"Did you notice if the coconut oil dilution affected how well the clove oil worked?"
Honestly, dilution definitely matters. I once made a batch for a toothache and went a bit heavy-handed with the coconut oil—ended up barely numbing anything. Next time, I steeped it longer (about a week) and diluted less, and it was way more effective. But yeah, careful with potency... I accidentally numbed half my tongue once, and talking felt like I'd just left the dentist. Not fun when you're already dealing with braces awkwardness, trust me.
Totally agree about dilution making a difference. Last year I tried making my own peppermint oil blend for sore gums and got the dilution way off—ended up with something so strong it burned instead of soothing. Had to toss the whole batch and start over, this time using way less essential oil and more carrier. Lesson learned the hard way... definitely pays to test a tiny bit first before going all-in on sensitive areas like your mouth.
"definitely pays to test a tiny bit first before going all-in on sensitive areas like your mouth."
Yeah, testing first is smart, but I'm wondering—did you really have to toss the whole batch? I've had similar mishaps (like a lavender tincture that ended up smelling more like cleaning fluid than relaxing herbs), and instead of throwing it out, I diluted it way down and repurposed it for something less sensitive, like a room spray or linen freshener. Maybe your peppermint blend could've worked as a foot soak or muscle rub if diluted enough? I get being cautious, especially with anything going near your mouth, but sometimes there's a practical workaround rather than starting completely from scratch. Did you consider trying something like that first, or was it just too intense to salvage?
Good point about repurposing rather than tossing it all out. I've had patients who've experimented with homemade herbal rinses or oils, and sometimes the strength or flavor just doesn't turn out as expected. One patient made a clove oil rinse that was way too intense—she diluted it heavily and ended up using it as a foot soak instead. Worked surprisingly well for her. Curious if the peppermint blend was just too overpowering taste-wise, or if there was some other issue like irritation or sensitivity...?
"Curious if the peppermint blend was just too overpowering taste-wise, or if there was some other issue like irritation or sensitivity...?"
I bet it was probably the taste—peppermint can get pretty intense if you're not careful. I once tried making a peppermint mouth rinse at home and ended up with something that tasted more like mouthwash on steroids than anything refreshing. Diluting helped a bit, but honestly, mixing it into baking soda for a homemade toothpaste turned out way better. Might be worth trying if you're stuck with an overly strong batch.
