Is Lavender Safe During Pregnancy?
Updated September 11, 2026
The Answer
Normal diluted topical lavender or aromatherapy appears low concern, but pregnancy data are limited and mainly concern later pregnancy. This does not extend to ingestion or undiluted essential oils; oral lavender supplements have insufficient pregnancy safety data.
How you use lavender changes the answer: diluted skin or aromatherapy exposure is different from swallowing lavender flower, extract, or essential oil supplements, which EMA does not recommend during pregnancy because data are insufficient.
Small studies of topical lavender and aromatherapy in later pregnancy reported no adverse effects, but they do not establish safety across pregnancy; NCCIH notes that pregnancy safety remains poorly understood.
Already used it? If you have already taken an oral lavender supplement, review the exact product with your prenatal clinician. The reassuring findings from small topical and aromatherapy studies do not establish safety for swallowed preparations.
Pregnancy Safe is 100% independent and research driven. No companies pay to promote or sponsor products.
Stressless Pregnancy
Check your exact product with lavender in the app
What Is Lavender?
You may also see it listed as: lavandula
Lavender is a fragrant flowering plant used for its floral aroma in fragrances, essential oils, skincare, and bath products. You may encounter it in lotions, shampoos, soaps, body oils, and aromatherapy preparations, as well as teas, food flavorings, extracts, and oral supplements.
What Other Ingredients Should You Look Out for in Products With Lavender?
A product's full ingredient list determines whether it's pregnancy-safe or not. These ingredients also appear in some of the lavender products we analyzed and may deserve a closer look.
Retinoid
AvoidLook for retinyl palmitate in the full ingredient list of lavender personal care products. It is a vitamin A derivative covered by guidance discouraging routine cosmetic topical retinoids during pregnancy, so check for it rather than relying on the lavender scent or product name.
Flagged in 6 products (2.3%) in this analysis.
Butylphenyl Methylpropional
AvoidCheck lotions, shampoos, and aromatherapy products for butylphenyl methylpropional, also called Lilial or BMHCA. Regulatory reproductive toxicity concerns rely largely on animal evidence, with limited human pregnancy data; avoiding products listing it is the practical precaution.
Flagged in 3 products (1.1%) in this analysis.
Licorice Root
AvoidCheck lavender herbal teas and coffee drinks for licorice root or organic licorice root. Regular or concentrated intake can raise blood pressure and has observational pregnancy concerns, so review habitual use with your prenatal clinician rather than treating it as incidental flavoring.
Flagged in 2 products (0.8%) in this analysis.
Fragrance
CautionLook for fragrance, parfum, perfume, or natural fragrance in lavender personal care and household products: these terms may leave the scent mixture partly undisclosed, but do not prove it contains phthalates or causes pregnancy harm. Check for individually named fragrance ingredients and consider lower fragrance options if scents irritate your skin or airways.
Flagged in 117 products (44.7%) in this analysis.
Calendula
CautionLook for Calendula officinalis or its flower extract in lavender lotions, washes, and hair products. Normal use on intact skin is lower concern than concentrated oral preparations, but allergy is possible, so check your sensitivity to daisy family plants rather than applying oral herb warnings to skincare.
Flagged in 30 products (11.5%) in this analysis.
Juniper Oil
CautionCheck fragrance blends, lotions, and hair products for juniper oil and whether it is diluted in a finished product. Low level fragrance exposure differs from concentrated oil; pregnancy data are sparse, and oral or concentrated essential oil use should be avoided.
Flagged in 10 products (3.8%) in this analysis.
Does Lavender Strength or Product Type Matter During Pregnancy?
The low concern assessment applies to normal diluted topical or aromatherapy use, not undiluted essential oil. Small pregnancy studies involved later pregnancy, so they do not establish first trimester safety; avoid experimenting with lavender essential oils in the first trimester. Allergy, irritation, or sedation also changes whether a use is appropriate. Oral flower, tincture, extract, and essential oil supplements have insufficient human pregnancy safety data. Ordinary food flavoring amounts are a different exposure and cannot be used to establish supplement safety.
What Products Contain Lavender?
Pregnancy Safe has looked at 396 products that have lavender as an ingredient. The category and grade breakdowns below use 262 products whose names mention Lavender or another name for it.
What Types of Products Contain Lavender?
Products You May Have That Contain Lavender
| Grade | Product | Brand | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| B+ | Dr. Bronner'S Magic Pure Castile Liquid Soap - Lavender - 32 Fl Oz | Dr. Bronner'S | Liquid Soap |
| C+ | M3 Naturals Firming Body Massage Oil, Arnica Sore Muscle, Lavender, Ylang Ylang & Ginger, Smooths Skin, Skin Tightening Body Oil | M3 Naturals | Body Oil |
| B+ | Dr. Bronner'S Bar Soap - Lavender - 5Oz | Dr. Bronner'S | Bar Soap |
| C+ | Original Mountain Lavender 2.5 Oz | Humble Brands | Unknown |
| B+ | Dr. Bronner'S Pure Castile Soap - Lavender - 16 Fl Oz | Dr. Bronner'S | Soap |
| C+ | Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Lavender Tea - Case Of 6 Boxes/20 Bags | Celestial Seasonings | Tea |
| D+ | Dr Teal'S Moisturizing Soothe & Sleep Bath And Body Oil With Lavender Essential Oil | Dr Teal'S | Bath Oil |
| C- | Laundry Detergent Sheets - Fresh Lavender | Seventh Generation | Laundry Detergent |
How Do Products Containing Lavender Score?
It can be helpful to see how products containing lavender 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 262 products, 60% 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 During Pregnancy
Can I use lavender in a diffuser while pregnant?
Normal lavender aromatherapy appears low concern, but small pregnancy studies mainly involved later pregnancy. They do not establish a specific diffuser duration or amount, and the assessment does not cover every essential oil or blend.
What about lavender lotion, soap, or bath products?
Lavender itself appears low concern when diluted and used normally on the skin. That does not make the complete product pregnancy safe: check the rest of the formula, and avoid preparations that cause skin reactions.
Is lavender different in the first trimester?
The small reassuring aromatherapy studies involved later pregnancy, so they cannot establish first trimester safety. Avoid experimenting with lavender essential oils in the first trimester; this limitation is not proof that an earlier exposure caused harm.
Can I take lavender capsules or extracts during pregnancy?
Human pregnancy safety has not been established for swallowed lavender flower, tincture, extract, or essential oil supplements. EMA monographs do not recommend medicinal lavender flower or oil during pregnancy because data are insufficient. Review the exact oral product with your prenatal clinician.
Are lavender tea and lavender syrup covered by the aromatherapy evidence?
No. Inhaled or topical studies cannot establish safety for lavender tea or syrup. Ordinary food flavoring amounts are different from medicinal flower preparations or concentrated supplements, but the available evidence does not establish a pregnancy safe serving size for tea or syrup.
Can lavender irritate my skin even when it is diluted?
Yes. Allergy and irritation are recognized concerns with topical lavender, and sedation can also make a use unsuitable. Dilution does not guarantee that you will tolerate a preparation.
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.
Sources
- https://mohpublic.z6.web.core.windows.net/IsraelDrugs/Rishum01_2_60938622.pdf
- https://mothertobaby.org/baby-blog/slippery-topic-essential-oils-pregnancy/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11641599/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7956842/
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-lavandula-angustifolia-miller-aetheroleum_en.pdf
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-lavandula-angustifolia-p-mill-flos_en.pdf
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/addendum-assessment-report-lavandula-angustifolia-mill-l-officinalis-chaix-flos_en.pdf
- https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/essential-oils-and-pregnancy
- https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/23/2456
- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/lavender
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/updated-measures-pregnancy-prevention-during-retinoid-use
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582989/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582775/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26215715/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41365815/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36447117/
- https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=9f1c8971-c6dc-4708-848b-5cee50b6c32a
- https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=993a5325-cd10-4450-b5ea-1c0a90510df6
- https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/lookup.cfm?setid=34d79c31-1568-4797-a4f5-31200c7788db
- https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemicals-product-safety/lilial.html
- https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/evaluating-existing-substances/draft-assessment-phenylpropanoids-aldehydes-group.html
- https://health.ec.europa.eu/publications/safety-butylphenyl-methylpropional-p-bmhca-cosmetic-products-submission-ii_en
- https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R1902
- https://chem.echa.europa.eu/100.001.173/harmonised/113759
- https://chem.echa.europa.eu/obligation-lists/candidateList
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32461162/
- https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/licorice-root
- https://webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca/nhpid-bdipsn/dbImages/mono_licorice_english.pdf
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/liquiritiae-radix
- https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/December2019/Liquorice-side-effects-interactions.htm
- https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/does-the-consumption-of-liquorice-by-pregnant-women-impair-the-mental-and-physical-development-of-children.pdf
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28158597/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11390327/
- https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/fragrances-cosmetics
- https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/phthalates-cosmetics
- https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredients/allergens-cosmetics
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3110684/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4016195/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4097177/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8453372/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10999525/
- https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-calendula-officinalis-l-flos-revision-1_en.pdf
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-calendula-officinalis-l-flos-revision-1_en.pdf
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/addendum-assessment-report-calendula-officinalis-l-flos-revision-1_en.pdf
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19288530/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11558637/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501857/
- https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/calendula
- https://uktis.org/monographs/use-of-essential-oils-in-pregnancy/
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-community-herbal-monograph-juniperus-communis-l-aetheroleum_en.pdf
- https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-juniperus-communis-l-pseudo-fructus-galbulus-revision-1_en.pdf
- https://www.drugs.com/npp/juniper.html
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1080/10915810160233758
- https://www.utep.edu/herbal-safety/populations/herbs-to-avoid-during-pregnancy.html