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What is Lemon Oil?

J.S. Metzker Erdemir
J.S. Metzker Erdemir

Lemon oil is an essential oil extracted from lemon peels. It is usually yellowish or light green in color, and smells like freshly sliced lemon. The oil is sold as a pure essential oil, or it can be mixed with other oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, lemon balm oil, or mineral oil, depending on how it will be used. It is ound in many personal care products, home cleaning products, and furniture polishes.

Unlike many other essential oils which are extracted by distillation, lemon oil is usually manufactured in a cold-extraction process. The zest, or yellow part of the peel, is machine-pressed to squeeze out the scented oil. 1,500 lemons are needed to produce 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) of essential oil. A type of can also be made at home. For food flavoring and some homemade skin care products, the lemon zest can be heated in olive oil and strained, or left in olive oil for several weeks to infuse it with lemon flavor. For homemade natural cleaning products and furniture polishes, the lemon zest can be mixed with water or heated in coconut or mineral oil.

Lemon oil can be used as an antibacterial agent for acne.
Lemon oil can be used as an antibacterial agent for acne.

Lemon oil is a natural astringent and antiseptic, making it a popular addition to natural personal care products and cosmetics. As an astringent, it brightens skin by tightening pores and removing dead cells. The oil is useful for treating oily skin, and it is an effective antibacterial against blemishes and acne. It causes photosensitivity, so sunlight should be avoided for several hours after applying products containing lemon oil to the skin. When diluted, it can also be used to clean minor cuts, boils, and burns, and some mouthwashes contain lemon to treat oral sores or bad breath.

Lemon essential oil is antibacterial.
Lemon essential oil is antibacterial.

Many home cleaning products contain lemon oil because a lot of people associate the smell of lemons with freshness and cleanliness. Natural products containing essential oil remove stains and unpleasant odors. Pure lemon oil can kill many types of bacteria, so it’s often used on furniture, floors, carpets, and countertops. These cleaning products are usually made with the essential oil diluted in water. It doesn’t leave any residue so it does not need to be rinsed, and its natural detergents are non-toxic to children, pets, and the environment. Mixed with coconut or mineral oil, it is a common addition to furniture polish because it removes bacteria and leaves a non-waxy shine.

Discussion Comments

anon154657

Something has happened to lemons! i use a twist of lemon for my martinis, essentially for the magnificent burst of oil that adds the finishing touch to this legendary cocktail. Try as i may, twist as i may, none or little oil! Something has happened to lemons.

metzker

Sounds fantastic! With pound cake or a rich chocolate cake, but then it's not so much healthy as subtle.

motherteresa

Lemon olive oil drizzled over a cake is a nice and healthy change to the usual frostings.

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    • Lemon oil can be used as an antibacterial agent for acne.
      By: Ocskay Bence
      Lemon oil can be used as an antibacterial agent for acne.
    • Lemon essential oil is antibacterial.
      By: viperagp
      Lemon essential oil is antibacterial.
    • Lemon oil is extracted from the peel of the fruit.
      By: IngridHS
      Lemon oil is extracted from the peel of the fruit.
    • Lemon oil can be diluted and used to treat bad breath.
      By: stefanolunardi
      Lemon oil can be diluted and used to treat bad breath.
    • Lemon oil may be used in facial products to protect against blemishes.
      By: red150770
      Lemon oil may be used in facial products to protect against blemishes.
    • Lemon oil may be helpful in treating burns.
      By: Superingo
      Lemon oil may be helpful in treating burns.
    • Lemon oil may be useful in treating oily skin.
      By: phasinphoto
      Lemon oil may be useful in treating oily skin.
    • When applied to the skin, lemon oil can cause photosensitivity.
      By: Ferrante Pietro
      When applied to the skin, lemon oil can cause photosensitivity.
    • Lemon oil is used in many perfume products.
      By: Liv Friis-larsen
      Lemon oil is used in many perfume products.
    • Natural products containing essential oil remove stains and unpleasant odors.
      By: Vera Kuttelvaserova
      Natural products containing essential oil remove stains and unpleasant odors.
    • Lemon oil can sometimes be mixed with olive oil.
      By: tycoon101
      Lemon oil can sometimes be mixed with olive oil.
    • People with photosensitivity should not spend a great deal of time on a beach without protection.
      By: Netfalls
      People with photosensitivity should not spend a great deal of time on a beach without protection.