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The sharp tang of citrus fruits can be both stimulating and relaxing, depending on how it is perceived, but did you know that there are around 12 different citrus essential oils? The smell of citrus is instantly recognisable and can be found in cleaning products, candles, skincare products, cosmetics, as a preservative, medicinally and in food and drink.
The Citrus family includes many citrus fruits you’ve probably heard of and some you may not have known are even citrus fruits! The citrus family includes sweet orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot, mandarin, tangerine, yuzu and neroli. Many think that lemongrass and citronella are also part of this family but they’re part of the Cymbopogon family, confusingly.
Sweet orange is a specific kind of Citrus with the botanical name Citrus sinensis. It includes a number of varieties including Valencia oranges and blood oranges which are valued for their highly aromatic peel, orange blossom flowers and their sweet, juicy pulp.
Unlike other essential oils that are extracted using distillation with heat or maceration using fats, sweet orange essential oil is cold-pressed. This method of extraction involves squeezing the orange rinds to release the essential oils within. It is usually done mechanically but can be extracted by hand.
Other citrus essential oils include lemon oil, neroli oil, bergamot oil and mandarin oil. Each of these is the cold-pressed essential oil from citrus peel but from different varieties of citrus fruits.
Cultivating sweet oranges and extracting their oil dates back as far as 2500 BCE where it was grown in southeast Asia and used in herbal remedies for the same reasons we use it today. Sweet oranges weren’t introduced to Europe until Portuguese travellers bought them back from southern China, after which they were cultivated in tropical forested regions across southern Europe and west Africa.
The benefits of sweet orange essential oil come mainly from its active ingredients, chiefly limonene which is a type of terpene. Studies have shown that limonene possesses a range of health benefits including being antimicrobial (stops the growth of bacteria, mould, viruses, parasites and fungi), antifungal and anti-inflammatory, as well as a few other antis. Sweet orange is also known to contain powerful antioxidants.
It is these properties that make sweet orange essential oil good for reducing inflammation and for cleansing. It is used to treat skin conditions, as a facial and body cleanser and to clean hair. It is also used in aromatherapy for massage and as an essential oil for those suffering with anxiety and sleep problems.
Historically, sweet orange was used in folk remedies to cure colds, skin infections, as a muscle relaxant for those suffering from spasms and for cleaning and deodorising homes. It wasn’t cheap though, so was not widely available.
The uses of sweet orange essential oil are varied but we have listed some of the most common ones below.
The helpful cleansing properties of sweet orange essential oil make it an excellent treatment for acne or irritated skin. Used in natural facial products, sweet orange oil cleans away dirt and grime trapped in pores, restoring balance and reducing inflammation as it goes. Look out for facial oils with sweet orange in for a soothing natural cleanser and moisturisers which have this relaxing scent.
Sweet orange essential oil works well on your body, hands and feet as well as your face. Its cleansing powers wash away dirt and make it a useful inclusion in soaps, scrubs and moisturisers. Our organic mum balm is a great example of an award-winning skincare product that includes sweet orange oil.
This wonderful essential oil is great for cleaning hair as it washes away dirt and grease, nourishes your scalp and leaves you smelling tangy. You can also find sweet orange oil in hair products such as our organic hair and body spray.
Sweet orange essential oil is a natural insect repellent due to its pungent smell and antimicrobial ingredients. It works well as a natural alternative to chemical based tick and flea treatments. Citrus can make dogs poorly though, so should only be applied topically in small amounts and not ingested.
Used in aromatherapy for centuries the calming scent of sweet citrus from sweet orange oil is loved all over the world. This highly perfumed oil is perfect for massage but can be mixed with other essential oils with complementary properties too.
Studies have shown that sweet orange citrus oil has a soothing scent and may even help those suffering from anxiety. In addition to this, the uplifting scent can improve mood, help reduce stress and aid relaxation.
Aromatherapists believe that when absorbed through the skin or inhaled sweet orange oil can help relieve the symptoms of colds and flu by unblocking congestion and reducing inflammation in the nose, throat and ears.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but you’ve probably got the idea by now that the sweet orange essential oil benefits are vast which is why Nature’s Divine include it in many of our organic skincare products. It’s not an accident that we include this vibrant essential oil in our organic skincare products.
The calming, fresh scent coupled with the stringent health benefits citrus brings to our bodies and minds make this incredible essential oil a magical ingredient, and what’s more, it’s plant-based, organic, vegan and cruelty free. What’s not to love!
