A great oil for your aromatherapy starter kit is lemon essential oil. If you love the bright, fresh scent of citrus fruits, you will love using lemon oil! It takes a lot of lemon rinds (about 1,500 lemons worth) to make a pound of lemon essential oil, but lucky for us, lemons are abundant! You should be able to get 10 milliliters of lemon essential oil for less than five dollars. Personally, I like shopping at Soapbox U.S.A. for my essential oils.
Aromatherapy Properties
Lemon (and the other citrus scents like lime, grapefruit, and orange) are uplifting and energizing. Studies have shown that the scent of lemon is mentally stimulating and improves concentration! In fact, a combination of lemon (or another citrus scent) and lavender is a great combination for the workplace – the lemon is energizing and the lavender is harmonizing. Your mood and your productivity will improve.
Uses for Lemon Essential Oil
Does your favorite cleaning product smell like lemons, or another citrus fruit? You can add a few drops of lemon essential oil to bleach, vinegar, or baking soda when you’re cleaning for an extra fresh scent.
If you have a bagless vacuum, put a drop or two of lemon essential oil on a cotton ball and place it in the canister. As you vacuum, the exhaust air will blow out lemon scented! (Lemon with geranium essential oil is a good combination for clearing out pet odors!)
A Few Words of Caution
· Lemon essential oil is NOT safe to use undiluted. Add lemon essential oil to a carrier oil like jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or grapeseed oil before use.
· Citrus essential oils can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, and more susceptible to sunburn. Do not use before a day at the beach or a trip to the tanning salon!
· Lemon stimulates circulation and the immune system. It is not recommended for people with autoimmune disorders.
Remember, most essential oils are not to be used neat on the skin. They are concentrated plant essences. Dilute your oils in a carrier oil for use on the body.