Cold pressed citrus peel essential oils are not by-products of the juice industry, although the fruits used in the extraction of this product are used for both essential oil and juice. Processing these fruits with different machinery yields cold pressed essential oils from the peels and juice from the pulp – the juice, being a secondary product of oil extraction. The essential oil has a higher value than the juice, and even though the yield is lower (approximately 0.4 – 7% vs. 30 – 35%) both oils and juices are major market products.[4]

Considering that most citrus peel essential oils contain very high percentages of limonene (up to 95%), one would expect them to have more similar aromas. The fact that Orange, Lemon, Lime and Grapefruit essential oils smell differently due to constituents amounting to less than five percent of the overall oil is fairly comprehensible. The fact that Orange oils of the same species can differ aromatically based on percentages of less than one percent is pretty remarkable.

Wild-grown and organic citrus peel oils are preferred for use in aromatherapy preparations since the residues of farming chemicals accumulate in the outer peels and can be detected in the cold-pressed oils by GC-MS analysis. The elevating and comforting aroma of Sweet Orange awakens the senses and makes for a familiar favorite in diffusers, massage blends, leg and foot lotions, belly rubs, nighttime sprays, room sprays, skincare preparations, and cleansers. It is a lovely fresh, fruity top note in perfumery creations.