Your Guide to Citrus Essential Oils
There’s something truly special about citrus essential oils like Lemon, Grapefruit, and Mandarin. Their bright, fresh scents are like a breath of sunshine on a cloudy day – lifting the spirits and refreshing the senses. Many people love these oils not just for their wonderful aromas, but also for their gentle, natural benefits that can support both your home and your wellbeing.
Whether you want to brighten a room, clean the air, or simply enjoy a moment of calm, citrus oils can help bring a little extra joy into your daily life. Their zesty, uplifting fragrance is known to encourage feelings of happiness and mental clarity, which is something we can all appreciate. Plus, these oils are naturally antibacterial, making them handy for freshening up surfaces and helping keep your home feeling clean and inviting.
One practical bonus is that citrus oils are often used to help keep pesky insects away. Therefore, they are perfect for those warmer days when you want to enjoy a window open or relax in your garden without unwanted bugs.
In this post, we’ll share some of our favourite citrus essential oils and explain how you can easily use them. From simple diffuser blends to natural insect repellents, there are plenty of gentle ways to include these oils in your routine. Whether you’re new to essential oils or have been enjoying them for a while, we hope you’ll find helpful tips and inspiration to bring a little extra sunshine into your home and your day.
Just a quick note: some citrus oils can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so it’s best to avoid sun exposure on areas where you’ve applied them for at least 12 – 24 hours.
Bergamot
Aroma: Top note, sweet, fruity citrus with light floral and spicy undertones
Cold-pressed from bergamot fruit peel, this oil uplifts mood, balances emotions, and cleanses spaces.
Room Fragrance: Diffuse alone or blend with Cedar Atlas, Frankincense, Lavender, or Clary Sage.
Bergamot FCF
Aroma: Top note, sweet, fruity citrus, delicate floral and spicy notes
FCF (Furanocoumarin-Free) Bergamot is re-distilled to remove bergaptene, eliminating photosensitivity risks and making it safer for skincare.
DIY Tip: Blend 2 drops of Bergamot FCF and 2 drops of Ylang Ylang in 10ml Jojoba Oil for facial oil.
Room Fragrance: Diffuse with Sweet Orange and Cypress for emotional balance.
Citronella
Aroma: Top note, sharp, lemony, grassy
With a bold lemony aroma, Citronella essential oil refreshes and clarifies while naturally deterring insects. Steam distilled from citronella grass leaves, it’s perfect for uplifting the mind and purifying the air, especially in summer.
DIY Tip: Diffuse 3 drops Citronella, 3 drops Geranium, and 2 drops Pine Needle for a vibrant room scent.
Insect Repellent: Diffuse 2 drops each of Citronella, Cedar Atlas, and to keep bugs away.
Grapefruit
Aroma: Top note, sweet, tangy, clean citrus
Bright and zesty, Grapefruit oil energises the mind and body, promotes emotional clarity, and supports skin toning. Cold-pressed from fresh grapefruit peel, it’s popular in skincare and detox routines.
DIY Tip: Mix 3 drops Grapefruit and 3 drops Juniper Berry in 15ml Coconut oil; massage upward on cellulite-prone areas.
Room Fragrance: Blends well with Lemon, Sweet Orange, Rosemary, and Lavender for an uplifting space.
Lemon
Aroma: Top note, crisp, tangy, energising
Cold-pressed from lemon peel, Lemon oil is clarifying and uplifting, ideal for diffusers, cleaning, and body care.
DIY Tip: Add 3 drops Lemon and 2 drops Tea Tree to a teaspoon of Sweet Almond Oil for a foot massage.
Bath Blend: Mix 2 drops Lemon, 2 drops Ylang Ylang, and 1 drop Sandalwood with a carrier oil and Bath Dispersant for a warming bath.
Lemongrass
Aroma: Top-middle note, fresh, green-lemony, slightly earthy
Distilled from lemongrass leaves, this oil refreshes, grounds, and deters insects naturally.
DIY Tip: Soak tired feet in warm water with 1 drop each of Lemongrass, Lavender, and Geranium, as well as a Bath Dispersant or Shower Gel Base.
Insect Repellent: Diffuse Lemongrass with Cedar Atlas during summer evenings.
Lime
Aroma: Top note, bright, fresh, bitter-sweet citrus
Steam distilled from lime peel, Lime oil is stimulating, refreshing, and supports digestion when used in gentle abdominal massage.
DIY Tip: Soak feet in warm water with 1 drop each Lime, Lemon, and Geranium.
Room Spray: Mix 1 drop each Lime, Lavender, and Neroli in water for a natural spray (avoid polished surfaces).
Mandarin
Aroma: Top note, sweet, gentle, tangy citrus
Cold-pressed from mandarin peel, this gentle oil uplifts and calms, ideal for sensitive skin and emotional support.
DIY Tip: Add 3 drops Mandarin, 3 drops Geranium, and 2 drops Patchouli to Peach Kernel oil and a Bath Dispersant or Shower Gel Base for a relaxing bath.
Pregnancy Massage: Dilute 1 drop Mandarin in Peach Kernel oil for bump massage (just check with your midwife before use).
Melissa True 5% Dilution
Aroma: Top–middle note – lemony, herbaceous, soft, slightly sweet
Melissa (Lemon Balm) oil is cherished for its calming, mood-lifting properties. Steam distilled from the leaves and flowering tops of the plant, it offers a gentle yet uplifting scent that helps ease tension and promote emotional balance. Due to its very low yield, Melissa oil is highly precious – this 5% dilution makes it more accessible while preserving its benefits. Blended in nourishing Jojoba Oil, this dilution is safe to apply directly to the skin, making it ideal for quick topical use without the need for further mixing. Melissa is diluted in Jojoba Oil because it’s highly potent on its own, and even in diluted form, it remains effective without being overwhelming or causing irritation.
DIY Tip: Add 5 drops of Melissa 5% dilution to 10ml of Bath Dispersing Oil for a soothing, restorative soak.
Fragrance: Dab onto pulse points for a calming, subtly citrusy scent that uplifts the senses throughout the day.
Sweet Orange
Aroma: Top note, warm, fresh, sweet citrus. Expressed from Spanish orange peel, Sweet Orange oil uplifts mood and calms the mind.
DIY Tip: Blend 3 drops Sweet Orange, 2 drops Frankincense, and 1 drop Clove Bud in diffuser water for a festive vibe.
Bath Blend: Mix 2 drops Sweet Orange, 3 drops Lavender, and 2 drops Benzoin carrier oil for relaxation.
