Besides coffee, is there anything better than freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning? You know the feeling–the sweet aroma of zesty and invigorating citrus fills the air as early sunlight peaks through, and you begin to feel yourself become more energized and ready to take on the day.  

Well at Edens Garden, we may not offer orange juice but we do have something just as sweet. Like your morning cup of OJ, our Sweet Orange essential oil is bright, refreshing and sure to boost your mood even if you’ve woken up on the wrong side of the bed. 

But the goodness doesn’t stop here. In this guide, we’ll uncover everything there is to know about this citrus oil favorite as we answer, what is Sweet Orange essential oil good for?

What Is Sweet Orange?

The sweet orange botanical (Citrus sinensis) is one of 400 varieties of oranges available. In fact, we offer several varieties of orange oil at Edens Garden, including Bitter Orange, Mandarin and Blood Orange. Many edible oranges, including navel oranges, are also referred to as sweet oranges. 

Oranges grow best in warmer climates. Therefore, most of the world’s oranges come from Brazil, followed by the United States where states like Florida, California and Texas dominate citrus production. 

It is believed that the orange tree originated in Asia – specifically China or Vietnam – before being spread to the Middle East, Africa and parts of Europe. The word “orange” is derived from the Sanskrit word “nāraṅga.” Today, some language’s word for orange are still very close to the original Sanskrit word, including Spanish in which orange is spelled “naranja” and Polish in which it’s spelled “naranča.”  

Fun fact! Edens Garden is located in Orange County, California. It was named Orange County because the county was first known for its many orange groves. Today, orange trees can still be found sprinkled throughout parks, homes and neighborhoods. 

What Are The Benefits Of Sweet Orange Essential Oil?

Orange oil has many clinically proven benefits thanks to limonene. Naturally occurring limonene is a type of monoterpene often found in many citrus oils, including Lime, Grapefruit, Lemon and Bergamot essential oil. It is what gives these oils, and the fruits from which they’re produced, their characteristic zesty, citrus aroma. 

The following studies delineate the benefits of Sweet Orange essential oil, which contains above 90% limonene on average. 

• A study on the immunomodulatory properties of monoterpenes showed that limonene helps to boost the immune system.

• In an elevated maze model, limonene exhibited strong anxiety-reducing effects when inhaled at a concentration of .5% and 1%.

• A study that compared the radical-scavenging activity of essential oils found limonene and Lavender essential oil to have the highest antioxidant potential.

• Various research has shown that limonene can soothe GERD and heartburn while protecting the stomach lining and neutralizing gastric acid. 

• A study on Yuzu essential oil high in limonene found that the oil helped reduce bronchial inflammation, thus supporting asthma. This is in line with other studies that have revealed limonene to have anti inflammatory properties. 

Of these benefits, three of our favorite uses for Sweet Orange are immune-support, pain and inflammation relief and stress relief. Here are the best ways to use Sweet Orange oil to obtain these benefits. 

Diffusion

To take advantage of Sweet Orange’s immune supportive and stress relieving benefits, add Sweet Orange to your diffuser to fill your lungs with this oil’s healing goodness. Diffusing Sweet Orange using an essential oil diffuser is also a great way to enjoy this oil’s sweet, mood-boosting aroma. 

For on-the-go aromatherapy, add Sweet Orange to a personal pocket inhaler and take it out whenever you need an immune boost or stress relief. 

And if you don’t have an essential oil diffuser, add a few drops of Sweet Orange to a simmering pot of water to naturally diffuse the oil throughout your home. 

Topical Application

For pain and inflammation, dilute Sweet Orange with Coconut oil or Jojoba oil and apply it to the area of injury or inflammation. Start with a low dilution of 5%. If after a while you feel you need something more potent, increase the dilution to 10%. 

• 5% = 30 drops of Sweet Orange in 2 tbsp of carrier oil

• 10% = 60 drops of Sweet Orange in 2 tbsp of carrier oil

Though inhalation is the best way to obtain the immune supportive and stress relieving benefits of Sweet Orange, these benefits can also be obtained through topical use when applied to the skin on the neck, wrists and temples. 

Bath

Taking a bath with Sweet Orange is a great way to obtain its many benefits. To do so, combine 6 drops of Sweet Orange and 2 tbsp of a carrier oil. Then, add to 2 tbsp of salt or Epsom Salt and pour the mixture into your warm, running bath water. For best results, soak for at least 30 minutes. 

Alternatively, try Grapefruit Pink Pepper or Yuzu Cannabliss bath salt, as both contain Sweet Orange and other healing essential oils. 

What Blends Well With Sweet Orange Oil?

While many oils blend well with Sweet Orange, some of the most commonly blended aroma categories include floral and other citrus essential oil.

Florals

Examples of floral oils that blend well with Sweet Orange include Ylang Ylang, Rose, Jasmine, Lavender and Geranium. 

Citruses

Examples of citrus oils that blend well with Sweet Orange include Lime, Bergamot oil, Yuzu, Lemon oil, Grapefruit and other varieties of Orange such as Blood Orange, Bitter Orange essential oil and Mandarin. 

Essential Oil Blends With Sweet Orange 

At Edens Garden, Sweet Orange is featured in many of our synergy blends for its wonderfully uplifting, sweet and zesty aroma. Here are some of our favorites. 

Anxiety Ease

A simple, yet complex blend of only three oils, Anxiety Ease is a favorite amongst EG fans for its superb ability to reduce stress and boost mood. Its beautiful aroma is sure to become your new signature scent. 

Guardian

Another EG favorite, Guardian essential oil blend helps keep users well year-round with the help of Sweet Orange. Its spicy and citrusy aroma also helps to create a cozy, stress-free atmosphere. 

Yuzu Cannabliss

If you’re looking to reduce pain and inflammation naturally, Yuzu Cannabliss is a great choice. Its citrusy, earthy and herbal aroma features Sweet Orange, along with Yuzu and Hemp essential oils. Try it in a blend, roll-on, body oil, deodorant or bath salt. 

Note: We do not recommend casual ingestion of Sweet Orange essential oil, as this can cause damage to the mucous membranes if not diluted properly. 

Sources: 

1. Contributor, Gate. “Optimum Conditions for Orange Trees.” Home Guides | SF Gate, 23 Nov. 2020, homeguides.sfgate.com/optimum-conditions-orange-trees-50691.html.

2. Greenberg, Zoe. “The Origin of Oranges.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, 14 Oct. 2020, storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/1a88363072674762b95e1ab4e7431fd0.

3. Collins Dictionary. “English Translation of ‘Orange’ | Collins French-English Dictionary.” Collins Dictionaries, 30 Oct. 2020, www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/french-english/orange.

4. Raphael, T. “Immunomodulatory Activity of Naturally Occurring Monoterpenes Carvone, Limonene, and Perillic Acid.” PubMed, 25 May 2003, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12784919.

5. Lima, Naiana. “Anxiolytic-like Activity and GC-MS Analysis of (R)-(+)-Limonene Fragrance, a Natural Compound Found in Foods and Plants.”PubMed, Jan. 2013, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22995322.

6. Yang, Seun-Ah. “Comparative Study of the Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Six Essential Oils and Their Components.”PubMed, 27 July 2020, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20077307.

7. Hirota, Ryoji. “Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Limonene from Yuzu (Citrus Junos Tanaka) Essential Oil on Eosinophils.” PubMed, Apr. 2010, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20492298.