How to tell my mother to go easy on the essential oils when it doesn’t just affect her

I’m autistic so I’m not the best at using at words, need a little help (also English is not first language so I’m sorry for any mistakes). I have a physical disability that my mother helps me care for so I live with her and it’s been a couple years- and I’m stuck at home for the foreseeable future, even if I’m an adult and it seems sad. My mother is a hothead , takes many things as a personal attack. She’s obsessed with essential oils. I never mind except for when she uses peppermint oil. She uses way too much and the whole house reeks and it gives me the worst headaches (in the most recent incident she used 1/4th of the whole bottle! No exaggeration!) In the past I’ve tried asking to tone it down, she insists that I’m being overdramatic and there’s no way something “natural” would make me sick. I’ve tried stating facts and proposing alternatives, she acts like I’m talking down to her. She says she uses it for muscle aches and nothing else will work, but I know she doesn’t try anything other than the most “organic” type things. How do I get her to stop with the peppermint oil at the least?

Posted Apr 29, 2026, 6:48 AM UTC

11
Loading comments…