Lemon essential oil is one of the most common essential oils, and certainly one of the most widely recognized essential oils.

Properly cold pressed lemon essential oil smells like a freshly cut lemon, because the oil is expressed directly from the rind of the fruit. 

Lemon essential oil can be used for many things, and many people associate the scent with freshness, and cleanliness as the oil was used in many cleaning products before the chemical constituents were isolated, and were synthetically created and substituted for the whole essential oil.

With the resurgence of aromatherapy's popularity in the late 1990's and again around 2010, lemon has been touted as a must have in your first aid kit, in your cleaning cabinet, and in your book bag or at your desk. 

Before we talk about how you may want to use this essential oil, let's talk about safety.  If you know us, we are always aware of the potential for misuse or improper use of essential oils and of the major adverse reactions people have had while using an essential oil, or an essential oil product without knowing how to do so safely.  If you're a client of ours, and if you've gone through our essential oil safety course, where you feel you could teach it to other people, please feel free to skip ahead, otherwise, we ask that you read this very important information.

Safety First

If you have any type of lemon allergy or sensitivity, using lemon essential oil is not recommended.

If you are pregnant or desire to use essential oils with children under 2 years old, please schedule a consultation prior to use.

If your lemon essential oil is more than 1 year old, and has been subject to the sun, heat, or frequent opening and closing, there is a good chance that it has oxidative, and its therapeutic properties have waned, oxidative oils will not smell like a freshly cut lemon, and are responsible for increased skin irritation.

If you have sensitive skin, and you'd like to apply lemon essential oil topically, please do a patch skin test placing 1 drop of the oil on the crease of the elbow or the inside of the wrist and wait for 15min to see if there is any reaction.  While doing this, keep a clean cotton cloth or towel near by and your choice of carrier oil such as olive oil, almond oil, or apricot oil.

If you see any redness or irritation apply the carrier oil to the skin, and blot up with the cotton cloth, continue with a second application and blotting, and a third until the irritation is relieved - DO NOT apply water to the area as it will only drive the irritant in further.

Topical application without dilution is only meant to help you with acute (sudden onset) of symptom for 7-10 days.  If you need to continue to use an essential oil after 10 days of an acute symptom, or with chronic symptoms, you'll always want to dilute the essential oil into a carrier, and the most common, and most widely recommended safe dilution ratio for people 18 years and older with healthy nonsensitive skin is 3% essential oil to 97% carrier substance.

Lastly, please note that Lemon essential oil does cause increased photo-sensitivity, this means that if you apply this essential oil topically you'll want to ensure that the area of the application is not exposed to UV light as it will be at increased risk for sunburn. 

First Aid Kit Use

Lemon essential oil is great to keep in your first aid kit, as it it antiseptic, and can be used for cuts, wound care to keep the area clean, and to help stop the bleeding.  Applying a drop of two of lemon to the laceration, or wound and then applying pressure will help to stop the bleeding while you're waiting to apply a bandage.

Keeping a bottle in your first aid kit, can help if you have someone experiencing an asthma attack, as the essential oil helps to clear congestion within the air way and open the air passages in a gentle, safe way.

It can also prove helpful for those experiencing arthritis, as a 1% dilution in a skin cream can be effective to help relieve the ache and pain of arthritic joints.

For the Cleaning Cabinet

Keeping lemon essential oil in your cleaning cabinet is wonderful as diffusing this essential oil while you're disinfecting surfaces will help to disinfect the air as this essential oil is anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal.

If you're using unscented natural cleaning agents, you can add lemon essential oil to them in order to add antiseptic properties to your natural or homemade cleaner.

For the Book Bag or Desk

Perhaps the most widely used application of lemon essential oil is to diffuse it for inhalation whether you're at school or at work, this wonderful essential oil is perfect to help you concentrate, minimize distractions, help with confusion, as it promotes cognitive function, can increase memory retention.

Other Benefits

Within BCD Aromatherapy clients, we've used lemon essential oil to help people overcome anemia - as it helps to circulate the blood, and clears obstructions within the body.  We've used lemon essential oil to help people overcome edema or water retention in their ankles and legs.  We've used lemon essential oil to help people with painful gout affecting both grand toes.  We've used lemon essential oil to help get rid of intestinal parasites. We've used lemon essential oil to help people with allergies. We've used lemon essential oil to help with urinary infections.  We've used lemon essential oil to help with hair re-growth.  We've used lemon essential oil to help combat the continuation of dementia. We've used lemon essential oil to help with acne.  We've used lemon essential oil to help with cellulite. We have also helped clients use lemon essential oil to combat emotional imbalances such as fear, sadness, entitlement, and shame. 

Many of our clients love the scent of lemon essential oil, and they like to simply diffuse it to remind them of sunny summer days.  Some great diffuser recipes you can try to simply bring this wonderful aroma to your home that also have some great added benefits are:

3 drops of frankincense, 2 drops of vetiver and 1 drop of lemon to help you with over thinking and pre0occupations with details

3 drops Scots Pine, 1 drop lemon, 1 drop rosemary to help your memory and stop forgetfulness

3 drops lemon and 2 drops jasmine to unburden you and bring more humor into your life

2 drops rose, 2 drops palmarosa and 1 drop lemon to help create an atmosphere of vulnerability and trust

3 drops lemon and 2 drops juniper berry when you want to increase your energy

3 drops of lemon and 2 drops of geranium when you want to purify the air from viral infections

2 drops grapefruit, 1 drop cedarwood and 1 drop lemon to balance energy

Let us know how you like to use lemon essential oil!  If you share a diffuser blend, be sure to tell us how you feel, or what it reminds you of while you have it running.