Citrus aurantifolia swingle Cold pressed from the peel, from Mexico.

Aroma: Lime has a crisp, sweet, fresh smell characteristic of citrus products. This top-quality North American lime has an unexpected warmth and depth.

Lime Essential Oil is well known in folklore for its ability to cleanse, purify and renew the spirit and the mind. It is also said to be effective in cleansing the aura and thus is used in Anarres' Clearance Incense.

History: Originally from Asia, limes are now cultivated in mostly warm countries, especially Italy, the West Indies and the Americas. Limes were introduced into Europe by the Moors and from there to the Americas, however, key lime may have been developed from an Asian source as early as the Olmec civilization. Ships transporting limes were called 'lime juicers' and ship crews depended on lime to prevent scurvy, because of the high vitamin C content found in limes and lime juice.

Colour: yellow-green.

Consistency: Light

Perfumery Note: Top

Strength of Initial Aroma: medium

Common Uses: Lime essential oil has a crisp, refreshing citrus scent that has been used by aromatherapists for its uplifting and revitalizing properties. It can also act as an astringent on skin where it is reputed to help clear oily skin.

Possible Uses: Acne, asthma, chilblains, colds, dull skin, flu, varicose veins. [Julia Lawless, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (Rockport, MA: Element Books, 1995), 56-66.]

Constituents:
d-Limonene - 30 - 100 %
p-Mentha-1,4-diene - 10 - 30 %
Terpinolene - 3 - 10 %
alpha-Terpineol - 3 - 10 %
p-Mentha-1,3-diene - 1 - 3 %
1,4-Cineole - 1 - 3 %
p-Cymene - 1 - 3 %
beta-Pinene - 1 - 3 %
l-.beta.-Bisabolene - 1 - 3 %
Myrcene - 1 - 3 %
4-Carvomenthenol - 1 - 3 %
alpha-Pinene - 1 - 3 %
gamma-Terpineol - 1 - 3 %
trans-trans-alpha-Farnesene - 1 - 3 %
Terpineol - 1 - 3 %
Eucalyptol - 1 - 3 %
Camphene - 0.3 - 1 %

Safety Information: Phototoxic. [Robert Tisserand, Essential Oil Safety (United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone, 1995), 208.] Do not use if the area of application will be exposed to sunlight for 24 hours due to its phototoxicity.

Cautions: Cold Pressed Lime essential oil is phototoxic. Users should avoid direct sunlight after the application.

Photo thanks to James Steakley, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons