Essential Branch

Citrus essential oil

Lemon

Citrus limon

A ripe yellow lemon hanging among glossy green leaves on a lemon tree.
A ripe yellow lemon hanging among glossy green leaves on a lemon tree. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

Cold-pressed lemon oil is squeezed from the peel rather than distilled, so it smells like a freshly zested fruit: bright, sharp and clean. It is one of the most popular oils for kitchens and cleaning sprays, and it lifts heavier blends without taking over. Most of the oil is limonene, which oxidises quickly once the bottle is open, so it is best used within a year or so. On skin, pressed lemon is phototoxic, meaning it can cause a burn-like reaction in sunlight. Steam-distilled lemon does not carry that risk, so check the label if you plan to use it in a body oil.

Safety at a glance

  • Pregnancy Generally well tolerated
  • Children From age 2
  • Dogs Use with caution
  • Cats Avoid
  • Sunlight Phototoxic on skin
  • On skin Up to 2%

Reference

Botanical name Citrus limon
Plant family Rutaceae
Plant part Fruit peel
Extraction cold pressing
Main origins Italy, Argentina and United States
Aroma family Citrus
Note Top note
Aroma Bright, sharp, freshly zested lemon
Main constituents limonene, beta-pinene, gamma-terpinene, geranial and sabinene
Common uses cleaning, focus, fresh air and uplifting
Suggested maximum on skin 2% of the blend
Phototoxic Yes: keep treated skin out of strong sunlight
Shelf life once opened 1 to 2 years
Pregnancy Generally well tolerated
Children From age 2
Dogs Use with caution
Cats Avoid
Safety notes Cold-pressed lemon is phototoxic: keep skin blends at 2% or less, or keep that skin out of sun and tanning beds for 24 hours, the longer of the waiting times we found (NAHA's figure). Steam-distilled lemon is not phototoxic. Pet Poison Helpline lists citrus oils as toxic to cats; dogs are less sensitive, but concentrated oil can still harm them.

Blends well with

Used in: Essential Oil Blends for Focus, Essential Oil Blends for a Fresh Home, Essential Oil Blends for Seasonal Comfort

Sources

  1. Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals, 2nd edition (Tisserand & Young), Churchill Livingstone / Elsevier
  2. IFRA Standard: Citrus oils and other furocoumarins containing essential oils (Amendment 49), International Fragrance Association (IFRA)
  3. Safety, National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA)
  4. Updates on essential oils, Pet Poison Helpline