Lemon

Common Name: Lemon

Botanical Name: Citrus limon

Origin: California and Italy

Appearance: Pale, greenish-yellow

Aroma: Resembles fresh lemon peel

Lemon oil, which contains limonene and citral, comes from the rutaceae family that is related to the tree bearing lime fruit. Adulterants of lemon oil often come from constituents of the lemongrass plant. Lemon oil has been used in aromatherapy diffusers as a detoxifier, to get rid of negative emotions, improve concentration, and in blends as in a Skin Brightener. Lemon oil blends well with lavender oil, neroli, and tangerine oil. Dilute with carrier oils before applying to the skin due to furanocoumarin compounds that cause photosensitivity.

Botany
The lemon is one of 16 species in the genus Citrus of the rutaceae family, being closely related to citron and lime fruit. 15 foot Citrus limon trees produce highly fragrant white blossoms and lemon fruit all year. Lemons favor arid, subtropical climates of southern California and the Mediterranean region and are sensitive to cold temperatures and high humidity.

Lemons probably originated in China and came to Italy and the Mediterranean with Arabian merchants. Mosaics in Pompeii portray a lemon-like fruit, but some botanists believe arrived in Europe during the Crusades. Lemon became common in the 1500s with its earliest record in the New World in 1493 from Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic), where it arrived with Columbus.

Essential Oil
Almost identical to freshly peeled lemon, lemon essential oil is pale yellow to slightly greenish yellow. Adulterated lemon oil substances include synthetic citral and natural citral from plants such as the lemongrass plant. Adulterated oils have a one-dimensional lemon-like aroma or harsh, turpentine-like aspect. They often dry smelling a bit off. Pure lemon oil evaporates with practically no detectable dry-out smell. Cold-pressed lemon essential oil has the sophisticated aroma of freshly peeled lemon.

Authentic lemon essential oil is produced by cold-pressing the fresh peel. Steam distilling high temperatures would destroy the fresh aroma. Cold-pressing yields six to seven pounds of oil from one ton of fresh fruit. After extraction, different batches of cold-pressed California lemon oils are often blended together to produce consistent results, whereas lemon oil from Italy generally is the result of individual small batches from independent producers, leading to a wider range of aromatic qualities.

Lemon oil constituents include limonene giving the oil its tangy-fruity aroma and citral producing the lemon note in the aroma profile.

History
The beneficial attributes of lemon and the closely related citron have been known for a long time. Maude Grieve wrote in her 1931 herbal medicine book, "The lemon is the most valuable of all fruit for preserving health."

Aromatherapy
Lemon oil not only has antiseptic properties, but also has a wonderful aroma. Lemon helps modify medicinal-smelling oils such as tea tree and eucalyptus, thus making lemon oil work synergistically therapeutically, aesthetically, and emotionally. It blends well with other citrus oils as well as lavender oil and neroli.

Lemon oil is light, warm, penetrating, uplifting, cleansing, fresh, pure, cheering, and replaces negative emotions. It can help remove mental fatigue and psychological troubles. The aroma of lemon is clarifying, can improve concentration and awareness, and aid decision making. A Japanese study found after diffusing lemon oil in an office building, typing errors diminished by 54%.

Safety
Due to its astringent and antiseptic properties, lemon oil needs to be diluted not to exceed 5% to avoid skin irritation in sensitive individuals. Do not apply undiluted to the skin. Five or fewer drops of lemon oil should be added per teaspoon of carrier oil. Lemon oil can contain up to 2% furanocoumarin compounds, including bergaptene, which act as photosensitizing agents increasing the skin's sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Don't use lemon oil on the skin in sunlight due to potential burning and skin damage.

Cosmetic Uses
Lemon oil can improve blemishes due to oily skin by working as an astringent and detoxifier. The rejuvenating properties of lemon oil brighten dull skin. Try placing fresh lemon on the cheeks to lighten freckles.

Lemon Skin Brightener
* 3 drops lemon oil
* 3 drops lavender oil
* 3 teaspoons distilled water
After cleansing the skin, gently massage in this mixture using a cotton ball. Then, apply a moisturizer.

Uplifting Lemon Blend
Gently uplift emotions with this balanced blend of inspiring and relaxing oils.
* 20 drops lemon oil
* 20 drops tangerine oil
* 25 drops neroli
* 35 drops lavender oil
Place a few drops on a handkerchief for an emotional boost or use in aromatherapy diffusers.

To learn more about aromatherapy, click Learn and view topics under Aromatherapy, Essential Oils, & Lavender. See items under Aromatherapy Oil Information & Recipes to learn more about individual essential oils and the plants from which they come with more aromatherapy recipes included.