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Orange Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck – Rutaceae (rue) Family

Synonyms: Citrus x aurantium var. sinensis , sweet orange, China orange

Part Used: Fresh peels (pericarp) of the ripe, or almost ripe, fruit

Harvest Season: Varies greatly according to the variety used

Botanical Description: The orange tree is 30 to 60 feet tall with glossy, dark green leaves. The flowers are fragrant, but are not the orange flowers used to make neroli oil. (Neroli comes from the flowers of bitter orange.)

Origin: The orange tree originated in Eastern Asia, but is now cultivated extensively in the U.S., France, Australia, Italy, Spain, Sicily, Israel, Brazil and other areas.

Growing Conditions: Orange trees prefer a tropical to subtropical environment, with excellent drainage and plenty of sunshine.

Extraction Method: The oil is cold-pressed from orange peels. A distilled oil is also available, but it is inferior.

Yield: 0.5%

Oil Characteristics: The oil is orange-yellow, dark orange or occasionally brownish orange in color with a thin body.

Aroma Profile: Top Note: refreshing citrus Middle Note: sweet, fresh, fruity-aldehydic Dry-out: bitter-sweet, dry citrus

Major Constituents: limonene (95%), aldehydes including decanol and geranial make up less than 2%, linalool (less than 1%).

History: The orange was long-known and appreciated in China for its cooling, nutritive and healing properties. It wasn’t used much in Europe until the late 1600s because of its expense.

Aromatherapy Benefits: Uplifting, refreshing, cheering.

A great oil to use in the winter as the aroma evokes a bit of summer’s long sunny days.

Clinical Studies: Orange oil has been shown to possess antifungal and antibacterial qualities (1). This is why it is commonly used in cleaning products and for cleansing the air.

It has also been shown to aid in the administration of anesthesia to children to help them relax and be more cooperative (2).

Orange oil also exhibits insecticidal actions in some studies and is often used in animal products used to repel fleas and other insects (3).

Cosmetic Uses: Orange oil is used, well diluted, in cosmetic preparations for dull or oily skin. It blends well with flower oils such as lavender, neroli and rose, and spice oils like nutmeg, clove and cinnamon. Orange oil is also used extensively in lively, citrus-like colognes.

Safety: Sweet Orange Oil is considered non toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing. In large quantities, it can be slightly irritating to the skin. (Bitter orange oil is more irritating and can cause photosensitivity.)

Quality Issues: Adulterants are synthetic limonene and other terpenes. The lower quality distilled oil is also substituted for pressed oil. Pressed orange oil has virtually no antioxidant activity, meaning it reacts with oxygen, which results in a shorter shelf life than most essential oils. Extra care should be taken to store the essential oil in airtight bottles and keep away from heat and light. The oil should be used within a year of opening.

Regulatory Status: GRAS 182.20

Tim’s Notes: Sweet Orange is one of the most popular and easy to use oils available. It blends easily with other oils and has an uplifting scent. When I stay in hotels (which I do most weeks), I almost always put some orange oil in my room to freshen up the air, kill some microbes, and lift the mood of the room.

It is commonly misstated that sweet orange oil is phototoxic, but it does not possess the coumarins that cause that action in any quantity. Several other citrus oils do, including bitter orange and especially bergamot oil.

Sweet orange oil (often in combination with lemon oil) is commonly used in cleaning products. I add it to my mop bucket, my soap and water mix for cleaning toilets, bathtubs, showers, etc. It's also an excellent room freshener, and studies have verified its ability to kill microbes. Being the least expensive oil, along with lemon, it is perfect for cleaning.

It is a calming and relaxing oil, but will not necessarily induce sleep. If you need an oil to cheer your mood, orange is such an oil. It also blends well with lavender and rose, my two favorite oils for brightening my day.

The studies by Hirsch on scent have shown Lemon and Orange oils to be the most effective oils at encouraging people to spend more money. You will often smell citrus scent when in casinos or other venues where they hope that you'll spend your cash.

Note: This is one of those oils that will stain your clothes, so be careful not to spill it on a clean white shirt.

References