Essential Oil Profile: Sweet Orange

Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) is a hybrid citrus tree that originates from China.  Its cultivation travelled to Malaysia, then India and was recorded to be in the hanging gardens of Babylon around 800 BCE. Orange trees soon made their way to Europe and Africa.  Now there is widespread cultivation in warmer, sunnier areas of North America as well as many tropical regions around the world. 

Orange essential oil is calming, relaxing and often used for digestive complaints.  It is considered a “go-to” oil for children.  A 1998 British study of children having tooth extractions found that children exposed to sweet orange oil during and just following the procedure were calmer and more cooperative.

In another study, 60 patients with fractured limbs admitted to the ER were given a few drops of orange essential oil on a pad pinned to their clothes. The results showed that the orange oil significantly reduced their pain without affecting their vital signs. See the study at https://jpalliativecare.com/the-effect-of-aromatherapy-with-the-essential-oil-of-orange-on-pain-and-vital-signs-of-patients-with-fractured-limbs-admitted-to-the-emergency-ward-a-randomized-clinical-trial/

It is important to differentiate sweet orange from bitter orange (Citrus aurantium var. amara). Bitter orange essential oil is primarily utilized for digestive and lymphatic purposes. It is also used for its blood thinning properties. Petitgrain essential oil is derived from the leaves of the bitter orange tree, while neroli essential oil is extracted from its flowers. 

Sweet orange essential oil is a yellow-orange color that smells strongly of orange.  It is cold pressed from the peel and is a thin oil and can rapidly evaporate if not stored in a cool, dark place with the cap on firmly.  It is great in a diffuser or nasal inhaler for an uplifting boost to your day.