I've actually tried diluting oregano oil with coconut oil myself when I made a batch way too potent. It did help tone down the intensity, but honestly, it wasn't a quick fix. The oregano scent and flavor still lingered quite strongly. What worked better for me was mixing it into something thicker like shea butter or beeswax balm to mask the scent a bit more effectively—kind of created a barrier that softened the impact.
Also, keep in mind that coconut oil solidifies at cooler temps, so depending on where you store it, you might end up with a semi-solid mixture that's tricky to use. Personally, I've found olive or almond oil easier to handle since they're always liquid at room temperature. Either way, dilution definitely helps, just don't expect miracles overnight... learned that the hard way myself.
I've had similar experiences when experimenting with herbal oils at home—oregano oil can be especially tricky because it's so potent. I agree that coconut oil isn't always ideal due to its solidifying issue. Personally, I found grapeseed oil to be a real lifesaver. It's neutral, stays liquid, and blends really smoothly. Also, adding a few drops of peppermint or lavender essential oil can help mask that lingering oregano scent... makes the whole thing way more pleasant to use.
Grapeseed oil is definitely underrated—I use it a lot myself, especially for homemade toothpaste blends. Have you tried sweet almond oil yet? It's another neutral option that doesn't solidify, and it's gentle enough for oral use. Totally agree about oregano oil being potent though... learned that the hard way when I first experimented with it for gum health. Dilution is key, and yeah, peppermint or spearmint can really help mellow out that intense oregano flavor. Sounds like you're on the right track!
Sweet almond oil is a great suggestion—I haven't tried it in toothpaste yet, but I did use it once in a homemade mouth rinse. It was super gentle and didn't leave any weird aftertaste. Totally agree about oregano oil though... I once got a bit too enthusiastic and added way more than recommended into my DIY mouthwash. Let's just say my gums were not happy with me for a couple days. Lesson learned the hard way, haha.
One thing that helped me salvage that batch was adding a bit of coconut oil and extra peppermint essential oil to tone down the intensity. It didn't completely erase the oregano flavor, but it made it tolerable enough to finish the bottle. Dilution really is everything with potent oils like oregano—less is definitely more.
"Dilution really is everything with potent oils like oregano—less is definitely more."
Totally agree with this. I once tried making a clove oil tincture at home for toothache relief, thinking it'd be cheaper than store-bought stuff. Let's just say I underestimated how strong cloves can get... My mouth felt numb for hours, and the taste was intense enough to make me reconsider my DIY ambitions altogether. Ended up diluting it heavily with olive oil and adding a touch of cinnamon to mask the bitterness. It wasn't perfect, but at least it didn't go to waste!
