Lemon oil is extracted from the fresh fruit peel of Citrus limonum by cold expression. A native of India, this evergreen tree grows up to about 6 meters and has dark green serrated oval leaves with pink/white flowers that are highly perfumed. The trees have thorns and fruit that turn from green to yellow on ripening. The fruit has a good content of vitamins A, B and C which helps alleviate scurvy and other vitamin deficiencies. Lemon oil has a sharp, fresh smell, is pale greenish-yellow in color and is watery in viscosity.

The main chemical components of lemon oil are a-pinene, camphene, b-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, a-terpinene, linalool, b-bisabolene, limonene, trans-a-bergamotene, nerol and neral.

Lemon oil is useful in a variety of ways. It cuts down acidity in the body thereby assisting digestion, it helps with rheumatism, arthritis, gout, cellulite, abscesses, boils, carbuncles and acne. It is beneficial to the circulatory system and aids with blood flow, reduces blood pressure and helps with nosebleeds, it helps bring down fever, helps relieve throat infections, bronchitis, asthma and flu, it boosts the immune system and cleanses the body, it is helpful with constipation and dyspepsia, it soothes and relieves headaches and migraines, it cleans greasy skin and hair, as well as removes dead skin cells, eases painful cold sores, cures mouth ulcers and herpes.

It helps fight infections and muscular problems, it can be used for colds, depression, stress, lack of energy and fatigue, it can be used for obesity, overweight, and as a general tonic. It can be used in creams or lotions to clear congested skin, it helps to treat cuts, and minor wounds, it can be used as a mouth wash or gargle, it can be used for athelete's foot, chilblains, corns, spots, allergies or hay fever, varicose veins, warts and seborrhoea. It can be used as a gargle for bad breath, can be used for infectious disease, impaired memory, for urinary tract infections, parasites, anxiety, insomnia, and can help detoxify and purify the liver and kidneys. It can be used for nail fungus..

It helps relieve irritation and also helps improve concentration, it lifts the spirits, clears the mind and helps in decision making. It is used in diffusers, and is a popular flavoring agent for food and perfumes. It can be used for insect bites. It can be used in burners and vaporizers, lotions and creams, and also as a degreaser. Lemon oil can be used in blended massage oils or diluted in the bath.

Lemon oil is anti-anemic, antimicrobial, anti-rheumatic, anti-sclerotic, antiseptic, carminative, cicatrisant, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, haemostatic, hypotensive, insecticidal, rubefacient, tonic and vermifuge, antitumoral, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, astringent, anti-inflammatory, immune stimulant, digestive, expectorant, calming.

Lemon oil blends particularly well with lavender, rose, sandalwood, benzoin, eucalyptus, geranium, fennel, juniper, neroli and elemi essential oils.

Lemon oil has a distinctly refreshing aroma which makes it a good ingredient for perfumes. Many scented candles contain lemon oil, and it is also used in potpourris. Lemon juice and lemon essential oil are both used in soaps, face washes and many other personal care and skin care cosmetics due to its antiseptic quality.