Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
Wintergreen is a cooling, minty-sharp single oil valued for its high methyl salicylate content in post-activity massage blends.
How to use it
A small amount well diluted in a carrier oil, often paired with peppermint.
Dilute heavily, keep well away from children and pets, and never ingest.
Safety in detail
- Max dermal use
- Use only in very low dilution; potent and readily absorbed
- Phototoxic
- No
- Almost pure methyl salicylate, which is chemically related to aspirin — highly toxic if ingested. A small amount can be dangerous, especially to children; keep it strictly out of their reach.
- Avoid with blood-thinning medication, salicylate (aspirin) sensitivity, during pregnancy, and on children.
- Readily absorbed through skin — use only heavily diluted and over small areas. Not phototoxic.
Sources: IJMS review (2024) · Contact Dermatitis case report (2022)
Composition & chemistry
- Methyl salicylate 98%
- Other (trace terpenes, esters) 2%
- Methyl salicylate — the near-sole constituent; an aspirin-related compound used in warming rubs, and the reason wintergreen demands strict caution and no ingestion IJMS review (2024)
Steam-distilled wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens); almost entirely methyl salicylate — one of the least chemically varied of all essential oils.
Source: IJMS phytochemistry & biological profile of Gaultheria (2024)Methyl salicylate makes up 85–99% of the oil — chemically related to aspirin.
What the research says
An honest read of the published research — what has actually been studied, at what stage. Not medical advice or a promise of results.
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Methyl salicylate, wintergreen's near-sole constituent, is the active in many warming muscle rubs and is related to aspirin. That same potency is why it's a leading cause of essential-oil poisoning when ingested — this is a caution, not an endorsement of self-treatment.
IJMS review (2024)
Evidence & sources
Peer-reviewed research on Wintergreen's chemistry and safety. These describe composition and documented effects — not health or treatment claims.
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Wintergreen oil is around 98% methyl salicylate — an unusually simple composition that also makes it one of the most hazardous oils if misused.
IJMS review (2024)
Frequently asked questions
Why is wintergreen oil considered dangerous?
It's almost pure methyl salicylate, which is chemically related to aspirin and highly toxic if swallowed — a small amount can seriously harm a child. It must be kept out of reach, used only heavily diluted, and never ingested. IJMS review (2024)
Who should avoid wintergreen oil?
Anyone on blood thinners, with aspirin/salicylate sensitivity, who is pregnant, and children should avoid it. If you use it topically for muscles, keep the dilution very low and the area small. IJMS review (2024)
Is wintergreen phototoxic?
No — it isn't phototoxic. Its hazard is entirely about methyl salicylate toxicity, especially by ingestion, not sun exposure.
Gallery
Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) is composed almost entirely of methyl salicylate, the same aromatic compound responsible for wintergreen’s classic cooling, minty-sharp smell — and chemically related to aspirin.
The plant
Wintergreen is a low, creeping evergreen shrub native to eastern North America, historically associated with its bright red berries and glossy leaves. Traditionally, the crushed leaves have long been steeped for their characteristic minty aroma, and the plant is unrelated to true mint despite the similar cooling quality.
Extraction
Steam distillation of the leaves yields an oil that’s unusually concentrated in a single compound — methyl salicylate typically accounts for 85–99% of the oil, one of the more extreme single-compound concentrations found in any commercial essential oil.
In massage blends
A small amount diluted into a carrier oil is a popular addition to after-activity rubs, often paired with peppermint or other camphor-type oils for a cooling, invigorating sensation.
Safety notes
Because of its methyl salicylate content, wintergreen should always be diluted before skin contact, avoided by anyone on blood thinners or sensitive to salicylates (including aspirin sensitivity), and never ingested. Keep it away from children and pets — cats in particular are highly sensitive to salicylates, and even small amounts can be dangerous for them. Diffuse only briefly and in a well-ventilated room.
Pairs well with
Peppermint, eucalyptus, and other cooling or camphor-type oils are the most common partners in massage and muscle-focused blends.
Sourcing note
Methyl salicylate concentration varies by distillation, so a tested, labeled source matters more than usual with this oil — an unlabeled or synthetic “wintergreen fragrance” is not a safe substitute.
Found in these blends
Wintergreen is one of the oils inside 4 Young Living blends.