Citrus sinensis Sweet Orange, C. Aurantium L. var. sinensis L./var dulcis L., cold-pressed from the peel of the fruit in USA/Brazil.
Aroma: Fresh and yet bitter, dry-like with a rich and lasting sweet undertone.
History: Oranges originated in Asia, and their therapeutic value was first recognized there as a means to stimulate the digestive system.
"Sweet orange oil helps to move stagnant Qi and ease tension and frustration. Its warm, sunny, sweet aroma conveys joy and positivity, dispersing moodiness and irritability... More specifically, sweet orange oil is ideally suited to the efficient, hard-working individual who strives for perfection and achievement, but who has little tolerance for mishaps and mistakes... Sweet orange oil helps us take a more relaxed approach, encouraging adaptability and the smooth handling of events." Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, by Gabriel Mojay, page 103
Common Uses: Sweet Orange Essential Oil is very much like Bitter orange in its applications. Properties are as follows: antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, cordial, deodorant, digestive, stimulant (nervous), tonic (cardiac, circulatory). It has also been applied to combat colds, constipation, dull skin, flatulence, the flu, gums, slow digestion, and stress.
Possible Uses: Colds, constipation, dull skin, flatulence, flatulence, flu, gums, mouth, slow digestion, stress. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 57-67.]
Colour: Orange
Consistency: Thin
Perfumery Note: Top
Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium - Strong
Constituents: Limonene [Shirley Price, The Aromatherapy Workbook (Hammersmith, London: Thorsons, 1993), 54-5.]
Limonene, Myrcene, alpha-Pinene, Sabinene, Octanal, Decanal
~ supplier
Safety Information: Lawless reports that a few people have experienced dermatitis from the limonene content of Sweet Orange. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 122.]
Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand does not indicate any special precautions when using this oil. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 209.]
Photo thanks to Emőke Dénes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
