Citrus sinensis steam distilled five times over to remove the sun sensitizing terpenes, from the peels, from Italy
Five Fold Citrus Essential Oils are more concentrated than the regular citrus essential oils. Through extended distillation, turpenes are removed from the oil rendering it more suitable for cosmetic applications. Similarly, the increased concentration make the essential oil fragrance much stronger - perfect for soap & candle makers!
Aroma: Sweet Orange essential oil has a sweet, citrus smell much like the orange peels it is derived from, only more intense and concentrated.
History: There is some argument, but it is believed that Sweet Orange was brought from the Far East to Europe by the Arabs in the First century along with the Bitter Orange. Citrus trees may have been imported from the Far East to North America by the Olmecs or Maya.
Colour: Orange, of course!
Main Constituents:
d-Limonene: 93.38%
B-Myrcene, a-Pinene, linalool, decanal, citronellal
See Essential Oil Safety for constituent lists of oils sourced from oranges grown in different regions.
[B.M. Lawrence, Essential Oils 1988-1991 (Wheaton: Allured Publishing, 1995), 48-49. Source cited in Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 372.]
Common Uses: Sweet Orange Essential Oil is very much like Bitter orange in its applications: antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, cordial, deodorant, digestive, stimulant (nervous), tonic (cardiac, circulatory). It has also been applied to combat colds, constipation, dull skin, flatulence, the flu, gums, slow digestion, and stress.
Cautions: Some aromatherapists have reported that a small percentage of few people have experienced dermatitis from the limonene content of Sweet Orange, however, through extended distillation, terpenes are removed from the oil rendering it gentler and far less photosensitizing, making it suitable for skin applications in daylight.
Photo thanks to CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83897