Lemon Peel

Citrus limonum

Rutaceae family

Cold pressed in Italy from the peel of organically grown fruit.

Lemon is one of those obligatory essential oils, having so many uses it's simply unthinkable to not have a bottle nearby. We can say lemon is one of the most important essential oils.

Lemons are probably native to India and the surrounding area—China, Burma, like that. Now cultivated world-wide, they are used in cooking, as well as medicine and perfumery. Lemon juice—for drinking, liqueurs, soft drinks, cocktails, on fish, and as a short term natural preservative for some fruits like bananas, apples and avocados. Lemon peels are preserved in salt or sugar and served as either pickles or sweets. Lemon leaves are not only used in teas, and for cooking, but is also a specialty of Italy’s Amalfi coast. And then there’s lemon oil, which we’ll discuss a little further.

We buy our organic lemon in small quantities and replenish often as freshness is so important with citrus. Fresh and tart, this bright yellow oil bursts with vibrant good health. Lemon is considered to purify the air

Lemon is uplifting, as are all citruses but lemon is particularly strong in its ability to freshen the air. Lemon is also known for its ability to cool.

Lemon oil can cause skin irritation if applied undiluted over a large area or allowed to float, neat, in the bath. So pay attention. Stay out of the sun if you have lemon on.

Lemon blends with everything, really.

Arctander says

Expressed lemon oil is a yellow, to greenish yellow, to pale yellow mobile liquid of very light, fresh and sweet odor, reminiscent of the ripe peel. There should be no turpentine-like, harsh notes on a perfume blotter, and the lemons should retain their fresh odor until evaporation.

Expressed lemon oil is used in perfumes and flavors for its refreshing, sweet-fruity note. It’s one of the most important ingredients in citrus based colognes, toilet waters, lotions, sprays, etc. Lemon oil blends well with other citrus oils, lavender, lavandin, elemi, labdanum, petitgrain, neroli, oakmoss, vanilla, etc.

Battaglia says

There are plenty of studies published using lemon essential oil, and some of these are

As an air purifier

Help for Alzheimer’s patients

Anti-carcinogenic activity

Anti-depressant activity

Antifungal activity

Antimicrobial activity

Anxiolytic activity

Gallstone dissolution

Gastroprotective activity

Neuroprotective activity

Nootropic activity (the effect of odors on cognitive functions)

It’s also cited as a

Bactericidal

Chemoprotective

Hepatic

Antirheumatic

Carminative

Depurative

Digestive

Febrifuge

Immunostimulant

For more information on Lemon oils uses for aromatherapy, please see The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy by Salvatore Battaglia

Rain Song

rain song--

a peel of lemon rinds

in the bar glass

--Ernesto P Santiago

Lemon Tree

A Lemon tree is

where I sit to ponder life

as drops of juice fall.

--Michael J. Falotico