Pure Sweet Orange Essential Oil

The oil sits in tiny glands in the orange peel, which is why a fresh peel sprays fine mist when you bend it. Cold pressing squeezes the peel rather than heating it, so the oil keeps the bright, immediate smell of the fruit. Most of it is a by-product of the juice industry, which is part of why sweet orange is among the most affordable oils available. 

The scent is straightforwardly cheerful: sweet, fresh and citrusy, with none of the sharpness of lemon or the bitterness of grapefruit. It's the oil people reach for when they want a room to feel bright, and the one children and guests almost always respond well to. 

Worth clearing up: sweet orange is often assumed to cause the same sun sensitivity as bergamot. It generally doesn't. Bergamot, lime, bitter orange and expressed lemon contain compounds that react with UV light, and bergamot in particular needs a real sun caution. Sweet orange is not considered phototoxic at normal dilutions. It's still sensible to patch test and use a proper dilution, but you don't need to avoid the sun afterwards. 

One thing to watch: citrus oils oxidise faster than most. Sweet orange is at its best within a year of opening, and old, oxidised citrus oil is more likely to irritate skin than fresh. 

The benefits of orange essential oil are numerous, ranging from mood enhancement to skincare. Sweet orange essential oil is known for its properties to battle stress, lift one's mood, and even promote more restful sleep. Used as an orange aromatherapy oil, it sets up a positive atmosphere and supports peacefulness. The benefits of sweet orange oil further extend into skin care by improving the general complexion and limiting the effects of aging. However, the orange oil aromatherapy benefits also extend to elevating energy and reducing anxiety.

• Diffuser: 4 to 6 drops per 100 ml of water. Sweet orange is bright but not overpowering, so it takes a slightly heavier hand than a spice or floral oil. 
• Winter and festive blends: two drops of sweet orange to one of clove or cinnamon bark is the classic. Add vanilla or cedarwood for depth. 
• Body oil: 6 to 12 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil, a 1 to 2% dilution. 
• Bath: stir 4 drops into a tablespoon of carrier oil first, then add that to the water. 
• Scented cleaning water: 10 drops in a bucket of warm water for floors and benches gives a clean citrus scent. It's a scent, not a disinfectant, so use a registered disinfectant where killing germs matters. 
• Soap and candle making: popular, though citrus scents fade faster than woods, so pair it with a base note such as cedarwood, patchouli or vanilla to make it last. 
• Blending: sweet orange lifts almost anything. Clove, cinnamon bark, vanilla, cedarwood, patchouli, vetiver, frankincense, lavender, ylang ylang and peppermint all work.

• Product name: Pure Sweet Orange Essential Oil 
• Botanical name: Citrus sinensis 
• Part used: fruit peel 
• Extraction method: cold pressed 
• Aroma: bright, sweet and fresh, exactly like fresh orange peel 
• Common uses: diffuser blends, festive and winter blends, bath and body oils, soap and candle making 
• Size: 10 ml 
• Shelf life: best used within 12 months of opening. Citrus oils oxidise faster than most. 

1. For external use only. Do not swallow. 
2. Dilute before skin contact, at 1 to 2%, which is 6 to 12 drops per 30 ml of carrier oil. 
3. Patch test first. Apply a small amount of the diluted oil to your inner forearm and check after 24 hours. 
4. Sweet orange is not generally considered phototoxic, unlike bergamot, so it doesn't carry the same sun caution. If you're using it in a blend with bergamot, lime or expressed lemon, follow the caution for those oils instead. 
5. Replace the bottle if the scent turns sharp or stale. Oxidised citrus oil irritates skin more readily than fresh. 
6. Keep it away from the eyes and broken skin. If oil gets in an eye, wipe it with a carrier oil or full-cream milk rather than water, then seek medical advice. 
7. Diffuse in a room with airflow, in sessions of 15 to 30 minutes. 
8. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your healthcare professional before using it. 
9. Don't use it on children under 2, and halve the adult dilution for older children after checking with a doctor or pharmacist. 
10. Ask your vet before diffusing around pets, and leave them a way out of the room. 
11. Store tightly capped somewhere cool and dark, away from heat and open flames.