Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus Sinensis)

Overview

Sweet Orange may also be referred to as orange, sweet orange, navel orange. It is typically processed using cold pressed/expressed as a method for extracting oil from the citrus rind (peel).

Summary

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

With its versatility, affordability and wonderfully uplifting aroma, Orange Essential 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 Essential 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 Essential Oil around others, but overall, Sweet Orange Essential 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.

Sweet Orange Essential Oil — By Ellen Levy Finch (Elf) - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Essential Facts

Aroma Description:
Citrus Sweet
Common Name(s): orange, sweet orange, navel orange
Botanical Family: Rutaceae
Chemical Family: Monoterpenes
Major Compounds: (+)-Limonine, B-Myrcene, a-Pinene
Perfumery Note: Top
Consistency: Thin
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong
Color: Pale Yellow to Orange
Indigenous Country: South Africa
Cultivation: Distiller is Certified Organic
Processing Methods: Cold Pressed/Expressed
Part Typically Used: Citrus Rind (Peel)
Shelf Life: 3 years

Ethically and sustainably sourced
Organic
Vegan

Essential Details

Benefits & Uses

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using Sweet Orange:

Tisserand and Young do not indicate any special precautions when using Sweet Orange Essential Oil. However, they precaution to avoid use of the oil if it has oxidized. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young,Essential Oil Safety(Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 372.]

I have read conflicting reports as to whether Sweet Orange Essential Oil isphototoxic. However, essential oil safety experts Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young do not indicate that it's phototoxic. Do pay close attention to the type of orange oil you are using asBitter Orange Essential Oil is phototoxic.

Safety Precautions for Sweet Orange:

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.