Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon essential oil (EO) is one of my favorite oils.  To be honest, I love pretty much all of the citrus essential oils! They’re cheerful and warming, which makes me feel at ease and happy.  Lemon is great for winter because it helps freshen stale air & has a bright scent.  It is also a great degreaser and improves the cleaning ability of natural products.  So let’s dive into why lemon is a great oil to have around.

Cleaning

Lemon has this degreasing and stain fighting ability that makes it perfect for cleaning!  I have even used it on furniture and carpet (but make sure to test a hidden spot in case it reacts in a bad way!) to clean coffee spills and paint left behind by my kiddo’s hands.  I have also put a few drops on stubborn carpet stains, brushed it with an old toothbrush, and then sprayed it with vinegar to wipe it off with success.

Lemon Vinegar Cleaner:

• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 cup vinegar
• 10-20 drops of lemon essential oil

Mix it all in a spray bottle and then use around your kitchen and bathroom.

Sometimes you may have grime built up that requires a little scrubbing action. Plant Therapy posted a cleaning recipe that goes as such:

• ½ cup baking soda
• 1 tsp dish soap
• 1 TBSP peroxide
• 8 drops of lemon EO

Mix all ingredients well and use when you need a great degreaser!

Mood Brightener

You may have seen in my post about using essential oils safely that photoxicity is a concern with some oils. Per Plant Therapy, you can safely put 12 drops of lemon EO in one ounce of carrier oil without concerns about photoxicity.  Always use it with caution, but this makes it a great one to use on runs, although I still don’t place it in high sun areas like my face or shoulders.  I usually apply it to the nape of my neck where my pony tail lays.

Lemon EO is energizing, can pick up your mood, & is a great to really help you focus. Diffusing or having it in an inhaler while studying or trying to focus is a great way to motivate you and improve your mood! If you have a personal inhaler, place 10-15 drops into your inhaler and breathe in when you need a pick me up (or are practicing these deep breathing exercises!)

Clear Out the Stale Air

You can use this not only for that stale air smell that sometimes presents itself in a stuffy house, but also to give a room a pick me up smell. I enjoy putting a few drops into my diffuser and diffusing for a clean smell throughout my home. During cold fall days, it can be a great way to change the mood on those dreary days!

Make Your Own Blends!

My trifecta of oils are lemon, peppermint, and lavender.  I love mixing equal parts of lemon and peppermint into a roller with a carrier oil and putting it on when I’m feeling stressed to calm frazzled nerves.

If I’m taking a bath, I love to add equal parts lemon, peppermint, and lavender.  Make sure to use caution if you use EO’s in the bath.  You need to find a good way to dilute them.  One of the easiest ways I have found is to use a fragrance free body wash or shampoo.  Oil and water do NOT mix, so if you place EO’s undiluted into your bath, they will separate and cause you some discomfort since they’ll be undiluted on your skin! Mixing these three together is also a great way to use them in a diffuser.

Wanting to grab the oils I use? Click the link to grab them.

Please note, peppermint isn’t appropriate for all ages as it can cause respiratory distress and some breastfeeding women may notice a decreased supply if peppermint is applied above the chest. I personally haven’t noticed a decrease in supply, but since I have 3 children under 5 in my home, I’m not using it as often as I use to either.

How are you planning to use lemon essential oil today?

Disclaimer: I’m not a certified aromatherapist.  What I mention above is from my personal experience and from research I have done from reputable aromatherapists.  Some of the links are affiliate links I will make a small profit on, at no extra cost to you!