On Guard is a protective essential oil blend from dōTERRA that combines wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary. People use it in diffusers, apply it to their skin, and mix it into homemade cleaning sprays. Each method calls for different dilution ratios and precautions, so here’s how to use it safely across the most common applications.
Diffusing for Airborne Support
Diffusing is the simplest and lowest-risk way to use On Guard. Add three to four drops to an ultrasonic diffuser filled with water and run it for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. This works well during cold and flu season or anytime you want to freshen a room with its warm, spicy scent. Keep the room ventilated, and give pets and small children the option to leave the space, since concentrated airborne oils can irritate sensitive respiratory systems.
Topical Application and Dilution
On Guard contains cinnamon and clove, both of which are considered “hot” oils that can sting or redden bare skin. Always dilute before applying. The standard recommendation is one drop of essential oil to three drops of a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil, jojoba, or sweet almond oil. You can premix a batch in a small glass roller bottle or blend it in your palm right before use.
The most popular spots for topical application are the bottoms of the feet, the back of the neck, and along the spine. The soles of the feet are a good starting point because the skin there is thicker and less likely to react. If you’re trying On Guard on your skin for the first time, do a patch test on a small area of your inner forearm and wait 24 hours to check for redness or irritation before applying it more broadly.
Sun Sensitivity Warning
Because On Guard contains wild orange oil, a citrus component, there is a real phototoxicity risk. Citrus oils like orange can cause severe burns or skin damage when the treated area is exposed to sunlight or tanning beds. If you apply On Guard to any skin that will be exposed to UV light, wait at least 12 hours before sun exposure. Applying it to the bottoms of your feet sidesteps this issue entirely.
Using On Guard Around Children
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia recommends limiting aromatherapy to children over the age of 3, noting that the risks of negative reactions in younger children are too high given the lack of clinical research. For kids older than 3, never apply undiluted essential oils directly to their skin. Use a heavier dilution than you would for adults: one to two drops of essential oil mixed into an ounce of unscented lotion or a vegetable-based carrier oil like jojoba or almond oil.
You can also add a few drops to bathwater, but mix the oil into a tablespoon of milk or baking soda first. Oil and water don’t blend on their own, so without a dispersant, the essential oil sits on the water’s surface and can cause skin irritation on contact. For diffusing around kids, keep sessions shorter (15 to 20 minutes) and make sure the room is well ventilated.
DIY Cleaning Sprays
On Guard works well as a household surface cleaner. If you’re using the dōTERRA On Guard Cleaner Concentrate, the typical ratios are:
- Multi-purpose surfaces: Two tablespoons of concentrate per 24 ounces of water
- Bathrooms: Three tablespoons per 24 ounces of water
- Dishes: Three tablespoons per gallon of water
- Tough jobs: Apply the concentrate directly and let it soak before wiping
If you’re working with the pure essential oil blend instead of the concentrate, a simple all-purpose spray is 15 to 20 drops of On Guard oil in a 16-ounce glass spray bottle, topped with water and a splash of white vinegar to help the oil disperse. Shake well before each use. Glass is preferable to plastic because essential oils, especially citrus-containing blends, can degrade certain plastics over time.
What the Research Actually Shows
Lab research published in the Undergraduate Journal of Experimental Microbiology and Immunology tested On Guard against four species of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The blend showed statistically significant antimicrobial activity against all four species in a standard disc diffusion test. That’s promising, but it’s important to understand what this means in practice: a lab dish is not the same as a human body or a kitchen counter. These results suggest the oils have genuine antimicrobial properties, but they don’t prove that diffusing On Guard will prevent you from catching a cold or that a homemade spray will sanitize surfaces to hospital-grade standards.
The National Capital Poison Center notes that few essential oil uses have been studied rigorously and that products are not always well regulated. This doesn’t mean the oils are useless, but it does mean you should treat them as a complement to standard hygiene practices like handwashing rather than a replacement.
Safety Precautions Worth Knowing
On Guard is potent. A few practical rules will help you avoid the most common problems:
- Skin reactions: The cinnamon and clove components make undiluted application risky even for adults. If you feel a burning sensation, apply more carrier oil to the area rather than rinsing with water. Oil dilutes oil more effectively than water does.
- Ingestion: Swallowing essential oils carries real risks. Many essential oils can be poisonous if absorbed through the skin in large amounts or swallowed. If someone accidentally ingests a significant quantity, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
- Pregnancy: If you’re pregnant or nursing, talk to your care provider before using On Guard topically or internally, as cinnamon and clove oils may not be appropriate during pregnancy.
- Storage: Keep bottles tightly closed, out of direct sunlight, and out of reach of children. Essential oils are highly concentrated, and even a small amount swallowed by a toddler can cause harm.
Start with diffusing if you’re new to essential oils. It gives you the benefits of the scent and airborne properties with the least risk. From there, you can experiment with topical use and cleaning sprays once you know how your skin and household respond.