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Grapefruit Essential Oil

I'm not especially fond of eating grapefruit, but I adore Grapefruit Essential Oil, and use it regularly in the diffuser. When I first began learning about aromatherapy in the '90s, I expected Grapefruit Essential Oil to smell rather harsh and bitter. I was glad to be so wrong when I enjoyed my first whiff. Instead, Grapefruit Oil has a pleasantly sweet, tangy/tart aroma that blends well with a number of other essential oils. For a lovely aromatic combination, try blending it with Frankincense Oil. I also love it blending with conifers like Fir Needle Oil.

Grapefruit Oil is a wonderfully energizing oil that isn't too strong or overpowering. I love diffusing it in the mornings or at times of the day when I need a bit of a boost. Grapefruit Oil is also great to diffuse with other energizing oils like rosemary because it lightens up and sweetens the blend.

Both white and pink grapefruit oils are available, with Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil generally being considered the sweeter of the two.

For more information about Grapefruit Essential Oil, read the details shown below, and be sure to read the information regarding possible phototoxicity.

Grapefruit Oil

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

Aromatic Description: Citrusy. Tangy like grapefruit, but sweet. It is reminiscent to the aroma of the grapefruit rind, but more concentrated.

	Sliced Grapefruit

Grapefruit Oil Uses: Cellulitis, dull skin, toxin build-up, water retention. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 57-60.]

Grapefruit Orchard

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

Safety Information: Grapefruit Oil is phototoxic according to Robert Tisserand. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 138.] Do not use if the area of application will be exposed to sunlight for 24 hours due to its phototoxicity.

I have read conflicting reports as to whether Grapefruit Oil is phototoxic, and the method of distillation may play a role. It may be prudent to treat Grapefruit Essential Oil as a phototoxic oil.

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.