We’ve been thinking a lot about essential oils lately. These super-concentrated extracts from plant flowers, leaves, roots, bark, and stems have many uses. Not only can they help you stay healthy, their intense aromas provide an amazing sensory experience. We use essential oils in many of our homemade skincare products and natural health remedies. In fact, we use them so often that we think it’s time to explore some of our favorites in depth. To do so, we’re starting a new series on this blog called Must-Have Essential Oils. Each post in this series will take a closer look at the benefits of a particular essential oil. We’re kicking off our series with one of our favorites: lemon oil.
100% Pure Lemon Essential Oils like ours come from a very common source: lemons! The oil is cold pressed out of lemon rinds, resulting in a pure, beautiful-smelling oil that has many different uses. People have used it for millennia (literally!) for its numerous health benefits. Ancient Egyptians believed that lemon oil could cure poisoning from meat or fish, while 17th century Royal Navy ships looked to it to help keep scurvy at bay.
While scurvy probably isn’t a huge concern in your life, lemon oil is still a particularly useful essential oil this time of year due to its ability to boost your energy levels. When the short days and cooler temperatures start getting you down, a couple of drops diluted in a glass of water can help wake you up. Lemons are also known for their high vitamin C content, and lemon oil is no exception. If you ingest it regularly, it can boost your immune system and help you fight off those winter colds. You may also want to consider combining lemon oil with more medicinal-smelling oils such as eucalyptus and tea tree to improve their aromas.
Lemon oil is a must-have ingredient in your aroma therapy kit. Its clear, fresh scent helps to soothe away stress, leaving you feeling refreshed and focused. Dilute a few drops with water and pour into a spray bottle to create a natural air freshener. Spray your room when you’d like to transition into a more positive mindset, or if you need to settle down and concentrate on an important task.
If you haven’t guessed it by now, another great use for lemon essential oil is as an ingredient in homemade skincare products. When diluted with Shea butter or another natural ingredient, lemon oil can help keep your skin looking bright and young. It also has antiseptic properties that make it a great choice for treating acne. Of course, its smell lends itself well to lotions, soaps, and creams, making it a great addition to any product that could use a touch of liveliness.
Lemon oil is a fabulous addition to your homemade health and beauty routine. If you’re looking for even more ways to work this essential oil into your everyday life, check out this post on homemademommy.net. It has some great ideas that we haven’t mentioned here. You can also learn a little more about what essential oils are and how to find the best ones in this blog post we wrote in May: Essential Oils – Benefits, Uses, and Shea Butter.
We encourage you to embrace this beneficial and aromatic oil as you look for ways to keep your family and yourself healthy this winter. Keep an eye on this space for more information about our favorite essential oils.