Sweet orange essential oil: uses and properties

In Greek mythology, it is told that Juno, the spouse of Jupiter, brought as a dowry little trees that produced golden fruits: oranges and lemons, symbolizing love and fertility.

Jupiter transplanted the trees into a marvelous garden guarded by the dragon Aidone and the Hesperides, mythical maidens with the sweetest singing.

These are the mythological origins of Sweet Orange, a small evergreen tree native to China, imported to Europe, primarily Portugal and Spain, by Portuguese sailors in the 15th-16th century. Today, it is cultivated worldwide, especially in the Mediterranean region.

The cold-pressed essence from the peel of its sweet fruit contains mainly limonene but also other monoterpenes such as myrcene, alpha-pinene, and sabinene; linalool and other alcohols, decanal and other aldehydes, ketones, and coumarins like auraptene.

This essential oil has numerous properties, such as carminative and digestive, but it is also sedative, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory. It is used to counteract water retention, respiratory ailments, constipation, flatulence, and simply as a flavoring agent. This essence is widely used in the food industry and beverage production, as well as in pharmaceuticals and as a fragrance in perfumes, cosmetics, colognes, detergents, and soaps.

However, attention must be paid when purchasing. It is crucial to use essential oils from fruits not treated with pesticides. This is because the essence of sweet orange, and other citrus fruits (lemon, bergamot, mandarin, grapefruit, etc.), is mainly produced through a mechanical cold-pressed process, which does not guarantee the total exclusion of these chemical molecules in the finished essential oil.

But let’s go into detail and see what its benefits are.

Uses and properties of sweet orange essential oil

Psychological benefits: Its sweet, fresh, and familiar scent helps in moments of sadness, tension, and stress. It promotes tranquility, dissolves anxiety caused by emotions that are difficult to process and affect our psycho-physical state. It has a harmonizing, balancing, and calming action, lifts spirits, and brings joy, precisely because of its antidepressant effect.

Well-being: Sweet Orange essential oil is very useful for digestive system disorders: it helps in case of difficult digestion (dyspepsia), abdominal bloating, flatulence, loss of appetite, and constipation.

It is also useful for stomatitis, mouth sores, and ulcers. In this case, oral rinses can be made by diluting 1 drop of sweet orange essential oil, 3 drops of Tea tree, and 2 drops of Clary Sage in a tablespoon of baking soda, diluted in a glass of warm water. Rinse mouth 3-4 times a day.

Dermatology: This essential oil can be used in combination with other essences to improve “orange peel” skin, cellulite, dermatitis, eczema, capillary fragility, and water retention. It is used for massages in carriers such as neutral creams or vegetable oils but also in aromatic baths.

Thanks to its tonic action on peripheral and lymphatic circulation, it is useful in foot baths with warm water to counteract the feeling of cold in the lower limbs. It promotes the drainage of metabolic waste accumulated in tissues and helps cellular turnover. Therefore, it is suitable for massages that counteract swelling and cellulite. It is also a useful essential oil to counteract wrinkles and oily skin, excellent for preparing face and body scrubs. It tones tissues and has a relaxing and energizing effect, especially on tired and grayish skin. Like other citrus essential oils, it is a dermopurifier and is recommended for combination skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin, dull, and oily.

However, be cautious about sun exposure. Citrus essential oils contain photosensitizing molecules, which activate during sun exposure, damaging our skin.

Hair: Sweet Orange is a useful essential oil for dry and damaged hair. It has a dermopurifying effect on the scalp and can be used when rinsing hair to add more shine.

To counteract fragile hair, 2 drops of Ylang Ylang essential oil, 8 drops of Lavender, 6 drops of Sandalwood, and 4 drops of Sweet Orange can be added to the usual hair conditioner. Leave it on for two minutes after application and then rinse well.

Food: Sweet Orange essential oil can be used to flavor many dishes. It is often associated with sweets or spoon creams (recipe: Apple Cake with Orange and Cinnamon Essential Oils), but its aroma is also well-suited for salads, snacks, first courses, or even main courses, especially if based on meat or legumes. A simple way to start using it in the kitchen is to prepare a flavored olive oil: in 250 ml of extra virgin olive oil, dilute 2 drops of essence. If you like a more citrusy aroma, you can create a mix using essential oils of Mandarin, Lemon, and Sweet Orange, one drop for each essence.

Recommendations for the use of sweet orange essential oil

Remember that essential oils, in general, are extremely concentrated compounds, and even a small dose can cause undesired effects. In case of internal use, it is always advisable to consult with an experienced person and your doctor. Be careful also in topical use because, being small molecules, they are easily absorbed by our skin. Therefore, with too high doses, there is a risk of sensitization or dermatitis. They should not be used on damaged skin and should not come into contact with mucous membranes and eyes because they can also cause strong irritation.