Updated 17 January 2024

Botanical characteristics

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Subphylum: Tracheobionta 
• Division: Magnoliophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Subclass: Rosidae
• Order: Myrtales
• Family: Myrtaceae
• Genus: Syzygium
• Part used: Flower buds (cloves)
• Country of origin: Spain, Morocco, Indonesia, Madagascar

Precautions for use

Caution! Prohibited for pregnant and breastfeeding women, small babies and children under 6 years of age, clove essential oil can only be used in diffusion or dermally, it can also be taken by prescription.

It is indeed dermocaustic and irritating to the respiratory tract, which is why it must be diluted when applied to the skin.

It should only be used for short periods and with the advice of a doctor.

It cannot be used with anticoagulants.

Finally, it contains more than 80% eugenol, an allergenic component.

Other precautions

Warning:

• Oral use of this essential oil must be prescribed by a therapist.
• Do not use this essential oil for long periods without medical advice.
• For children and infants, use in diluted form is possible on the advice of a therapist.
• It is not to be used by pregnant women unless diluted and prescribed by a doctor. In particular, it may be prescribed as a psychological aid at the time of childbirth (diluted through the skin or, exceptionally, by ingestion).

Cutaneous use:

• Clove essential oil is irritating to the skin and should be diluted in vegetable oil (10% essential oil with 90% vegetable oil) before application to the skin.

Ingestion:

• This essential oil can be used in cooking if it is first diluted in a fat (oil, cream, yoghurt, milk) or sweetened (syrup, honey). It should not be used pure.

Diffusion:

• As this essential oil is a respiratory irritant, it should be diluted 5-10% in other essential oils (5-10% essential oil in 90-95% other essential oils).

Contraindications:

• The use of clove essential oil is contraindicated when taken with anticoagulant medication.
• People with high blood pressure should use it with great caution as it may increase blood pressure.

Allergenic components:

Clove essential oil contains several biochemical allergenic components:

• Eugenol (monitoring! 72 to 88%)
• Benzyl benzoate (≤ 0.5%)
• Linalool (≤ 0.2%)
• Isoeugenol (≤ 0.1%)
• Limonene (≤ 0,1%)
• Benzyl salicylate (≤ 0,1 %)

Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).

Authorised users

Risks of use