Essential oils have exploded in popularity over the past several years. Not only do they offer a range of aromatherapy scents, but they also provide users with great health and beauty benefits. Lemon oil, in particular, can offer you some of the best benefits. In this spotlight, you will learn the uses and benefits of lemon oil plus DIY Lemon Essential Oil Recipes you can make.
Commonly used for its bright and refreshing citrus smell, lemon essential oil has numerous medicinal properties. It is known to treat a number of skin-related issues. It also keeps skin healthier and looking better.
Lemon oil is a top choice for natural cleaning and purifying the air. Loving Essential Oils fans voted it number one for cleaning. It is effective in removing stains, grease, and gum, plus it leaves behind a lemony scent. It can even polish metal.
Lemon Essential Oil Facts
Lemon essential oil (citrus limon) comes from the lemon tree, a small evergreen tree with glossy leaves, fragrant white flowers, and yellow fruit that is produced all year.
While aromatherapy has seen a resurgence in western countries, this ancient practice has been around for thousands of years. Many great civilizations have used lemon oil and other oils to improve their health.
| Botanical Name | Citrus Limon |
| Botanical Family | Rutaceae |
| Aka | n/a |
| Note | Top |
| Aroma | Citrusy, crisp, clean, bright |
| Extraction Method | Cold-pressed (expression) or steam distilled |
| Plant Part Used | Lemon peel/rind |
| Shelf Life | 1-2 years |
| Kid Safe? | Yes |
| Safety Concerns | For cold-pressed lemon, avoid sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying topically. |
Lemon Oil Blends Well With
Lemon oil is a versatile essential oil that has many benefits. It can be used for aromatherapy, skin care, and cleaning. Lemon oil blends well with other essential oils, making it a great choice for homemade cleaners and skin care products.
There are many oils that Lemon blends well with, this is not an exhaustive list, just some suggestions:
- Black Pepper
- Cedarwood
- Chamomile
- Cinnamon
- Clary Sage
- Coriander
- Cypress
- Eucalyptus
- Fennel
- Frankincense
- Geranium
- Grapefruit
- Juniper Berry
- Rose
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Sweet Orange
- Spearmint
- Tea Tree
- Ylang Ylang
DIY Essential Oil Recipes Guide
Aromatherapy Recipes with Essential Oils Guide with 150+ Easy & Effective Recipe Blends by Jennifer Lane, Loving Essential Oils Owner & Certified Aromatherapist:
Therapeutic Uses:
Digestive problems, loss of appetite, detoxifying, cellulite, bronchial conditions, influenza, sore throat, laryngitis, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, acne, skin infections, herpes, abscesses, physical exhaustion, fatigue, debilitation, anxious depression, nervous tension, inability to concentrate or focus.
Therapeutic Properties:
Anti-infectious, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, calmative, cicatrizing, circulatory, depurative, digestive, diuretic, hemostatic, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge.
Don't have Lemon Essential Oil? You can get a high-quality, 100% pure essential oil bottle for less than $10, no membership required, buy a bottle here.
Lemon Essential Oil Safety Precautions
Skin sensitization if oxidized. To avoid oxidization, keep away from heat and sunlight, store in a sealed, dark glass bottle.
Expressed lemon oil is a photosensitizer (low risk). Do not apply to the skin before sun exposure. You can learn more about sun safety here. Most lemon essential oil is obtained through expression (aka cold pressed) but lemon can be steam distilled.
Distilled Lemon essential oil is available from a few brands and is not phototoxic, so sun exposure is okay after topical application. Be aware of what type you are buying, just look at the method of extraction if the bottle isn't clearly labeled.
Here is a bottle of Distilled Lemon from Plant Therapy:
Lemon Essential Oil Uses
So how exactly is a lemon used? Frequently, lemon essential oils are used in aromatherapy diffusers and other homemade products. You can use lemon in skincare recipes too. However, when using essential oils on your skin, you want to make sure that you have diluted the oil enough. So keep this in mind as you decide how you want to use this fresh-smelling oil.
Diffuser Jewelry: Place on an essential oil diffuser necklace and breath in to promote a cheerful outlook and sharpen focus.
Sore Throat: Add 1 drop lemon to warm salt water and gargle to soothe the throat. You can diffuse oils too for sore throat.
Fatigue: Inhale from an aromatherapy inhaler to combat mental fatigue and exhaustion.
DIY Products: Use in lotions, bath salts, perfumes, and beauty recipes to promote health and wellness. You can add a small amount of this oil into your soap and into other skincare products as well. You can even make masks and scrubs out of this in combination with other ingredients. The possibilities are endless.
Diffuser Blends: Lemon is a favorite fragrance to use in diffusers, get more lemon diffuser recipes.
Air Freshener: Use in a room spray to naturally deodorizer your environment.
Facial Steam: Add 2 drops of Lemon in a bowl of hot water, bring your face toward the steam without getting too close.
Nail and Cuticle Soak: Soak nails and cuticles in warmed up olive oil with a few drops of lemon.
Lemon Essential Oil Benefits for Health and Wellness
The use of lemon essential oil goes beyond scent-based pleasures. You don’t have to buy a diffuser to use this oil. In fact, you can just add a few drops to a tissue and inhale. Or you can dilute lemon essential oil and apply it to your skin.
Learn more about the benefits of lemon oil and why it's such a popular choice for homemade remedies. Here are more benefits of lemon essential oil:
Lifts Mood and Wellbeing
One of the most promising benefits of lemon essential oil is its effects on mood. Research on this topic is still in the beginning stages. But scientists have found that lemon-scented products, and diffused lemon oil, can improve your overall mood and boost mental wellness.
The scent of lemon essential oil has a calming effect that can reduce symptoms of anxiety and nervousness. It also brings down your overall level of stress.
Improves Skin Health
Lemon essential oil does more than improve mental wellbeing though. It can actually make your skin healthier. Human skin is teeming with bacteria and other microorganisms. To maintain a healthy look, you want to neutralize germs and bacteria. Lemon has antimicrobial properties that help fight against various strains of bacteria.
When you apply this oil to your skin, you can gain cleansing and antiseptic properties to the surface of your face and body. This is particularly useful when cleaning cuts and minor wounds. But it can also help you clear your face of blemishes caused by pathogens.
Reduces Discomforts and Pain
There are a lot of interesting ways to use lemon essential oil. This includes reducing pain signals to the brain. When you smell lemon, you can actually reduce the amount of pain you feel. Most scientists believe these effects are due to anti-stress and anti-depression properties. Stress and depression can increase the amount of pain you experience. But lemon oil reduces these issues.
Promotes Clear Your Skin
Diluted lemon essential oil is the perfect remedy for acne and inflammation. As we already mentioned, lemon fights acne-causing bacteria. So when you apply a diluted lemon essential oil to your skin at 0.5% to 1% dilution, it can smooth your blemishes and any inflamed areas of the skin.
Skin inflammation and breakouts are a common problem. With the help of lemon essential oil though, you can fix various skin issues more easily. Remember that everyone's skin will respond differently, test a small patch on the face before applying to the entire face.
Eases Cold Symptoms
You’ve probably heard of using lemon juice to treat a sore throat. But did you know that you can get similar cold reducing effects from lemon essential oil? You do not have to consume your oil. Just put it in a diffuser and breathe in the lemon vapors. Your sore throat will relax and itch less.
The positive effects of aromatherapy on cold symptoms are not well studied. But lemons in general have many healing properties. So inhaling lemon essence through aromatherapy has the potential to greatly improve your immune system.
Lemon Essential Oil Recipes
Check out these recipes with lemon essential oil and lemon diffuser blends.
1. Lavender Lemonade Diffuser Recipe |
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This blend smells just yummy, diffuse in your home to calm and refresh the space. Make sure you are using vanilla absolute, read more here.
Directions: Add oils to your diffuser with the recommended water for your diffuser. |
2. Calming Citrus Inhaler |
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Deeply inhale this relaxing blend of oils that can ease stress, nervousness, anxiety, and bad moods. Learn more about citrus oils.
Directions: Add essential oils onto cotton wick of aromatherapy inhaler. Once inhaler assembled, take off the cap and deeply inhale the aroma. For a kid friendly-cut recipe in half if using. |
3. Lemon Facial Serum Blend |
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Lemon is known for its ability to brighten up your complexion and even heal acne scars. Geranium is another skin-soothing oil with antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that help to control blemishes. It's also balancing for all skin types.
Directions: Add all ingredients to a glass bottle, shake to mix together. To use, apply a few drops to a freshly washed face and gentle massage on the face using small, circular motions. 1% dilution. |
4. Lemon and Rosemary Essential Oil Diffuser Blend |
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Experiencing low mood or low energy? Inhaling lemon can bring up energy levels and mood to combat these common symptoms.
Directions: Add oils to your diffuser with the recommended water for your diffuser. |
5. Headache Relief Oil Roll-On |
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Headaches occur from a variety of reasons like lack of sleep, stress, sickness, tension, hormones, allergies, etc. Here is a blend to help ease the discomfort.
Directions: Add essential oils to the roller bottle, fill the rest of the bottle with jojoba oil. Roll onto temples, neck, and shoulders as needed. 4% dilution. |
6. Lemon Cheer Diffuser Recipe |
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Here is a fresh and invigorating blend to cheer up your day and your living space.
Directions: Add oils to your diffuser with the recommended water for your diffuser. |
7. Lemon and Lavender Hand Lotion |
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Here is a beautiful blend that delicately balances the floral and citrus aroma.
Directions: Blend essential oils and lotion together, then place in small jar. To use, take out a small dab of lotion and rub in on skin. 2% dilution. |
8. Lemon Breeze Blend for Diffuser |
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Try diffusing this air refreshing oil blend to remove unpleasant odors or to scent the air.
Directions: Add oils to your diffuser with the recommended water for your diffuser. |
Benefits of Lemon Essential Oil for Diffuser
Are you looking for a new and refreshing scent to add to your diffuser? Lemon oil may be just what you're looking for. Lemon oil is known for its bright, uplifting aroma, which can help to boost your mood and energy level. In addition, lemon oil has many other beneficial properties, such as being antibacterial and antifungal.
So if you're looking for a way to improve your overall wellness, adding lemon oil to your routine may be a good idea. Check out these lemon oil blends that are sure to leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated.
DIY Kitchen Cleaning Spray
Are you looking for a natural way to keep your kitchen smelling great? Lemon oil is a great option because it kills bacteria and smells delicious. Cedarwood oil is also a good choice because it has a woodsy scent that will keep your kitchen feeling fresh. Find out how to make your own lemon oil and cedarwood oil spray. Go here to reading for the kitchen cleaning spray instructions made with lemon and cedarwood essential oil
General Essential Oil Precautions
Never use essential oils undiluted, in eyes or mucous membranes. Do not take internally unless working with a qualified practitioner. Keep out of reach from children.
Use essential oils with extreme caution on children, be sure you have researched the oil and that it is safe for use on kids. Plant Therapy clearly labels their oils "KidSafe" on the bottle if the oil can be used for children ages 2–10.
If applying an essential oil topically (on your skin), you may perform a small patch test to an insensitive part of the body, use 1-2 drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil like jojoba oil, read more here.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, epileptic, or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. For more information on oil safety issues here.
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