Reviewed By: Kacie La
Updated: 31st July 2023
Lemon essential oil, known for its invigorating and refreshing aroma, is a versatile wonder in essential oils. Derived from fresh lemons, this potent oil has an array of uses that extends far beyond beauty and skincare.
The oil makes the perfect addition to your essential oil collection. Lemon essential oil possesses excellent cleansing properties, amongst many others, and can be used in your skin and hair care routine. Read on to discover the benefits offered by the lemon essential oil.
What Process Makes Lemon Essential Oil?
Lemon essential oil is a versatile oil that can be derived from 2 methods: the first is cold pressing and the second is steam distillation.
Cold pressing is a commonly used method of extracting lemon essential oil. The first step in this procedure involves harvesting ripe lemons from trees, as high-quality, mature fruit is crucial to ensure quality. Following the harvest, the lemons are meticulously cleaned to eradicate potential contaminants such as dirt or pesticides.
Once cleaned, the lemons are placed into a cold-pressing machine. This machine effectively presses the lemons and punctures the peel where the oil is stored, facilitating the release of the oil. The term "cold" pressing is used because the process does not employ any heat, which is vital because heat can degrade the oil's quality and properties. After the oil is released, it is then separated from the residual fruit juice and pulp, yielding pure lemon essential oil.
The second method is steam distillation. Lemon peel is exposed to steam during distillation, releasing essential oils into the vapour phase. The condensed steam and essential oil vapours are collected and divided into water and oil phases. This creates lemon oil that is milder in potency.
Note: N-essentials usually stocks steam-distilled lemon essential oil and not cold-pressed lemon essential oil.
How to Use Lemon Essential Oil at Home?
Lemon essential oil isn't just for personal care - it can also be a fantastic natural helper for home maintenance. Its powerful properties make it an excellent choice for cleaning and preserving, giving it a fresh look and a pleasing aroma.
Lemon essential oil, renowned for its vibrant aroma and diverse range of uses, offers boundless opportunities for at-home application. This oil brings a refreshing, invigorating touch to any setting, whether it's through enhancing your cleaning routine or introducing a fresh, citrusy scent to your living space.
So, how can you use lemon essential oil at home? Let's explore the exciting possibilities.
Maintain Furniture:
The preserving ability of lemon essential oil makes it the perfect solution to maintain your furniture. The oil can be applied on wooden surfaces to preserve the original sheen and replace the moisture from antique wood.
Combine a few drops of the oil with olive oil or jojoba oil to create a homemade, natural furniture polish.
Apply this to your wooden furniture with a soft cloth, buffing in a circular motion, and you'll see a beautiful shine return to the surface, highlighting the wood's natural beauty and grain. Not only will this leave your furniture looking great, but it will also leave your home smelling fresh and citrusy.
Note:
Before using the lemon oil mixture on any surface, it's advisable to do a patch test in an inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn't discolour or damage the material. Always wear gloves while cleaning surfaces with lemon essential oil.
Cleansing Properties:
Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water for cleaning, and use this mixture to clean surfaces like tables and chairs. The oil will help remove dirt and grime, leaving your furniture clean and fresh-smelling.
When added to a soap mixture, lemon essential oil enhances the cleaning ability of your regular soap.
The stubborn residues on surfaces can be easily removed with the help of lemon essential oils too! If you are struggling to peel the label from your new bottles or glasses, lemon oil can come to your rescue. The oil can be used to remove sticky labels in practically no time.
Insect Repellent:
Lemon essential oil, along with eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils, can create a powerful, natural insect repellent. These oils are known for their potent aromas which many insects find unpleasant, deterring them from encroaching on your space.
Prevent Tarnish:
Lemon essential oil is a remarkable tool for treating early signs of tarnish on metal items, including silverware, jewellery, and other metal home accessories. The oil's mild acidic properties help in breaking down the oxidation that causes tarnish, while its natural oils add shine and lustre to the metal.
To use lemon essential oil for this purpose, you'll need a soft, non-abrasive cloth and a few drops of oil.
Laundry Detergent:
Lemon essential oil is a fantastic addition to your laundry routine. Its natural, acidic properties work to gently lift stains and brighten white fabrics, while its fresh, citrus scent leaves your clothes smelling wonderfully clean.
To use lemon essential oil in your laundry, add about 10-20 drops (depending on the size of the load) into your homemade laundry soap or detergent before starting the washing cycle. The oil will disperse throughout the wash, working its magic on your clothes.
Massage Blend:
Lemon essential oil has a fresh and uplifting scent, which can contribute to a calming and relaxing environment, perfect for a massage session.
For a simple massage oil blend, mix a few drops of lemon essential oil with a carrier oil like jojoba, coconut, or sweet almond oil. Adding other essential oils, like a few drops of lavender or peppermint oil, can create a pleasing scent and improve your massage experience.
The myriad of benefits offered by lemon essential oil make it an essential addition to every home. To even further experience its unique properties, you can make it a part of your daily beauty regimen. But that’s for us to cover another time!
Are You Looking for Pure Lemon Essential Oil?
N-Essentials offers a wide range of pure natural cosmetic and skin care raw materials. We offer a variety of sizes, whether you’re looking for quantities to make a small DIY recipe or need to fulfil commercial orders.
For more information on our products, feel free to reach out to our team online.