Looking at some more websites, it appears that the vapor works just as well as topical application for most bacterial infections. You might consider putting a few drops into a bowl of steaming water and sticking your head over it, using a towel to “tent” the vapors in. Just a thought. It would make the dilution a non-issue.
I second do not even taste the oregano oil that you purchased. It will burn you. That is why I just boil oregano from the store instead of buying oil. I can get a pound of organic oregano for $8.10 and am far safer with it than with the oil. ALSO, do not let it out where a child or dog could get at it and accidentally get it on them or (heaven forbid!) in their eyes.
But, I also wanted to recommend that you put some of the oil into a pot of steaming water (enough oil to smell it - or if you bought oregano, I put 1/4 cup of leaves), then inhale that through your nose for a little while because people harbor a lot of germs in their nose.
Usually, the germs don’t cause problems there, but since it is a warm/moist place they also don’t die (and they’re not subject to the systemic effects of your anti-biotic). Later (after you quit taking anti-biotics) you end up re-infecting yourself because you touched your nose then touched an open wound, ear or what ever. (IMHO, not dis-infecting the nose may be responsible for all those bounce-back infections in kids) I tried, but I can’t find the study that I read about this issue. But staph infections are notorious for hiding out in noses.
When I bought oregano oil, I tried just putting a dab under my nose… I can warn you to not do that. You really need to treat that stuff like a tiny bottle of really cruel acid. Watch that you don’t get it on your fingers and accidentally get it on your face or near your eyes.
This is why I use the onion/water compress. It’s steamy and squishy without putting anything in my ear. I have terrible luck with any sort of ear drops (alcohol, oils) other than water.
Cool! I’ll boil it and inhale the fumes, that sounds easier than messing with dilution.
Earbuds: sounds like you’ve already dealt with this but for future reference: if you do have nicer earbuds, using those foam covers might be useful - you can toss and replace them fairly frequently.
Re the other ear: since everything’s connected inside via the nasal passages, maybe some germies migrated from one to the other via that route. Blech. I wonder if a saltwater gargle or even using a neti pot would help .