Essential oils guide: Grapefruit, Lime and Mandarin essential oils

The last three citrus essential oils are Grapefruit, Lime and Mandarin (see picture right). I’m sure you’re familiar with grapefruits and limes from the local market. Mandarin is the name used in aromatherapy for the type of easy-peel orange you used to get only around Christmas time.

Grapefruit essential oil
This is extracted from the outer skin of Citrus x paradisi. The X means it is a hybrid – between the pomelo and the sweet orange. As both parents are sweet, the result is unexpectedly bitter, not that this has any relevance to its therapeutic value.

Grapefruit is energizing and is used mainly to treat psychological conditions such as bitterness, confusion, depression, despondency, envy, frustration, indecisiveness, jealousy, nervous exhaustion, performance stress, procrastination, worry about the past and to aid clarity of mind, but is also used for chills, colds and flu and to treat cellulitis, headaches, obesity, water retention and as a sports aid for use before exercise, and afterwards to treat stiffness and muscle fatigue.

Grapefruit essential oil is not suitable for use with children under five years old. Phototoxic: don’t use on skin that will be exposed to the sun or tanning beds in the following 48 hours.

Lime essential oil
This oil is extracted from the outer peel of unripe fruit of Citrus aurantifolia. This tropical tree is not related to the Common Lime or Linden found in many parks and alongside highways.

Lime essential oil is uplifting and energizing and is used like lemon oil: undiluted to treat boils, herpes (cold sores), warts and plantar warts (verrucas), and diluted for skin care, especially for oily skin, to tone and condition nails, and for bleaching discolored areas of skin.

Use at a 1% dilution as a massage oil to treat acne, anemia, arthritis, cellulitis and skin blemishes such as spots.

You can also use it in a diffuser or add up to 3 drops to the bath to help clear up respiratory infections like colds and flu.

Phototoxic: don’t use on skin that will be exposed to the sun or tanning beds in the following 48 hours.

Mandarin essential oil
This is extracted from the outer skin of Citrus reticulata. It’s also sometimes called Tangerine essential oil. Mandarins used to be a special treat looked forward to around Christmas each year, but are now available all year round under the name satsuma. The clementine is a variety of the same tree whose fruit has a tougher skin.

Mandarin essential oil is known as the children’s remedy in France and is useful for treating children and pregnant women with digestive disorders such as hiccups, gripes and indigestion as well as sleep difficulties and restlessness. Other uses include general skin care for oily skin, and as a treatment for acne and other blemishes, stretch marks, fluid retention and obesity.

Mandarin essential oil is generally regarded as not phototoxic. However, it’s probably wise to take some care about sun bathing or tanning beds within 48 hours of use.

Where to get your oils

Here’s my list of suggested suppliers for good quality grapefruit, lime and mandarin essential oil in your area.

StarWest Botanicals
StarWest have a range of options, including organic oils. Where possible the products listed here are from their top quality Trinity range.
Trinity Grapefruit Essential Oil 1/3 ounce bottle. $3.92
Trinity Lime Essential Oil 1/3 ounce bottle. $4
Trinity Tangerine Essential Oil (Mandarin) 1/3 ounce bottle. $3.25

Other sizes are available.

Amphora Aromatics UK (prices inc. VAT at 20%)
Grapefruit Essential Oil 10ml. £2.81
Lime Essential Oil 10ml. £2.65
Mandarin Essential Oil 10ml. £3.22

Related posts:

1. Essential Oils Guide: Lemon oil
2. Essential Oils Guide: Tea Tree Oil and its Uses
3. Oranges, Lemons and other Citrus