Believed to be native to southwestern China, the sweet orange, or Citrus
sinenses, is smaller than its botanical cousin, the bitter orange. About 500
years ago the fruit was introduced to Europe and the Americas where it's now
widely cultivated.
Like all citrus oils, sweet orange essential oil is cold-pressed from the fresh
peels of the raw fruit.
Traditional Herbal Uses
Herbalists in China used dried orange peels to treat respiratory ailments like
coughs and other cold symptoms. Modern herbalists consider it a lymphatic
stimulant.
As a digestive aid, sweet orange has a reputation for improving bile and
increasing the metabolism of fats. Herbalists also claim that it has a calming
effect on the digestive tract and can help alleviate excess gas.
Sweet orange oil is widely used in the food industry where it flavors a variety
of foods. Interestingly, it's also used, albeit through a lengthy chemical
process, to create a synthetic version of spearmint.
Sweet orange also has a stellar reputation as a children's oil. A study cited
in the Aromatherapy Database claims that children who were exposed to the scent
of sweet orange during dental extractions were more relaxed and cooperative
during their procedures. Whether it provides any physical benefit or not,
there's certainly no doubt that the fun, uplifting scent makes it a great oil to
diffuse in a play room.
In skin care, sweet orange is reputed to be soothing and drying to oily or
blemish-prone skin. The antioxidant properties of essential oils are believed to
have regenerative properties.
In Chinese medicine, orange oil is believed to increase circulation of Qi and
stimulate digestion.
Aromatherapy Uses
Sweet orange has a happy, uplifting scent that fills the nose with a moist,
cool sensation. It brings to mind images of bright sunny days.
Sweet orange is an oil that's particularly popular with children. It's hard to
stay angry or sad in the presence of such a fun, fresh scent. It's a wonderful
oil to diffuse while children are playing.
Aromatherapists generally regard sweet orange as warm and joyful. They believe
that it reduces self-doubt and empowers one to face new situations and
challenges. They also believe it brings a sense of optimism and hope.
Blending With Other Essential Oils
Sweet orange blends with other citrus oils, floral oils like jasmine or ylang
ylang and woody oils like frankincense or sandalwood. It also blends nicely with
herbaceous oils like geranium, clary sage and rosemary.
Sweet orange is considered a top-note.
Safety & Warnings
Sweet orange is generally considered safe although there are some concerns
about citrus oils being phototoxic. Some authors advise against using any citrus
oils on the skin; others feel that sweet orange is perfectly safe.
The use of essential oils (extracts or essences) from flowers, herbs, and
trees to promote health and well-being.
A system of caring for the body with botanical oils such as rose, lemon,
lavender (used to soothe cuts, bruises and insect bites), and peppermint.
These essential oils can be added to a bath, massaged through the skin,
inhaled directly, used with teas, or scented in a room. This therapy is
intended to relieve pain, care for the skin, and alleviate tension and
fatigue.
The use of fragrant, natural, botanical essential oils from plants, leaves,
bark, roots, seeds, resins and flowers as a healing art. Aromatherapy
refreshes and relaxes the skin while soothing the mind by helping to induce
a sense of well-being. Each individual essence is used to produce a
specific beneficial effect. Used in massage and facials.
The use of essential oils from aromatic plants to restore and enhance
health and beauty as defined by the American Aromatherapy Association.
Aromatherapy uses as its basic ingredients essential oils, which represent
the highest herbal energy. Essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile
extracts retrieved from aromatic herbs, flowers, seeds and trees; they
contain hormone-like properties, vitamins, minerals and natural
antiseptics.
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