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Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Sweet Orange Essential Oil is most often referred to simply as Orange Oil.

With its versatility, affordability and wonderfully uplifting aroma, Orange Oil is one of the most popular of essential oils within aromatherapy. The aroma of Orange Oil is cheerful and helps to improve the aroma of a stale-smelling or smoky room. (Lemon is even better for diffusing in smoky rooms). Orange Oil has become a popular ingredient within a wide assortment of natural (and some not-so-natural) household cleaning products. I often add a few drops when I clean the floor, but I always recommend being careful when trying essential oils on surfaces for the first time, and only use a few drops.

Some people can't tolerate citrus essential oils (or are even allergic), so be prudent when diffusing Orange Oil around others, but overall, Orange Oil is a winner with children and adults alike.

Unlike most essential oils that are extracted using steam distillation, most citrus oils including Orange Oil are extracted by cold pressing the rinds of the orange. You will sometimes find a steam distilled variety on the market, but it is fairly uncommon. When you have peeled an orange, have you ever noticed tiny droplets spray from the peel (not the fruit segments) and noticed a burst of orange aroma at the same time? What you noticing is the essential oil that lives in the rind escaping as you peel the fruit. The next time that you peel an orange (or other citrus fruit), try pressing a portion of the rind between your fingers, and you should be able to smell the intense aroma of the essential oil escaping the rind.

I have read conflicting reports as to whether Sweet Orange Essential Oil is phototoxic, and the method of distillation may play a role. It may be prudent to treat Sweet Orange Oil as a phototoxic oil. Please refer to the other safety information mentioned below.

Sweet Orange Oil

Botanical Name: Citrus sinensis Common Method of Extraction: Cold Pressed/Expressed Color: Greenish Orange Consistency: Thin Perfumery Note: Top Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong

Aromatic Description: Citrusy, sweet, reminiscent of orange peels, but more concentrated.

	Oranges

Sweet Orange Oil Uses: Colds, constipation, dull skin, flatulence, flatulence, flu, gums, mouth, slow digestion, stress. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 57-67.]

Constituents: Limonene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.]

Safety Information: Lawless reports that a few people have experienced dermatitis from the limonene content of Sweet Orange Oil. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 122.]

Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using Sweet Orange Oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 209.]

Important Note: The essential oil information provided within the Essential Oil Properties & Profiles area is intended for educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

General Safety Information: Do not take any essential oils internally without consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use essential oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and give children only the gentlest oils at extremely low doses. It is safest to consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using essential oils with children. A skin patch test should be conducted prior to using an essential oil that you've never used before. Instructions on conducting a skin patch test and more safety information can be found by visiting the Essential Oil Safety Information page. For very in-depth information on essential oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Tony Balacs. 

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	Own Detailed Profiles on 160 Essential Oils The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils by Julia Lawless contains 160 detailed essential oil profiles complete with beautiful color photos.  Read a review of this book or purchase this book through Amazon.com. Also consider... Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals In addition to the eight main chapters contained within the book, Aromatherapy Science: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals also includes over 65 detailed oil monographs (profiles) and over 30 appendices.  Read a review of this book or purchase this book through Amazon.com.

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