Lemon Oil

Essential Oil

Lemon Essential Oil

Other Name(s):

Citrus medica limonum Oil; CAS# 8008-56-8

Lemon trees thrive in subtropical climates where average temperatures are nice and warm. In South Africa, lemon farmers can enjoy an 8 month long harvesting season with their orchards yielding fruit from February all the way through to September. No-one is quite sure where lemon trees came from originally, but it seems most likely that they evolved in the Northeast regions of India.

Is Lemon Essential Oil Faithful to Nature?

Yes.

Lemon essential oil is a refreshingly aromatic ingredient that can be manufactured safely, farmed sustainably and used without harming the environment. But, it is very powerful and should be used wisely as an ingredient.

Benefits: Why is Lemon Essential Oil Used?

Distrinctive Fragrance

Lemon essential oil has a bright, refreshing fragrance.

Natural Solvent

Lemon essential oil is used as a natural solvent in eco-friendly cleaning products.

Natural Antimicrobial

Lemon essential oil has natural antimicrobial properties.

Beloved Flavour

Lemon essential oil can add zesty, bold flavour.

On the Shelf: Which Products Use Lemon Essential Oil?

Lemon essential oil, like all essential oils can be found on store shelves as single-ingredient products, but it is also widely used in cosmetics, home care products and food. It’s used as part of natural flavourings in foods and medicines but it also brings bright, refreshing aromas to lotions, creams, sun protection products, air-fresheners, laundry detergents and much more.

Production: How is Lemon Essential Oil Made?

Lemon essential oil is made by the steam distillation of lemon peels most commonly. The peel is exposed to a controlled amount of heat in water. The evaporated water is condensed and collected. Floating atop the water will be a layer of highly concentrated lemon essential oil.

Interesting Fact: Lemon Essential Oil

In the EU, limonene must appear as a separate ingredient in ingredient lists, despite it being a naturally occurring component of lemon essential oil because it is also used in proprietary parfum/perfume/fragrance blends. It must appear separately because it is recognised as an allergenic fragrance.

Citrus essential oils may contain photosensitive compounds called furanocoumarins. These are not present in steam distilled essential oils, making them safe to use in day creams and sun protection lotions.

Notice: The information provided here is not intended as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.