Lemon essential oil | Citrus limon

Traditional use: Lemon is one of the most recognizable representatives of the citrus group due to its bright yellow color and intense, slightly sour taste. Its fragrance, on the other hand, can be described as vivid, yet sweet and refreshing. This fruit is an important part of a balanced diet, as it contains large amounts of vitamin C and valuable bioflavonoids. Its tough peel is a great source of essential oil, which is commonly used in aromatherapy. The distinctive citrus scent of this oil provides a relaxing effect and helps to regenerate strength – both in mental and physical sense. Lemon oil relieves symptoms of stress, but also helps to improve mood. Besides that, it is valued for its antiseptic properties and the ability to boost the immune system. It stimulates leukocytes to work intensively as well as natural detoxification processes, supporting the proper functioning of the liver and kidneys. In addition, lemon oil is often used to speed up metabolism and control body weight. It promotes the efficient functioning of the digestive system, but also prevents excessive fat accumulation. When applied topically to the skin, it soothes skin irritation and helps to take care of the skin’s good condition. In particular, it contributes to the reduction of discoloration, thus making it easier to maintain a healthy skin appearance.

Occurrence: The lemon tree (Citrus limon) is an evergreen tree from the Rutaceae family of plants. It grows to a height of 5-10 m, although in domestic conditions it usually does not measure more than 2 m. The lemon tree has stiff, branching stems with small thorns. Its oval and glossy leaves appear in large numbers during the growing season, while they are shed during dormancy. Lemon flowers turn white in color and emit an intense fragrance. The most recognizable feature of this plant is undoubtedly its small, yellow fruits with thick skin and sour flesh commonly called lemons. The lemon tree is native to southeastern China, and today its largest crops are found in India, Mexico, Turkey and Brazil.

Biochemistry: Lemon essential oil has a unique citrus scent due to the presence of compounds from the terpene group (with limonene being the most significant), as well as sesquiterpenes, aldehydes and esters. In addition to limonene, the oil also contains considerable amounts of beta-pinene, alpha-terpineol, nerolidol, farnesol and geranyl acetate.

The essential oil available in our shop is cold-pressed from the fresh peels of lemon fruits grown on the southern coast of Italy. Thanks to that, each drop contains an optimal concentration of active ingredients and a unique aroma.

Fun fact: Lemon is extremely popular all over the world for its distinctive sour taste and strong, refreshing aroma. It also has its own holiday. In the French town of Menton, the Fête du Citron festival is held every year and people attending this event can express their love for citrus fruits. One of the main attractions of this festival are exhibitions of structures made of lemons stacked on top of each other.