Is Lavender Oil Safe During Pregnancy?
Updated September 12, 2026
The Answer
Lavender oil warrants caution during pregnancy, especially when swallowed as concentrated oil or an oral supplement. Inhaled aromatherapy and diluted skin use in the second or third trimester have more reassuring, but limited, human evidence, not proof of safety.
The key distinction is inhaling the aroma or using diluted oil on skin versus swallowing concentrated lavender oil or supplements; these exposures should not share the same safety conclusion.
Small human trials and reviews of inhaled aromatherapy or diluted topical use in the second or third trimester have not reported clear pregnancy harms, but the evidence is limited.
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What Is Lavender Oil?
You may also see it listed as: lavender essential oil, lavender flower oil
Lavender oil is a concentrated, fragrant essential oil derived from lavender flowers. It is used for scent and relaxation in aromatherapy and in products such as lotions, creams, body washes and bath oils. It is also sold in oral supplement forms.
What Other Ingredients Should You Look Out for in Products With Lavender Oil?
A product's full ingredient list determines whether it's pregnancy-safe or not. These ingredients also appear in some of the lavender oil products we analyzed and may deserve a closer look.
Retinoid
AvoidLook for retinyl palmitate in the cream’s ingredient list: it is a vitamin A derivative covered by guidance discouraging routine cosmetic retinoid use during pregnancy. Check whether your cream contains it; topical exposure is not equivalent to the established risks of oral retinoid medicines.
Flagged in 1 product (8.3%) in this analysis.
Fragrance
CautionLook for fragrance or parfum in lotions, bath oils and body washes: these terms can conceal individual scent ingredients and may matter if you have skin or airway sensitivities. Fragrance free or lower fragrance options can reduce exposure, but the label alone does not prove phthalate content or pregnancy harm.
Flagged in 4 products (33.3%) in this analysis.
Butylated Hydroxytoluene
CautionBHT is an antioxidant in these bath oils, foot masks and body washes; cosmetic safety reviews support specified concentrations despite limited direct pregnancy data. Check the product’s intended skin use and formulation rather than treating high dose oral animal findings as evidence of harm from topical use.
Flagged in 3 products (25%) in this analysis.
Phenoxyethanol
CautionPhenoxyethanol is a preservative in these lotions, foot masks and creams; safety reviews consider typical regulated cosmetic levels acceptable, though direct pregnancy evidence is limited. Check that the product is intended for cosmetic skin use and follows applicable concentration limits rather than treating its presence as an automatic avoid signal.
Flagged in 3 products (25%) in this analysis.
Methylparaben
CautionLook for methylparaben, a preservative in these foot masks and topical pain relief products: pregnancy biomonitoring findings are mixed, while reviewed cosmetic levels are generally considered low concern. If reducing avoidable endocrine active ingredients is your preference, check for this exact name rather than assuming all parabens have the same evidence.
Flagged in 2 products (16.7%) in this analysis.
Does Lavender Oil Strength or Product Type Matter During Pregnancy?
The reassuring pregnancy findings concern inhaled aromatherapy or diluted topical use in the second or third trimester; they do not establish safety for undiluted skin application or first trimester use. Tiny food flavoring exposure is different from swallowing concentrated oil. Oral supplements deserve greater caution because pregnancy data are limited and toxicity, sedation interactions, allergy and uncertain endocrine concerns remain.
What Products Contain Lavender Oil?
Pregnancy Safe has looked at 176 products that have lavender oil as an ingredient. The category and grade breakdowns below use 12 products whose names mention Lavender Oil or another name for it.
What Types of Products Contain Lavender Oil?
Products You May Have That Contain Lavender Oil
| Grade | Product | Brand | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D+ | Dr Teal'S Moisturizing Soothe & Sleep Bath And Body Oil With Lavender Essential Oil | Dr Teal'S | Bath Oil |
| C- | Jergens Baby Calming Lotion Shea Butter & Lavender Oil | Jergens | Lotion |
| C- | Olay Ribbons Moisture Plus Body Wash Shea + Lavender Oil | Olay Ribbons | Body Wash |
| D+ | Amopé Pedimask 20-Minute Foot Mask - Detox & Chill With Lavender Oil - 1 Pair | Amope | Foot Mask |
| C- | Aspercreme Max Strength 4% Lidocaine Infused With Lavender Essential Oil | Aspercreme | Topical Pain Relief |
| C+ | Lavender Essential Oil Single - Aura Cacia | Aura Cacia | Essential Oil |
| C+ | Lavender Oil | Botanic Choice | Essential Oil |
| F | Lavender Essential Oil Cream | Nature'S Truth, Llc. | Cream |
How Do Products Containing Lavender Oil Score?
It can be helpful to see how products containing lavender oil generally score during pregnancy. This does not tell you whether your exact product is safe, but it gives you a general idea of what we found. In this breakdown of 12 products, 67% receive a C grade. A C grade means the complete formula has some pregnancy considerations, so use it sparingly and consider a higher scoring alternative when one is available.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lavender Oil During Pregnancy
Is smelling lavender oil different from taking it orally?
Yes. Inhaled aromatherapy has limited but more reassuring pregnancy evidence than oral supplements. That does not establish a safe diffuser strength, duration or frequency, and swallowing concentrated oil raises separate toxicity concerns.
Can I apply lavender oil directly to my skin?
The reassuring pregnancy findings concern diluted topical use, not undiluted essential oil. They should not be extended to applying concentrated oil directly to skin, and allergy concerns remain.
What is known about lavender oil in the first trimester?
The reassuring findings described here come from second- or third trimester inhaled or diluted topical use. They do not establish first trimester safety, but that evidence gap is not proof of harm.
Can lavender aromatherapy help with sleep or anxiety during pregnancy?
Small trials and reviews suggest it may help sleep or anxiety. The evidence remains limited, so a possible benefit should not be taken as proof of pregnancy safety.
Are lavender supplements the same as lavender flavoring in food?
No. Tiny food flavoring exposure is different from ingesting concentrated oil or oral supplements. Supplements warrant greater caution because pregnancy data are limited and toxicity and sedation interactions are concerns.
Does this assessment also cover lavender tea?
No. The evidence summarized here distinguishes lavender essential oil, oral supplements and tiny food flavoring exposure; it does not establish a pregnancy safety conclusion for lavender tea.
How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?
We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.
A - Safe
Excellent choice! All ingredients are considered safe during pregnancy.
What to do: Use with confidence.
B - Likely Safe
Pretty much safe with very minimal risk. Some ingredients may have limited pregnancy studies, but no significant safety concerns have been identified.
What to do: Use with confidence.
C - Limit
Contains ingredients with some pregnancy considerations. Research shows these ingredients may have limited safety data, potential for minor hormonal effects, or require caution based on animal studies.
What to do: Use sparingly and consider safer alternatives when available.
D - Caution
Similar to C grade but contains multiple cautionary ingredients. The combination increases overall concern.
What to do: Try to avoid if that makes you feel better. If you've already used it, no need to panic.
F - Avoid
Contains an ingredient Pregnancy Safe recommends avoiding during pregnancy. This may reflect an established risk or a precaution based on limited evidence; check the ingredient guidance and exposure context.
What to do: Do not use during pregnancy. If you've already used it, don't worry - contact your OBGYN if concerned.
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