If you are searching for citrus essential oils and how to use them, the short answer is: a few drops in a diffuser for an instant mood lift, or well diluted in a carrier oil for skin and hair. The citrus family is the easiest place to start with aromatherapy at home, and Nature Presents carries five pure citrus oils to choose from - Sweet Orange, Lemon, Lemongrass, Bergamot and Citronella.
What the citrus family smells like, and why people reach for it
Citrus oils are pressed or distilled from peel, leaf or grass, and they share a bright, sharp, unmistakably fresh character. Where floral oils feel soft and woody oils feel grounding, citrus oils feel energising - the aroma most people describe as waking a room up. That is why this family is so popular for kitchens, workspaces and living rooms in the daytime, and why it blends so easily with almost everything else in a diffuser.
Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Sweet Orange Essential Oil is cold-pressed from Citrus sinensis peel and is naturally rich in d-limonene, which gives it that bright, sweet, unmistakably orange aroma. It is one of the most versatile oils in the range - many people find it lifts the mood of a room within minutes, and it is equally at home cutting through grease in a natural cleaning spray. It blends well with Lavender, Bergamot, Lemon and Clary Sage.
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lemongrass Essential Oil is steam-distilled from Cymbopogon citratus and is rich in citral, giving it a clean, sharp citrus lift that is slightly grassier than orange or lemon. It is often diffused in study and work spaces, where its aroma is associated with sharpened focus. It blends well with Lavender and Rose Geranium.
Bergamot Essential Oil
Bergamot Essential Oil comes from Citrus bergamia and is best known as the citrus-floral heart of Earl Grey tea. It sits apart from the sharper citrus oils - softer, a little floral, genuinely calming as well as uplifting. That dual character makes it a favourite in evening diffuser blends and in diluted skincare. It blends well with Lavender.
Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon Essential Oil is cold-pressed from Citrus limonum peel and delivers the cleanest, most recognisable zesty citrus note in the range. It is the oil most people reach for to energise a room quickly, and it is a natural fit for DIY cleaning blends thanks to its fresh, cutting aroma. It blends well with Bergamot.
Citronella Essential Oil
Citronella Essential Oil is steam-distilled from Cymbopogon nardus and has a fresh, lemony aroma that is best known for one job: keeping a verandah or balcony pleasant on a monsoon evening. Many households diffuse it outdoors as a natural way to freshen the air where insects are a nuisance. It blends well with Lavender.
Diffuser blends to try
- Morning Lift: 5 drops Sweet Orange + 3 drops Lemon + 2 drops Bergamot per 100 ml water
- Calm Citrus Evening: 4 drops Bergamot + 4 drops Lavender per 100 ml water
- Clarity Blend: 4 drops Lemongrass + 3 drops Rose Geranium per 100 ml water
- Outdoor Fresh: 5 drops Citronella + 3 drops Lavender per 100 ml water, for verandahs and balconies
Dilution and safety
Citrus oils are for aromatic use and diluted topical use only - never for ingestion. For skin or hair, keep dilution to about 1-2%, which works out to roughly 6-12 drops of essential oil in 30 ml of a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba. Always patch-test on a small area of skin and wait 24 hours before wider use. Cold-pressed citrus oils such as Sweet Orange and Lemon can increase skin sensitivity to sunlight, so avoid direct sun on treated skin for a few hours after topical use. Keep all essential oils away from children and pets, use only well-diluted and in moderation during pregnancy, and check with a doctor if you have any specific health concerns before introducing a new oil into your routine.