# Wintergreen essential oil

> Wintergreen is a cooling, minty-sharp single oil valued for its high methyl salicylate content in post-activity massage blends.

Canonical page: https://essential-oils.club/oils/single/wintergreen

Type: Single oil

## At a glance

- **Botanical name:** Gaultheria procumbens
- **Plant part:** Leaves
- **Extraction:** Steam-distilled
- **Aroma:** Cooling, minty-sharp
- **Origin:** Eastern North America
- **Blends with:** Peppermint, eucalyptus

## Composition

- Methyl salicylate: 98%
- Other (trace terpenes, esters): 2%

Source: IJMS phytochemistry & biological profile of Gaultheria (2024) (https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010565)

## Key constituents

- **Methyl salicylate** (85-99%) — The dominant compound; gives wintergreen its cooling, minty-sharp character

## How to use it

- **In massage blends:** A small amount well diluted in a carrier oil, often paired with peppermint.
- **Use with care:** Dilute heavily, keep well away from children and pets, and never ingest.

## Safety

- Wintergreen is very high in methyl salicylate — always dilute heavily, keep it well away from children and pets, avoid it if you are on blood-thinning medication or salicylate-sensitive, and never ingest it.
- Maximum dermal use: Use only in very low dilution; potent and readily absorbed.
- 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.

## What the research says

- 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) (https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010565)

## Evidence

- 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) (https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010565)

## 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.

### 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.

### Is wintergreen phototoxic?

No — it isn't phototoxic. Its hazard is entirely about methyl salicylate toxicity, especially by ingestion, not sun exposure.

_Educational reference only — not medical advice. Essential oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease._