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Quick answer: wintergreen essential oil is distilled from the leaves of Gaultheria plants and is made up almost entirely of methyl salicylate, a close chemical relative of aspirin. It has a sweet, minty, root beer-like smell and is used in muscle rubs and as a flavoring. It is also one of the most dangerous essential oils if swallowed: poison control experts note that even a teaspoon can cause severe salicylate poisoning, especially in children. Keep it locked away from kids and pets, never take it by mouth, use it only well diluted on small skin areas, and avoid it entirely if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, allergic to aspirin, have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners such as warfarin.
Wintergreen has one of the most recognizable scents in the world. It flavors gum, candy and toothpaste and gives many muscle rubs their sharp, cooling smell. As an essential oil, though, it is far stronger and riskier than most people expect.
This guide explains what wintergreen oil is, why it behaves so differently from other oils, what it is used for and how to keep everyone in the household safe. For the basics of choosing and diluting oils, start with our complete essential oils guide.
Sources: Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition (Churchill Livingstone, 2014); National Capital Poison Center (Poison Control) guidance on wintergreen oil and methyl salicylate; U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) information on over-the-counter topical analgesics; ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center guidance on essential oils and pets; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plants of the World Online; medical toxicology literature on salicylate poisoning. This article is general information and not medical advice. Checked October 2026.
What Wintergreen Essential Oil Is
Wintergreen oil comes from evergreen shrubs in the genus Gaultheria, part of the heath family, Ericaceae. Two species are the main sources:
| Species | Native range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gaultheria procumbens | Eastern North America | American wintergreen, also called teaberry or checkerberry |
| Gaultheria fragrantissima | South and Southeast Asia | Source of much commercial oil, including from Nepal and China |
The leaves are soaked in warm water before steam distillation. Soaking allows a natural enzyme to release methyl salicylate from a compound stored in the leaves, which is why fresh leaves smell faint until crushed.
Almost pure methyl salicylate
Wintergreen oil is unusual because it is made almost entirely of one compound. Essential Oil Safety reports methyl salicylate at roughly 96% to 99% of the oil. Most essential oils are complex mixtures of dozens of compounds, so wintergreen behaves more like a concentrated chemical than a typical aromatic oil.
Sweet birch oil
Sweet birch oil, from the bark of Betula lenta, is also almost pure methyl salicylate and carries the same risks. The two oils are nearly interchangeable chemically.
Natural vs synthetic
Methyl salicylate is also made synthetically and used widely in flavorings and topical products. Synthetic methyl salicylate is chemically identical to the natural compound, which makes it hard to tell real wintergreen oil from synthetic oil without specialized testing. Our guide on how to tell if essential oils are pure explains what lab reports can and cannot show.
The Wintergreen Plant
American wintergreen is a low, creeping shrub that rarely grows more than a few inches tall. It spreads through acidic soils in the woods of eastern North America, often under oaks and pines. Its glossy leaves stay green through winter, which gives the plant its name, and its bright red berries can hang on the plant through the cold months. The berries and leaves have a mild wintergreen flavor, but the plant contains far less methyl salicylate than the distilled oil.
A Short History of Wintergreen
Indigenous peoples of eastern North America used wintergreen leaves for tea and as a traditional remedy, and European settlers adopted it as a flavoring. In the 1800s, chemists studying wintergreen oil identified methyl salicylate as its main component; the French chemist Auguste Cahours is credited with this work in the 1840s. Salicylates from willow bark and meadowsweet were studied in the same era, a line of research that eventually led to aspirin, marketed by Bayer at the end of the 1890s. Later, synthetic methyl salicylate largely replaced natural wintergreen oil in commercial flavorings and rubs.
Wintergreen and Aspirin
Methyl salicylate is a salicylate, the same family of compounds as aspirin, which is acetylsalicylic acid. Once absorbed, methyl salicylate is broken down to salicylic acid, so its effects and risks resemble an aspirin overdose.
Toxicology references commonly note that a single teaspoon of wintergreen oil contains a salicylate dose equal to many adult aspirin tablets. That is why such a small amount can be life threatening, especially for a small child.
What Wintergreen Is Used For
Muscle rubs and balms
Methyl salicylate is a common active ingredient in over-the-counter topical analgesics for muscle and joint aches, regulated by the FDA. These products contain controlled amounts and come with label directions and warnings. They work partly as counterirritants, creating a warming or cooling sensation that distracts from pain.
Flavor and scent
Wintergreen flavors chewing gum, candy, mints, toothpaste and mouthwash. American wintergreen’s other name, teaberry, gave its name to a well-known gum flavor. Historically, wintergreen and sweet birch were also used to flavor root beer and birch beer.
A sparkling curiosity
Crushing wintergreen-flavored hard candies in the dark can produce tiny blue-green sparks, an effect called triboluminescence. Sugar crystals give off faint light when they fracture, and methyl salicylate converts some of that light into visible blue, making the sparks easier to see.
Diffusing
Some people diffuse wintergreen for its fresh, minty smell. Because it is so potent and poses risks to pets, many aromatherapists suggest using milder oils for diffusing in homes with children or animals.
Wintergreen Essential Oil Safety
Wintergreen requires more caution than almost any other common essential oil.
Poisoning risk
The National Capital Poison Center warns that wintergreen oil is extremely toxic if swallowed. Symptoms of salicylate poisoning can include vomiting, rapid breathing, ringing in the ears, confusion, seizures and, in severe cases, death. Children are at the greatest risk because of their small size and because the sweet, candy-like smell can attract them.
If anyone swallows wintergreen oil, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 in the United States right away, or 911 if the person has trouble breathing, has a seizure or is hard to wake.
Skin absorption
Methyl salicylate is absorbed through the skin. Overusing topical products, applying them over large areas, under heat pads or tight wraps, or combining several salicylate products can cause salicylate toxicity. A widely reported case in 2007 involved a teenage runner in New York whose death the medical examiner attributed to excessive use of methyl salicylate products. Follow product labels and avoid layering products.
Warning signs after skin use
Stop using any methyl salicylate product and seek medical advice if you notice:
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unusually fast or deep breathing
- Dizziness, headache or confusion
- Unusual sweating or a feeling of being overheated
These symptoms can appear after heavy or repeated skin use, not only after swallowing. Wash the skin with soap and water to remove remaining product, and call Poison Control for guidance. Bring the product label or bottle if you go to an emergency department, since it helps clinicians judge the dose.
Who should avoid wintergreen oil
Essential Oil Safety and medical sources advise against wintergreen use for:
- Children
- Pregnant and breastfeeding people
- People allergic or sensitive to aspirin or other salicylates
- People with bleeding disorders, or before surgery
- People taking anticoagulants such as warfarin, since salicylates can increase bleeding risk
- People with kidney or liver problems, unless approved by their doctor
Dilution
For adults without contraindications, keep wintergreen at low dilution and use it only on small areas, not as a whole-body massage oil. Never apply it undiluted, never use it under heating pads and never combine it with other salicylate products. Our essential oil dilution chart shows how to measure low percentages accurately. If you notice irritation, see our guide to essential oil skin reactions.
Pets
Salicylates are toxic to cats, which cannot process them well, and the ASPCA cautions against using essential oils around pets without veterinary guidance. Do not apply wintergreen to pets, and avoid diffusing it in homes with cats. Our guide on essential oils and pets covers safer practices.
Storage
- Keep wintergreen in a bottle with a child-resistant cap and an orifice reducer.
- Store it in a locked cabinet or high, secure place, away from children and pets.
- Label it clearly.
- Keep it cool and dark, and keep the cap tight.
Wintergreen vs Other Cooling Oils
| Oil | Main compound | Safety level |
|---|---|---|
| Wintergreen | Methyl salicylate (about 96% to 99%) | High risk if swallowed; many contraindications |
| Sweet birch | Methyl salicylate | Same risks as wintergreen |
| Peppermint | Menthol | Caution near young children’s faces |
| Eucalyptus | 1,8-Cineole | Caution near young children’s faces |
| Spearmint | Carvone | Milder; still dilute |
If you want a fresh, cooling scent without salicylate risks, peppermint or spearmint used with appropriate precautions, or eucalyptus for adults, are more forgiving choices.
Safer Approaches for Sore Muscles
If you were drawn to wintergreen for aches after exercise or yard work, there are gentler options:
- Rest, gentle stretching and gradual return to activity
- Cold packs in the first day or two after a strain, then warmth for stiffness, following your doctor’s advice
- Over-the-counter topical products used exactly as labeled, one product at a time
- A massage oil made with milder essential oils such as lavender, at normal adult dilutions
- A visit to a doctor or physical therapist for pain that lasts, worsens or follows an injury
Never combine a wintergreen blend with store-bought methyl salicylate rubs, and do not use any salicylate product on children unless a doctor directs it.
Childproofing Your Oil Collection
Wintergreen is a good reminder to childproof every essential oil in the house. Store all oils in a locked box or high cabinet, buy bottles with child-resistant caps and orifice reducers, and never leave bottles on bedside tables or in purses. Teach older children that oils are not drinks or candy. Our guide to essential oils for kids by age covers which oils are generally avoided at different ages.
How to Choose Wintergreen Oil
If you decide to buy wintergreen:
- Look for the botanical name Gaultheria procumbens or Gaultheria fragrantissima.
- Choose sellers who provide GC/MS reports and information on sourcing.
- Expect child-resistant packaging and clear warning labels.
- Be wary of very cheap wintergreen, which may be synthetic methyl salicylate.
- Buy the smallest bottle available, since you will use very little.
Wintergreen Oil at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical names | Gaultheria procumbens, Gaultheria fragrantissima |
| Plant family | Ericaceae |
| Plant part | Leaves, soaked and steam distilled |
| Scent | Sweet, minty, root beer-like |
| Main constituent | Methyl salicylate, about 96% to 99% |
| Main hazards | Salicylate poisoning, drug interactions, bleeding risk |
| Phototoxic | No |
| Avoid in | Children, pregnancy, breastfeeding, aspirin allergy, blood thinners |
Wintergreen Essential Oil Summary
Wintergreen essential oil comes from Gaultheria leaves and is almost pure methyl salicylate, a relative of aspirin. It gives muscle rubs and many candies and toothpastes their familiar scent. As a concentrated oil, it is one of the most dangerous essential oils to keep at home, since swallowing even a small amount can cause severe salicylate poisoning, especially in children. Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with aspirin allergy, bleeding disorders or blood thinners, and never use it on pets. Adults who use it should keep dilutions low, apply only to small areas, avoid heat and other salicylate products, and store it locked away with a child-resistant cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is wintergreen essential oil used for?
It is mostly used in muscle rubs and as a flavoring and fragrance. As a home essential oil, it should be used rarely, at low dilution and on small areas only.
Is wintergreen oil the same as aspirin?
No, but it is closely related. Its main compound, methyl salicylate, breaks down in the body to salicylic acid, so its effects and risks resemble aspirin.
Why is wintergreen oil dangerous?
It is almost pure methyl salicylate, and swallowing even a small amount can cause severe salicylate poisoning. Children are especially at risk.
Can I diffuse wintergreen oil around pets?
It is best avoided in homes with pets, especially cats, which are very sensitive to salicylates.
Who should not use wintergreen oil?
Children, pregnant or breastfeeding people, people with aspirin allergy or bleeding disorders and anyone taking blood thinners such as warfarin should avoid it.
