25 May 2022 / Caitlin Devlin
How citrus essential oils can boost your wellbeing
Discover the benefits of the oils extracted from these seven citrus fruits.
Citrus oils are known primarily for their uplifting qualities.
Able to lift mood, lower stress and banish fatigue, citrus essential oils can provide a boost to our mental health and spread positivity throughout our home.
With strong antibacterial abilities, citrus oils can also act as useful home cleaning agents and can have great benefits for skin. Their bright, sunny scents have an energising effect that can lift any blend and leave your space smelling beautiful.
It is important to remember when working with citrus oils that many of them can be phototoxic. This means that it is best to avoid using cold pressed citrus oils on skin.
If you do decide to apply cold pressed citrus oils topically then remember to stay out of direct sunlight for at least eighteen hours. We would always recommend using steam distilled or furocoumarin-free (FCF) citrus oils for topical application.
Bergamot oil
Bergamot is often used as a natural remedy for anxiety. Its zesty scent has been shown to decrease stress and fatigue, lifting spirits and relieving anxious feelings.
As well as its benefits for mental health, bergamot can support our physical wellbeing by soothing sore muscles and reducing the sensation of pain, which it does by blocking effects on pain receptors.
Bergamot is also a highly antibacterial oil and can be used in facial cleansers or homemade cleaning sprays.
Learn more about the benefits of bergamot essential oil.
Grapefruit oil
Grapefruit has incredible antibacterial abilities, able to combat sixty-seven distinct biotypes. It is also a fantastic natural remedy for sluggishness.
Known to lift ‘brain fog’ and increase alertness, grapefruit oil is often inhaled as a hangover cure, waking up the mind and relieving that unpleasant ‘morning after’ feeling. Grapefruit can also reduce stress and anxiety and has an impressive ability to lower blood pressure.
Learn more about the benefits of grapefruit essential oil.
Lemon oil
The high d-limonene content in lemon oil makes it an effective cleaning agent, able to combat various strains of bacteria and fungi. These cleansing abilities make it highly beneficial for skin, as do its astringent properties, which allow it to constrict pores and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and acne.
Lemon oil is also said to increase energy and alertness and has been said to reduce feelings of nausea.
Lime oil
Lime is a calming, soothing oil, able to reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, in the body. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it a great treatment for sore or strained muscles.
Lime oil also shows impressive antibacterial and antiviral activity. It acts against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria and can significantly reduce the effects of viruses such as influenza.
Learn more about the benefits of lime essential oil.
Citrus oils are brightening, invigorating, and positivity-promoting.
Mandarin oil
Mandarin oil is a natural insomnia cure, able to reduce anxiety-related sleep loss. It also has positive effects on sensations of pain or nausea.
Its strong cleaning properties make it a useful natural food preservative, cleaning agent and face wash, whilst its anti-inflammatory properties can help to soothe swelling and redness on the skin. Unlike other citrus oils, mandarin is said to be very gentle when applied topically.
Orange oil
A powerful cleaning agent, orange oil is often used in homemade cleaning sprays. Sweet orange oil can also be used to cleanse skin with caution, although you should stay out of direct sunlight for a considerable amount of time after application.
Orange oil not only deeply cleanses pores, but it boosts collagen production, increasing skin elasticity. Orange oil is also said to anxiety and blood pressure.
Learn more about the benefits of orange essential oil.
Tangerine oil
Tangerine is a sedative, calming oil that can treat stress-induced insomnia and promote healthy sleep patterns.
It’s known to reduce stress and boost mood, and also has strong anti-inflammatory properties, able to soothe sore muscles and joints. The antioxidant properties of the oil work to guard our health and protect us from the damaging oxidising effects of free radicals.
Cheerful citrus oils are always a great addition to any collection. Take some time to explore our range and discover your favourite.
If you’re looking for the ultimate zesty blend, try our Citrus Relief Pure Essential Oil Blend to experience the combined benefits of some of our favourite citrus scents.
Shop it here.
Shop our citrus essential oils here.
