Sweet Orange essential oil, from the pressed zest, has a very pleasant fruity and sweet smell which makes it a must in the range of essential oils for diffusion, particularly for infants. It is renowned for its calming, soothing and anti-infectious action. Latin name: Citrus sinensis L. Persoon. Part used: zest
This article was updated on 23/06/2023Precautions for use
Vigilance! Sweet Orange essential oil is taken from the zest of the sweet orange, it is relatively flexible to use but like all citrus essences, it has properties photosensitizing which limit its use through the skin. The preferred routes of use are diffusion and the oral route. Also this essential oil is composed of more than 90% allergenic compounds, people with allergic conditions must therefore be vigilant.
Authorized users
Possible ways of use
Risks of use
Other precautions
Medical advice
Be sure to seek medical advice before use for people with asthma.
Seek medical advice before use for people with epilepsy due to the epileptogenic risk at high doses presented by this essential oil.
Skin application
Sweet Orange essential oil is irritating to the skin, so it must be diluted to 20% in a vegetable oil before any skin application (20% essential oil and 80% vegetable oil). Do not expose yourself to the sun after skin application.
In broadcast
Pregnant women and babies can use it in atmospheric diffusion.
Allergenic components
Sweet Orange essential oil contains almost only allergenic biochemical components.
- limonene (≤90%)
- linalool (≤1%)
- citral (≤0.5%)
- geraniol (≤0.1%)
- farnesol (≤0.1%)
Note: It is preferable to test the essential oil before using it (dilute a drop of essential oil in a little vegetable oil and apply it to the crook of the elbow. Wait at least 24 hours to check that it is there is no reaction).
Properties of Sweet Orange essential oil
Sweet Orange essential oil is highly concentrated in limonene and myrcene. These different molecules give it the following main properties:
-
antiseptic, sanitizer ++ (limonene):
limonene, present at more than 90% in Sweet Orange essential oil, is bactericidal, antifungal and antiviral. It acts in particular on fungi responsible for pulmonary infections and it disinfects the ambient air. Use in atmospheric diffusion is therefore particularly recommended.
-
calming, sedative ++ :
sweet Orange essential oil calms stress and helps you relax, thanks to its spasmolytic, anxiolytic and sleep-promoting action.
-
carminative, stomachic ++ (limonene):
limonene stimulates digestion: it acts on gastric motility, relieves nausea, prevents gastric hyperacidity by neutralizing certain acids. It also has choleretic and cholagogue activity: it promotes the production of bile by the liver and its expulsion into the intestine, which allows fats to be digested and promotes detoxification of the liver (bile neutralizes certain toxins). Finally, limonene promotes the expulsion of intestinal gas.
For the Relaxation
Efficiency: ++++
Simple use
From 3 months. In broadcast, pour the number of drops indicated on the diffuser instructions. Diffuse Sweet Orange essential oil in periods of 30 minutes maximum.
Use in synergy
From 3 years. For a sedative bath, mix in milk powder or a dispersing support:
- 2 drops of Petit Grain Bigarade essential oil
- 5 drops of Lavender Officinale essential oil
- 5 drops of Sweet Orange essential oil
Source: Grosjean, N. (2013). The great book of aromatherapy. Editions Eyrolles.
In case of Dyspepsia, Difficult digestion, Flatulence
Efficiency: +++
Simple use
Reserved for ages 6+. Orally, 2 drops of Sweet Orange EO on a neutral tablet after a meal.
From 3 years. Dermal, 1 drop of Sweet Orange EO in 4 drops of vegetable oil massaged on the stomach after a meal.
Sweet Orange or Cardamom?
With its carminative and stomachic properties, Sweet Orange essential oil relieves digestive disorders, butcardamom essential oil is more effective:
- For ages 6+, orally : 1 drop in a teaspoon of olive oil or honey, 3 times a day.
- From 3 years, cutaneously : 1 drop diluted in 4 drops of vegetable oil, massaged on the abdomen 3 times a day.
For Clean the air
Efficiency: +++
Simple use
From 3 months. In broadcast, pour the number of drops indicated on the diffuser instructions. Diffuse Sweet Orange essential oil in periods of 30 minutes maximum.
Sweet Orange or Grapefruit?
Sweet Orange helps purify the air thanks to its atmospheric antiseptic action, but Grapefruit is often more recommended! For diffusion: pour the number of drops indicated on the instructions for your diffuser. Broadcast in blocks of up to 30 minutes
In case of Nervousness, Anxiety
Efficiency: +++
Simple use
Reserved for ages 3+.
- Inhaled : 1 drop of Sweet Orange on the wrists to inhale deeply
- Dermal : 1 drops of Sweet Orange HE in 4 drops of HV, rubbed on the solar plexus or the soles of the feet, 3 times a day until improvement.
From 3 months. In broadcast, pour the number of drops indicated on the diffuser instructions. Diffuse Sweet Orange essential oil in periods of 30 minutes maximum.
Use in synergy
Reserved for ages 6+. Apply 3 drops of the mixture to the palms of the wrists and 3 drops to the solar plexus at the time of the attack:
- 20 drops of Complete Ylang Ylang essential oil
- 60 drops of Roman Chamomile essential oil
- 20 drops of Sweet Orange essential oil
- 10 drops of Exotic Verbena essential oil
- 100 drops (5mL) of Argan vegetable oil
More details : essential oils against anxiety attacks.
Sweet Orange or Petit Grain Bigarade?
Sweet Orange is calming and helps fight anxiety, butessential oil of Petit Grain Bigarade remains the reference.
- Inhaled : 1 pure drop on the wrists to inhale deeply, 3 times a day, until improvement. Take a one-week break after three weeks of use.
- In broadcast : pour the number of drops indicated on the instructions. Broadcast in blocks of 30 minutes maximum.
In case of Sleep problems, Insomnia
Efficiency: +++
Simple use
Reserved for ages 3+. Dermal, 1 drop of Sweet Orange HE in 4 drops of HV, rubbed on the solar plexus.
From 3 months. In broadcast, pour the number of drops indicated on the diffuser instructions. Diffuse Sweet Orange essential oil in periods of 30 minutes maximum.
Sweet Orange or Roman Chamomile?
Against insomnia, Sweet Orange can be effective, butroman Chamomile essential oil is even more effective. It can be used from the age of 3 months in diffusion for example, 10 minutes before bedtime or cutaneously, 1 drop diluted in 9 drops of vegetable oil, massage on the solar plexus and/or the soles.
How to recognize a good Sweet Orange essential oil?
Botanical characteristics
- Latin Name: Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck
- Botanical family: Rutaceae
- Part used: zest
- Country of origin: Mexico.
Physical characteristics
- Density at 20°C: 0.842 to 0.850
- Refractive index at 20°C: 1.470 to 1.476
- Rotary power at 20°C: 94 to 99
- Flash point: 43
Organoleptic characteristics
- Appearance: liquid which can become cloudy by lowering the temperature
- Color: yellow to orange
- Smell: zesty, sweet, fruity.
Biochemical characteristics
- limonene: 93 to 96%
- β-myrcene: 1.5 to 3.5%
- sabinene: 0.2 to 1%
- α-pinene: 0.4 to 0.8%
- linalool: 0.15 to 0.7%
- n-decanal: 0.1 to 0.7%
- n-octanal: 0.1 to 0.6%
- valencene: 0.01 to 0.4%
- geranial: 0.05 to 0.2%
- β-pinene: 0.02 to 0.15%
- general: 0.03 to 0.1%
- n-nonanal: 0.01 to 0.1%
- β-sinensal: 0.01 to 0.06%
Sweet Orange and Blood Orange: what are the differences?
Blood Orange and Sweet Orange both come from the same species Citrus sinensis L. Personson. They therefore have a close biochemical composition and similar properties. One can completely replace the other! Blood Orange gets its particularity from its color first of all, a beautiful orange-red, but also from its fruity and tangy smell, slightly more intense than that of Sweet Orange. The essence of Blood Orange is often used in cooking for its intense aroma.
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Bibliography
Publication: De Sousa, D., Hocayen, P., Andrade, L., & Andreatini, R. (2015). A Systematic Review of the Anxiolytic-Like Effects of Essential Oils in Animal Models. Molecules, 20(10), 18620–18660. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules201018620
Publication: Goes, TC, Antunes, FD, Alves, PB, & Teixeira-Silva, F. (2012). Effect of Sweet Orange Aroma on Experimental Anxiety in Humans. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(8), 798–804. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2011.0551
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About these tips
This aromatherapy article was written by Théophane de la Charie, author of the book “Treat yourself with essential oils”, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team made up of pharmacists, biochemists and agronomists.
La Compagnie des Sens and its teams do not encourage self-medication. The information and advice provided comes from a reference bibliographic database (books, scientific publications, etc.). They are given for information purposes, or to suggest avenues for reflection: they should in no case replace a diagnosis, consultation or medical follow-up, and cannot engage the liability of the Compagnie des Sens.