Essential Oil Profile: Sweet Orange

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Essential Oil Profile: Sweet Orange

Latin Name: Citrus sinensis
Plant Family: Rutaceae
Plant Part Used: Rind of the fruit
Extraction Method: cold-pressed, steam distillation
Scent: Sweet, fresh and tangy
Color: Yellow to orange
Viscosity: Thin
Shelf Life: 1 to 2 years
Max Dermal Use Level: 5%
Notes (Perfume): Top
Phototoxic: No
Safe for Kids: Yes
Safe for Pregnancy: Yes
Safe for Breastfeeding: Yes
Safe for Ingestion: Yes
Chemical Families: monoterpenes, aldehydes, monoterpenols
Primary Chemical Constituents: limonene, beta myrcene, linalool, decanal, alpha pinene
Blends well with:

(Worwood, 2016, p. 609 - 610)

basil linalol, bay (west indian), bay laurel, bergamot, black pepper, cananga, cardamom, chamomile roman, clary sage, clove bud, coriander seed, cypress, fennel (sweet), frankincense, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, jasmine, juniper berry, lavandin, lavender, lemon, lime, linden blossom, mandarin, marjoram (sweet), may chang, mimosa, myrtle, neroli, nutmeg, patchouli, petitgrain, pine, rose absolute, rosemary, rose otto, rosewood, sandalwood, spearmint, spikenard, thyme linalol, valerian, vetiver, ylang ylang

General Information

Sweet orange essential oil is an oil extracted from the peel of the sweet orange fruit of the Citrus sinensis tree. Sweet orange is a small tree that bears small round fruits with sweet pulp and non-bitter membranes. The tree itself was believed to originate from Southeast Asia, India and China. In the early 16th century, Italian and Portuguese merchants brought sweet orange into Europe, which eventually reached the American soil through various European explorers. Currently, Brazil is known as the largest producer and exporter of sweet orange essential oil.

Therapeutic Properties

(Worwood, 2016, p. 609 - 610)

Antibacterial – prevents and kills bacteria

Antiseptic – prevents and kills microorganisms which include bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa

Calmative – has calming (sedative) effect

Cholagogue – stimulates the release and secretion of bile from the gall bladder

Depurative – has purifying and detoxifying effect; helps cleanse waste products and toxins from our body

Diuretic - promotes the removal of excess water from the body as urine

Sedative – relaxes mind and body in order to promote calmness and induce sleep

Stimulant – increases alertness and energy

Stomachic – promotes appetite and aids digestion

Tonic – invigorates, refreshes and restores the body

Uses and Benefits

Relieve Stress and Anxiety

Because of its refreshing citrus aroma, sweet orange essential oil can uplift the mood when you’re feeling down, it’s like a natural anti-depressant medicine. Its mild sedative properties can also help reduce stress and anxiety. Also, if you have trouble sleeping, then sweet orange oil can be blended with lavender and chamomile to promote a good night sleep.

Help Improve Digestion

If you are experiencing digestion problems like constipation or stomach spasm, you can create a massage oil with sweet orange essential oil and rub it onto your stomach.

Disinfect the Room

Using orange essential oil in room spray will not only add a refreshing smell to your house, it can also cleanse the air, thanks to its antibacterial and antiseptic properties.

Skin Care

Sweet orange essential oil has an ability to prevent and fight pimple-causing bacteria, so you can combine it with lavender or tea tree essential oil to create a facial serum for people with oily and/or acne-prone skin.

I know there are blog articles claiming that sweet orange oil is good for anti-aging formulation since it is rich in vitamin C. To tell you the truth, that claim is impossible since vitamin C is water soluble and all essential oils don’t contain water soluble elements.

Lip Care

Since sweet orange essential oil is regarded as safe for ingestion, it can be used in making lip care products (e.g. lip balm, lip scrub).

Lower Blood Pressure

Because orange essential oil is a natural diuretic, it can help lower blood pressure by flushing out extra salt and water out of your body through urination. The best way to treat high blood pressure using essential oils is through inhalation (e.g. diffuser) or massage.

Safety Information
  • No known contraindication with any medical drugs, procedures and conditions.
  • Has been given GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status by US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that it is safe for ingestion (depending on the safe dosage). It is highly recommended to consult first a health professional before ingesting any essential oil.
  • Oxidized sweet orange essential oil should not be used as it can cause skin sensitization (Tisserand & Young, 2014).
References:

Orange Essential Oil (Sweet) Information. Retrieved from http://essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/orange.htm

Orange Essential Oil. Retrieved from https://www.anandaapothecary.com/orange-essential-oil

Tisserand, R. and Young, R. (2014). Essential Oil Safety (2nd ed.). London: Elsevier.

Worwood, V.A. (2016). The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. Novato, CA: New World Library.

P.S. To always get the latest blog updates, don’t forget to follow me on Facebook.


You Might Also Like

0 comments

Popular Posts

Like us on Facebook

Subscribe