I had a similar run-in with clove oil myself a few years back. Thought I'd be clever and skip the dentist by applying it directly to an aching tooth. Yeah...bad idea. Felt like my gums were on fire for hours—lesson learned! Diluting it definitely helps, but honestly, sometimes it's better to just bite the bullet and see a professional rather than risk another "herbal disaster."
Been there with the clove oil—definitely learned the hard way too. Honestly, sometimes DIY herbal stuff ends up costing more in the long run if you mess it up (speaking from experience here...). If something turns out way too strong or smells funky, is there a safe way to salvage it, or do you just toss it and start fresh? Hate wasting money, but also don't wanna risk another disaster.
Been there myself with some overly-strong peppermint oil I tried making a while back—felt like my mouth was on fire, haha. Usually, diluting it with a neutral carrier oil (like coconut or almond oil) can help tone down the intensity. If the smell's off, though... honestly, that's trickier. Sometimes airing it out or adding a complementary scent can mask mild funkiness, but if it smells really off, I'd probably just cut my losses. Better safe than sorry, especially if you're using it orally or anywhere sensitive.
I've had a similar issue when I tried making lavender oil for my kiddo's bedtime routine—ended up smelling more like old socks than calming flowers, lol. Diluting definitely helps with strength, but if the smell's off, sometimes gently warming it (like placing the sealed bottle in warm water for a bit) can help mellow it out. If that doesn't work...yeah, probably best to start fresh. Learned that one the hard way!
I've never tried lavender oil specifically, but I did have a similar mishap with mint tincture once—it ended up tasting super bitter and smelling oddly medicinal. What helped me was filtering it again through a coffee filter to remove any leftover plant material, then letting it sit uncovered for a little while to air out. Not sure if the airing-out trick works as well with oils, though...maybe worth a shot before tossing the whole batch?
