essential oils are in Bandits?
Bandits Essential Oil Blend contains clove bud, lemon, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus radiata, and rosemary essential oils.
The combination creates a strong spicy, citrus, and herbal aroma ideal for seasonal diffusion and household freshening.
Does diffusing essential oils clean the air of viruses?
There isn’t sufficient clinical or real-world evidence to claim that ordinary essential-oil diffusion disinfects indoor air or protects people from airborne viral infections.
Diffusion is best used for aromatherapy and fragrance.
Essential Oil Safety
Essential oils are highly concentrated botanical products. Follow individual product directions, use appropriate dilution for topical application, and keep oils away from the eyes and mucous membranes.
Extra precautions may apply during pregnancy or breastfeeding and around children and pets. Strong oils such as cinnamon, clove, thyme, and eucalyptus require particular attention to dilution and appropriate use.
See our Essential Oil Safety Information for additional guidance.
References
- Astani A, Reichling J, Schnitzler P. Comparative study on the antiviral activity of selected monoterpenes derived from essential oils. Phytotherapy Research. 2010;24(5):673-679.
- Schnitzler P. Essential oils for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections. Chemotherapy. 2019;64(1):1-7. doi:10.1159/000501062.
- Álvarez DM, Castillo E, Duarte LF, et al. Current antivirals and novel botanical molecules interfering with herpes simplex virus infection. Frontiers in Microbiology. 2020;11:139.
- Lee MS, et al. Effects of essential oils on symptoms and course (duration and severity) of viral respiratory infections in humans: a rapid review. Advances in Integrative Medicine. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.aimed.2020.07.005.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Selected EPA-Registered Disinfectants. EPA.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. What’s the Difference Between Products That Disinfect, Sanitize, and Clean Surfaces? EPA.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. BioSource Naturals products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent viral infections or any other disease. Laboratory research involving individual essential oils or isolated constituents does not establish that BioSource Naturals finished products produce the same effects.