SENSATIONAL CITRUS: ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL BENEFITS

IN ESSENCE…

• Orange Essential Oils are the fragrant essences obtained via cold expression from Citrus sinensis (Sweet Orange variety) and Citrus aurantium (Bitter Orange variety) fruit peels
• In natural perfumery, Orange Oils are top or middle notes that impart a fresh, sweet, and tangy character to a blend and that combine especially well with other citrus and spicy essences.
• Known for their uplifting aromas, Orange Oils are popular in both energizing and calming aromatherapy blends.
• Used in aromatherapy massages or baths, Orange Oils are known for their refreshing influence, supporting healthy digestion and circulation while promoting the body’s natural defenses and detoxification processes.
• Used in cosmetics, Orange Oils are known for their cleansing and purifying touch, helping to balance oily skin, and improve the appearance of acne and blemishes.

RECAP OF ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL

Orange Essential Oils are cold pressed from the peels of the Citrus sinensis and Citrus aurantium fruits. Orange Oils are top or middle notes in natural perfumery and are known for adding a bright and cheerful character to a blend. They tend to blend well with other citrus essences as well as with many spicy oils, some florals, and some woody or resinous oils. Used in aromatherapy, Orange Oils impart an uplifting influence on the mood, promoting an energetic outlook while at the same time, promoting feelings of calm and relaxation. They are also known to have a purifying influence, discouraging airborne pathogens when diffused in a space. Orange Oils have been widely used in traditional medicines and they remain popular in many applications today. Used in a relaxing massage, Orange Oil is believed to boost the body’s natural defenses, support healthy circulation, and help refresh the body when dealing with physical stresses and discomforts.

GUIDE TO ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL VARIETIES AND BENEFITS

The following table provides an outline of the various Orange Oils offered by New Directions Aromatics. Each type of oil has its own characteristic fragrance, composition and benefits for aromatherapy, natural perfumery, and cosmetics. This comparison is intended to help you choose the best Orange Oil for your specific needs and preferences. All oils included in this table are cold pressed from the peel of their respective source fruits.

The following table provides an outline of the various oils offered by New Directions Aromatics that are closely related to Orange Oils and similarly obtained from sweet fruits in the Citrus genus. All oils included in this table are cold pressed from the peel of their respective source fruits, except for Neroli, which is steam distilled from the blossoms, and Petitgrain, which is steam distilled from the leaves and twigs.

ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL BENEFITS FOR AROMATHERAPY AND NATURAL PERFUMERY

There are many ways to leverage Orange Essential Oil benefits in aromatherapy and natural perfumery, since Orange Oils are versatile and tend to blend well with a variety of other essences. Due to their positive influence on the mind and general ability to promote a sense of calm, Orange Oils can be used in a wide range of blends to enhance an equally wide range of moods.

If you have a strong preference for a particular Orange Oil, simply add a few drops of it to your favorite diffuser and let it imbue your immediate space with the purifying aroma of positivity and vitality. If you prefer a freshening room spray, blend 50-100 drops of your favorite Orange Oil in 300 ml of pure or distilled water. Note that Orange Sweet, Bitter Orange, Blood Orange, Clementine, and Tangerine oils are most suitable for an energizing aromatherapy experience and may be combined for an enhanced effect. Mandarin, Neroli, and Petitgrain may be better suited to create a sense of calm and relaxation in a space, either on their own or in combination.

For a cheerful blend you can use to make a bright and refreshing eau de cologne, combine 40 drops of Orange (Sweet) Essential Oil with 80 drops of Bergamot, 30 drops of Lemon, 20 drops each of Neroli and Lavender, and 10 drops of Rosemary. Dilute this blend in 300 ml of pure or distilled water for a 3% concentration. While we recommend a concentration of about 2-3% essential for a spray perfume (or diluted in a carrier oil of your choice for a roll-on perfume), you can decrease the amount of water in this blend to 200 ml or even 100 ml if you prefer a stronger scent. This blend can also be used as a room spray to perk up the energy in a space; in either case, be sure to shake well before spritzing.

Add some romantic floral essences to a sweet and spicy citrus blend to impart a little sensual flair and you have a rapidly resplendent recipe for a luxurious love potion. For one such recipe, you can start by making a floral water base with 50 ml each of Orange and Rose waters. To this base, add 20 drops each of Orange (Sweet) and Lavender oils, 35 drops of Bergamot oil, 10 drops of Grapefruit oil, 8 drops of Rose Absolute, and 2 drops of Cardamom oil. This blend can be diffused throughout a space to fill it with a sweetly sensual energy ripe for romance. For another romantic recipe with warmer and richer character, try diffusing a blend composed of 5 drops each of Orange (Sweet), caraway, patchouli, and benzoin oils.

You can make a simple blend to promote a calming atmosphere by adding 2 drops each of Orange (Sweet) and Ylang-Ylang oils to a little warm water. This blend works well as an inhalation, or you can vaporize it to spread the aromatic appeal. For another simple inhalation or vaporizer blend, combine 3 drops of Orange (Sweet) Essential Oil with 2 drops each of Lavender and Marjoram. This combination will help address feelings of anxiety, encouraging relaxed feelings in their place.

ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL BENEFITS FOR MASSAGE AND BATHS

Orange Oils are excellent essences to use in energizing massages and baths, as they are known to support healthy circulation in addition to stirring up positive moods and brighter feelings. For a simple blend to use in a massage or a bath as a quick pick-me-up for the mood, combine 2 drops of Orange (Sweet) Essential Oil with 2 drops of Rosemary and 1 drop of Coriander. Blend with 2 teaspoons of a preferred carrier oil before applying topically or adding to a bath. Another blend you can make to help lift negative and pessimistic feelings is a combination of 2 drops each of Orange (Sweet), Clary Sage, and Hyssop oils with 1 tablespoon of carrier oil. Again, this blend can be added to a bath or applied topically to boost the mood and promote a more positive frame of mind.

When dealing with stress, try a massage blend composed of 25 drops each of Mandarin, Cypress and Grapefruit essential oils, 24 drops each of Cinnamon Leaf, Wild Marjoram, and Petitgrain oils, 22 drops each of Birch Sweet, Geranium Bourbon, Juniper Berry, and Rosemary oils, and 30 drops each of Anise Seed, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Dalmation Sage, and Spearmint oils. Dilute 60 drops of this blend in 100 ml of Sweet Almond or Walnut carrier oil for a 3% concentration and gently massage into preferred areas of the body. For optimal results, do 4 massages spaced 2 weeks apart. This series can be repeated once if needed. After repeating once, wait 8 months before repeating again. A simpler blend you can try to help improve feelings of stress, tension, or negativity is composed of 2 drops of Orange (Sweet) Essential Oil, 3 drops of Bergamot and 1 drop of Neroil oil. Dilute this blend in 4 teaspoons of a preferred carrier oil before using in a massage. For another simple blend that you can use in a soothing massage, add 4 drops of Petitgrain and 3 drops each of Chamomile and Jasmine oils to 30 ml of Sweet Almond oil.

If you prefer a relaxing soak in the bath to deal with stressful feelings, try incorporating an aromatherapy blend made with 35 drops each of Tangerine and Lavender oils, 30 drops each of Angelica Root, Carrot Seed, Peppermint, and Ylang-Ylang oils, and 20 drops of White Camphor oil. Dilute this blend in 6 cups of unprocessed apple cider vinegar, add to a full bathtub of warm water and soak for up to 30 minutes. For best results, do 8 baths spaced 15 days apart. As an alternative blend to help manage stressful feelings, combine 3 drops each of Mandarin, Lavender, Chamomile, Melissa and Cedarwood essential oils.

When dealing with grief or sorrow, try making a bath blend composed of 36 drops of Tangerine Essential Oil, 33 drops each of Patchouli and White Thyme oils, and 30 drops each of Sweet Basil and Ylang-Ylang oils. Dilute this blend in 3 cups of unprocessed apple cider vinegar and add to a bathtub full of warm water. Soak for up to 30 minutes.

For a massage blend to promote firmer looking skin and improve the appearance of cellulite, combine 20 drops of Orange (Sweet) Essential Oil with 10 drops each of Cypress and Geranium oils. Alternatively, you can blend 10 drops each of Orange and Geranium oils in combination with 20 drops of Oregano oil. Dilute either of these blends in 60 ml (2oz) each of Wheat Germ oil and Jojoba oil. For optimal results, combine massages with a twice weekly bath using a blend made with 3 drops each of Orange (Sweet), Cypress, and Lemon oils, and 5 drops of Juniper Berry oil. As an alternative bath blend, you can use 3 drops each of Orange (Sweet), Cypress, and Juniper Berry oils, and 5 drops of Fennel oil.

For a massage blend to support healthy digestion, combine 2 drops of Mandarin essential oil with 3 drops of Lemon oil and 5 drops of Rosemary oil. Dilute this blend in 1 tablespoon of a preferred carrier oil and gently rub into the abdomen in a circular motion. As an alternative blend, combine 4 drops each of Mandarin and Coriander Seed oils with 2 drops of Lemongrass oil and dilute in 1 tablespoon of a preferred carrier oil. Apply this blend twice a day in an abdominal massage.

ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL BENEFITS FOR COSMETICS

When added to natural beauty formulations, Orange Oils are wonderful essences for the skin, balancing oils, cleansing, and purifying for a sweetly sparkling energy. They also endow any cosmetic blend with a superb aroma to further promote the positive feelings that a little beautifying self-care is known to spark. Simply adding a drop or two of your preferred Orange Oil to a regular cleanser, body wash, or shampoo is enough to boost its beauty benefits. Orange essences also make great craft soap scents and can be mixed with a variety of our Melt & Pour Soap Bases for some customized citrus suds. Of course, Orange essences work nicely in more complex applications as well, and we have included a couple recipe ideas to help you get the best out of your blends.

To perk up your beauty routine with a citrus spin on a spa treatment, try making your own orange salt scrub. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup of sea salt with 1 teaspoon of orange peel powder. (Note that you can make your own orange powder by drying orange peels in the sun and then blitzing them in a food processor.) In a separate bowl, mix 50 ml of Apricot Kernel oil with a dash of Vitamin E oil, and 10 drops of your preferred Orange Oil. When all wet ingredients have been thoroughly combined, add them to the salt and powder and mix well. This scrub can be gently massaged into damp skin to smooth and polish it while supporting healthy circulation and delighting the senses with an energizing aroma – just be sure to avoid use on the delicate skin of the face and neck. Store this scrub in a sterilized glass jar when not using.

You can make a gentle facial oil to cleanse the skin at the same time as reinvigorating dry, papery areas with moisture and suppleness simply by combining 4 drops of Neroli Essential Oil with 3 drops each of Patchouli and Sandalwood oils, and 2 drops of Rosewood oil. Dilute this blend in 24 ml of Jojoba carrier oil and lightly apply all over the face and neck, taking care to avoid the eyes. Alternatively, if you have sensitive skin or if you are dealing with irritation, you can try a blend composed of 15 drops of Orange (Sweet) Essential Oil and 5 drops each of Neroli and Lavender oils. Dilute this blend in 60 ml of Jojoba carrier oil before applying to the face.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

If this article has sparked your interest, check out our post All About Orange Essential Oils for an in-depth dive into the history, cultivation, and extraction of this sensational citrus essence. If a wider selection of sprightly spirited citrus oils sets your spirits soaring, be sure to browse our product pages and review our articles on Bergamot, Lemon, and Grapefruit, or check out our posts on Lemon Essential Oil Uses and Sweet Orange Recipes for some sunny summer ideas!

CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR ORANGE ESSENTIAL OIL

As with all other New Directions Aromatics products, Orange Essential Oils are intended for external use only. Due to the highly concentrated nature of these oils, they must be diluted with a carrier oil prior to topical use. It is recommended to seek the guidance of a medical practitioner before using Orange Essential Oils if pregnant, nursing or on medication, for those who have recently undergone surgery, or for those with a pre-existing health condition of any kind.

Potential adverse reactions from use of Orange Essential Oils include headaches or nausea from inhalation, and skin irritation or allergic reaction from topical use. To minimize the risk of such reactions, it is recommended to perform a skin patch test prior to topical use and not to exceed recommended concentrations for aromatherapeutic use. If using these oils in diffusions or inhalations, make use of intermittent exposure that lasts not more than fifteen minutes at a time.

To perform a skin test, mix 1 drop of essential oil with 4 drops of carrier oil and apply a dime-sized amount of the blend to a small area of skin that is not known to be sensitive. An absence of an allergic response within 48 hours indicates that the oil is safe to use. Individuals with allergies to citrus fruits are at a higher risk of developing an allergy to Orange Oils and should avoid their use. In the event of an adverse reaction, discontinue use of the product and see a medical healthcare professional for appropriate remedial action.

Once applied topically, sun exposure should be avoided, as Orange Oils may exhibit photo-toxic activity, increasing the effects of exposure to UV radiation and potentially causing skin irritation. To prevent photosensitivity, it is advised to wait 72 hours after topical application of Orange Oils before spending prolonged periods outdoors, especially in regions with hot climates.

Orange Essential Oils must not be used near the eyes, inner nose, ears or on any areas of the skin that are known to be sensitive. This oil should always be stored in an area that is inaccessible to children, particularly those under the age of 7.