Baby Safety / Compounds / Wormwood oil (Artemisia absinthium)

Is Wormwood oil (Artemisia absinthium) safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

Infants are highly susceptible to Wormwood oil (Artemisia absinthium) due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What is wormwood oil (artemisia absinthium)?

Also known as: Cajeputöl, minyak kayu putih, huile de cajeput, cajeput oil.

CAS number
8008-98-8

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Infants are highly susceptible to Wormwood oil (Artemisia absinthium) due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Wormwood oil (Artemisia absinthium).

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EDC Assessment—Suspected endocrine disruptor

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter wormwood oil (artemisia absinthium)

  • Personal Care — absinthe-scented products
  • Food — absinthe, vermouth, bitters

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Wormwood oil (Artemisia absinthium):

  • Avoidance (no chemical substitute)
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is wormwood oil (artemisia absinthium) safe for kids?

Infants are highly susceptible to Wormwood oil (Artemisia absinthium) due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What products contain wormwood oil (artemisia absinthium)?

Wormwood oil (Artemisia absinthium) appears in: absinthe-scented products (Personal care); absinthe (Food); vermouth (Food).

What should I do if my child is exposed to wormwood oil (artemisia absinthium)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Wormwood oil (Artemisia absinthium) in the baby app

Look up products containing wormwood oil (artemisia absinthium), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. PubChem Compound Database (2026) — database

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →