Orange essential oil: properties and uses

Orange tree with its incredibly fragrant fruit was noticed as early as the 4th century BC. In Europe, it was imported at the end of the XVI century. For a long time Europeans watched under what conditions it is possible to get more ripe fruits and what factors negatively affect the yield. The process of acculturation began. Now the growing of trees occurs on a large scale: they are planted by whole plantations.

Varieties of orange tree

Currently, several varieties of orange trees are known. The most popular among them is the sweet and bitter orange. Gorky has another name - pomeranian. Citrus fruit of bitter wood is unsuitable for food, but from them more fragrant orange oil is obtained. The color of the product can be of different shades, from dark yellow to dark brown.

In contrast to the bitter orange fruit, sweet citrus is eaten fresh, from which juice is obtained, canned. However, the oil of sweet orange has also found wide application. And its content in the peel is much larger. For your information: to get 1 kg of orange oil, you need to take 50 kg of fresh peel of these fruits. The smell of essential oil of sweet orange is less bright, but also in sweet, and in bitter fruit it is very close to the natural smell of fruit. The color of the oil is basically dark yellow.

The process of obtaining essential oil

Orange oil is produced during the process called "cold pressing". No less popular is the process, in which the simultaneous production of orange juice and essential oil. In this case, in the centrifuges, pre-crushed fruits in special machines are placed. During processing, separation of solid substances (peel) and liquid substance (juice, pulp) takes place. After that, the essential oil of orange is obtained from the peel . Its properties are incredibly wide. However, the quality of the oil obtained in this way is somewhat worse, but the amount considerably exceeds the volumes of the product obtained by the cold-pressing method.

The instruction of oil at home

Despite the fact that at first glance the reception of ethereal substance is a rather complicated and laborious process, in fact it is possible to prepare it even at home. The final result is an excellent orange oil. Its application is possible for various purposes. How to get orange oil by yourself?

For manufacturing, you need:

• Fresh, soft, thick orange peel;
• Vegetable oil without a smell (optional sunflower, it can be olive, corn, cotton).

So, first, you need to rinse the skin under a hot water jet. Then cut it into small pieces and put it in a glass bowl or jar. Pour the peel with vegetable oil layer approximately 1 cm, close the lid and put it in a dark place, such as a kitchen cabinet. After three days, the resulting mass must be heated in a water bath for half an hour. Allow to cool and then squeeze dry the peel to get more orange oil.

In the manufacturing process, not a single chemical ingredient is added, only natural products are used, which means that you can not worry about the quality of the essential oil obtained. It is worth knowing that the product can be stored for no more than 10 days, so do not prepare it for future use.

Application area

Regardless of how the essential oil of orange is obtained, it can be used for various purposes. Widely used it found in cosmetic procedures: in the manufacture of masks, creams, scrubs, etc. To improve the taste in cooking, add orange oil to the dishes. Its properties are very diverse, which is why it is also used for recreational purposes.

Properties of essential oil of orange

1. It removes toxins from the body, helps with poisoning.
2. Promotes the appearance of appetite and at the same time struggles with excess weight.
3. In dentistry it is used as an antiseptic, it removes inflammation of the gums.
4. Reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood, thereby reducing the likelihood of atherosclerosis.
5. Relieves eye fatigue, helps restore visual acuity.
6. Eliminates the feelings of anxiety and fear, helps fight depression and relieves tension.
7. Helps to focus and concentrate on really important things.
8. Ideal assistant in the fight against cellulite.
9. Aligns the tone of the face, gives it a healthy appearance and helps to get rid of pigment spots.
10. Increases immunity.
11. It cheers up.

This is only a small list of medicinal properties, which possesses essential oil of orange. The properties and application of it have been studied so far, so every year the list is supplemented.

In cosmetology

As already mentioned, orange oil is an indispensable assistant in the arsenal of women in the struggle for beauty. It favorably affects the skin, hair and, in general, the state of the female body.

Find ready-made products containing orange oil - shampoos, masks, creams - is rather difficult, since the shelf life of the essential substance is not more than 6 months. That is why to obtain a curative product, it is enough to add a few drops to your favorite cosmetic composition or to prepare the remedy yourself.

The most popular masks are those that do not require a lot of ingredients. So, for example, a fairly simple mask of fresh cucumber and sour cream:

• For cooking it is necessary to mix the pulp of fresh cucumber with one tablespoon of fatty sour cream, add 2-3 drops of orange oil. The mask is ready, put on the face and leave for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.

Another "summer" mask based on strawberries:

• Take 4-5 ripe strawberry berries, rub them into gruel. Add one teaspoon of cream and 2-3 drops of essential oil of orange. We put on the face. Leave for 15-20 minutes.

A lot of recipes exist, in which not only orange oil is added, but also other essential substances. For example, chamomile, geranium, rosewood, sandalwood, tea tree, etc. The basis of the mask can be therapeutic mud, blue or black cosmetic clay, egg yolk and much more.

Important! When composing a remedy, it is necessary to check whether its components cause allergy.

Masks for hands and hair

In order to tidy the skin of hands, to give her tenderness and smoothness, it is not necessary to resort to the services of cosmetologists or to use expensive creams. Daily care at home will help maintain the excellent condition of the skin of the hands for many years. Perhaps the simplest mask is made on the basis of sour cream, into which you can drip geranium oil, chamomile, myrrh and orange oil.

For hair, it's enough to add the orange oil to the shampoo. It is not recommended to pour it directly into the entire bottle, it is better to add a couple of drops immediately before use. The enriched product will give the hair smoothness and radiance, as well as help to get rid of dandruff and brittle hair. All this is due to the fact that the composition contains orange oil . The beneficial properties accumulate, and with every application the condition of the hair improves. This is only the smallest list of beauty recipes, in which the essential oil of orange is used. Its use in cosmetics is very wide.

In aromatherapy

Thanks to the large number of useful and medicinal properties that orange oil possesses, its application for various kinds of inhalations has become a salvation for many people. Just 15 minutes of staying in a room filled with citrus aroma, contributes to increased efficiency, the surge of energy, the removal of fatigue, a person has a feeling of happiness and joy.

Very popular aromatic lamps with the addition of essential oil of orange. In order for such procedures to bring only positive emotions, you need to choose the right dosage. So, for a room measuring 16 square meters. M four drops of essential oil. It can be used not only with aromatic lamps, it is enough to put on a clean cotton cloth and put, for example, on the heater. In this case, the room will also be filled with a tremendous citrus aroma.

It is very useful to take a bath with the addition of essential oil of this fruit. It is important to know that it can not be used undiluted. As an emulsifier, milk, honey or sea salt may come up. The bath time should not exceed 15 minutes.

Fans of bath procedures are also encouraged to periodically use orange oil. Reviews after visiting such a bath only the most pleasant! You should know and remember the dosage: for 0.5 liters of water - 4 drops of the air product. The time of visiting the steam room should not exceed 4-5 minutes.

In cooking

You can use orange oil not only for different masks, aroma treatments, but also for preparing various dishes and drinks. So, daily use of tea with the addition of one drop of oil helps to remove harmful toxins from the body, improve digestion, increase appetite.

On New Year's Eve, try adding 1 drop of sweet orange to the glass with champagne. The taste of the drink will instantly change, become more saturated, and the color is more golden!

The essential oil of orange, the properties and application of which has not been fully studied even at the present time, thanks to the available useful qualities is very popular.

Contraindications

Like all products, the essential oil of these fruits also has its contraindications for use. The main is the presence of allergies to citrus fruits. Also, it is strictly forbidden to take oil to people suffering from cholelithiasis. With caution, it should be used during pregnancy and lactation. Do not apply to exposed skin before going out. Do not expose the areas of the body on which it is applied to direct sunlight.

Test

Well, at last we propose to pass a small test, which will help to determine what you really need at the present time.

Imagine two bright smells - the smell of a lemon and the smell of an orange. What flavor do you prefer at the moment? Both scents are citrus, pleasant, but you only need to choose one.

Have stopped on a lemon aroma? So, you are attracted to cases that do not wait for delay. Perhaps this is related to work or study, and maybe they are associated with new hobbies or hobbies. Not always for new things you have the energy, but the aroma of lemon will help to restore and continue the initiated activities!

For those who liked the smell of orange, there is another explanation. Your body says that it is physically and psychologically exhausted. He needs a rest. It may not necessarily be a trip, just spend some time in person. Stay alone in a room with a lighted aroma lamp. Add in it a few drops of essential oil of orange. Just stay alone with your thoughts, and then fatigue as a hand will remove. This method is also recommended for people who have experienced severe stress.