Bergamot is citrus oil that contains limonene from the peel of the citrus fruits. A compound in lemon oil and orange oil is known as citral. These components give the oils a refreshing citrus scent. Bergamot oil as well as other citrus oils like lime oil and grapefruit oil are best if they are Cold pressed oils and free of pesticides and herbicides (Organic Essential Oils). Steam distillation of essential oils is not required for these oils even though it is more efficient. Steam distillation is required for most other essential oils. Unadulterated oils do not contain synthetic oils and are far superior. When blending oils, mix compatible scents. Lemon blends well with eucalyptus oil, fennel oil, juniper oil, lavender oil, and ylang ylang oil. Bergamot essential oil blends well with grapefruit and orange. Grapefruit also blends well with cardamom, cypress essential oil, geranium essential oil, palmarosa, and rosemary oil. Enjoy the wonderful aroma of cloves and blend sweet orange with allspice, cinnamon oil, and clove oil.
Summer time is a great time for the clean, refreshing scent of citrus. Find unsurpassed quality from organic citus essential lemon oil, sweet orange oil, and grapefruit oil. Citrus oil quality is critically important. When possible, make sure citrus oils are organic, unadulterated, and cold-pressed rather than steam distilled. Read on to find out why.
Increasing numbers of consumers are sensitive to pesticides and herbicides. Unless organic is used, harmful chemical residues remain on the outside skin of produce. Because citrus oils are extracted from the peel, organic is a especially important since the rinds absorb sprayed chemicals. See all certified Organic Essential Oils available from Hope for Health.
Citrus oils all contain the terpene hydrocarbon limonene, which is what causes them to have a similar aroma. Other minor components in each of the type citrus fruits accounts for the variation in scents.
The aroma can be corrupted in low quality essential oils when synthetic oils are added. If a drop or two of oil placed on a piece of blotter paper leaves an off-smelling dryout note upon evaporation, the essential oil is adulterated. Pure, unadulterated oils will smell fresh, almost like the fruit itself, leaving little to no dryout note.
Steam distillation of essential oils is a type of distillation for temperature sensitive materials such as natural plant aromatic compounds. By adding water or steam, boiling points of the compounds are decreased, allowing evaporation at lower temperatures, preferably below the temperatures at which the deterioration of the material is appreciable. Even though most essential oils are steam distilled, components are maintained, but the heat from steam distillation breaks down the acids in citrus fruits and decreases the amount of citral in the oil. Steam distilled citrus oils frequently have a sharp, harsh, bittersweet scent. "Cold pressed" oils, which are in reality room temperature with no added heat, result from the peel being separated from the fruit by grinding or rasping and then being pressed. It is much less efficient, but yields a superior product with only about 1.5 rather than 25 pounds of oil for every ton of fresh fruit pressed. The resulting oil is light, subtle, and fresh like freshly peeled fruit. Cold-pressed citrus oils are preferred by aromatherapists.
| OIL |
AROMA |
BENEFITS |
BLENDS WELL WITH |
ATTRIBUTES; USED |
| Lemon |
Fruity & tangy |
Cheers, cleanses, dispels mental fatigue, gives fresh atmosphere, inspires increased concentration & awareness, & is uplifting |
Chamomile, eucalyptus oil, fennel oil, juniper oil, lavender oil, neroli, & ylang ylang oil |
Highly astringent; in body care products, cosmetics, fresheners, & household cleansers |
| Grapefruit |
Bright, crisp, familiar & sweet |
Cheers, energizes, & refreshes |
Bergamot, cardamom, cypress essential oil, geranium essential oil, lavender oil, lemon oil, palmarosa, neroli, & rosemary oil |
Astringent; to evoke warm feelings, help release resentments & bottled emotions |
| Sweet Orange |
Familiar, sunny & sweet |
Due to familiarity is comforting & relaxing |
Bergamot essential oil, grapefruit, & lemon oil; To enhance comforting effects: allspice, cinnamon oil, cloves, jasmine, lavender, or neroli
|
Astringent; to refresh & energize |
Citrus oils are photosensitizers, so don't use them on skin that will be exposed to sunlight.
Use Frontier unadulterated, organic, cold press citrus oils with confidence: lemon oil, sweet orange, and grapefruit essential oils.
To learn more about aromatherapy, click Learn and view topics under Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, & Lavender. Click to view other Aromatherapy Articles.
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