Are you new to essential oils? I've been on an amazing journey learning about the medicinal uses and benefits of essential oils, and I want to share everything with you too!
This post is the beginning of a series of blog posts to introduce you to essential oils and how they can improve your everyday life. I've been able to replace all of my conventional household cleaners, body care products, and the items in my medicine cabinet…all with the use of essential oils!
This week, I'm happy to introduce you to lemon essential oil. It's an incredibly potent, multi-purpose essential oil that can be used in everything from personal care to cooking and cleaning.
The 20 Uses of Lemon Essential Oil
If you think you know all there is to know about lemon essential oil, think again! I bet you didn't know about some of these amazing uses so I'm really excited to teach you what I've learned about what has become one of my favorite essential oils.
I'm starting with lemon essential oil because it happens to be the first essential oil most people interact with when they begin to use and explore essential oils. It's a cleaning machine and highly detoxifying, not to mention it smells AMAZING! I mean, this stuff is like they stuffed hundreds of fresh lemons into every drop…it's THAT intense! I have never come across a lemon essential oil so true to the scent of lemon.
So a little about lemon essential oil:
• It has a vibrant revitalizing and uplifting scent (you seriously cannot stay upset or angry when smelling lemon essential oil!)
• It contains 68% d-limonene a powerful antioxidant known to be effective against tumor growth
• It's really refreshing when it's added to water and iced tea
• It's incredibly detoxifying
• When diffused, it can kill many airborne bacteria and viruses
• In skincare, it is used in skin lightening formulas, anti-acne products, and wrinkle reducers
• Lemon essential oil is made by cold pressing the rinds of fresh lemons
Basic Uses:
1. Varicose Veins and Cellulite
Lemon essential oil is known to combat varicose veins, cellulite, and sluggish circulation. Apply a few drops directly on problems areas and gently massage into the skin 2 per day for best results. Mix with a carrier oil like sweet almond oil
if you have sensitive skin.
2. Lighten and Brighten
Use it in homemade household cleaning recipes to brighten tile and whiten sinks.
3. Detox
Add a drop of lemon essential oil to your daily morning glass of water to enhance detox
4. Uplift
Diffuse it to uplift low spirits and to help replenish energy and focus
5. Polish Furniture
Add a few drops to sweet almond oil and use it to polish and restore wood furniture
6. Freshen the Kitchen
Put a drop or two down the garbage disposal to freshen it and kill germs
7. Skincare
Add it to homemade face creams, toners, serums, and spot treatments to lighten brighten, and smooth out an uneven complexion
8. Support the Lymph
Massage it into lymph nodes to support proper drainage. You'll feel more energy after doing this!
9. Remove Gunk
Use it to remove sticky residue from bandages, tape, labels and even crayon from the walls!
10. Soften Calluses
Soften calluses by applying one or two drops twice daily
11. Hand Sanitizer
Sanitize your hands quickly and easily by rubbing one drop of lemon essential oil over your hands
12. Ear Infection Relief
Dilute 2 drops of lemon essential oil in a little carrier oil like almond or coconut oil
and massage around the outside of the ear. Be sure to massage to lymph nodes below the ears to enhance drainage.
13. Degreaser
Have pesky stains that just won't come out of your favorite clothes? Add a few drops to some castile soap
and apply it to the stain to get it out.
14. DIY All Purpose Cleaner
Clean countertops, sinks, toilets, bathtubs, hardwood floors and more by mixing 6 drops of lemon essential oil with 2 cups of filtered water and 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
in a spray bottle
. Spray on and wipe off!
15. Wash Your Fruits and Veggies!
Mix 2 drops of lemon essential oil to 1 teaspoon of castile soap. While filling the kitchen sink add in the mixture and throw in your fruits and veggies to remove the soil waxy residue and kill germs then rinse.
16. De-Stink
Add a few drops to a cotton ball
and toss it into the bathroom and kitchen trashcans. Throw another one into the dirty laundry basket for good measure.
17. Cooking
Add lemon essential oil to marinades for fish and chicken or add it to salad dressings for a delicious lemony flavor.
18. Colds and Flu
Add 2 drops to some ginger tea to soothe sore throats and kill bacteria
19. Make Instant Lemonade
This is one of my favorites! Just add 2 drops of lemon essential oil to 1 TB of raw honey
and stir well. Next, mix the "lemon honey" into a tall glass of water. Add ice and stir!
20. Whiten Teeth!
Add 1 drop to 3 TB of sesame oil
and swish it around for 15 minutes (this is called "oil pulling") and spit it out. Not only is this very detoxifying for the body, it will also kill odor-causing bacteria AND whiten your teeth!
What have been your favorite uses for lemon essential oil?
You may also enjoy reading:
Basil Essential Oil Benefits and Uses
The Benefits and Properties of Cajeput Essential Oil
What is Amyris Essential Oil
Leros says
Enjoyed this article! Cheers
Tracy Spangler says
I use lemon essential oil in so many ways! First is in my all purpose cleaner, also in the diffuser or I put just a drop under my nose to wake me up! I enjoy putting a couple drops in my water first thing in the morning and I also use it in a pinch if I can't wash my hands- just put two drops on your palms and rub your hands together. I love lemon essential oil!
Kelly Minard says
I've been thinking about signing up with young living. Can't wait to try #1!
Tash says
You should! =)
I've never smelled such vibrant oils before, I'm in looooove <3
Mary P says
Lemon essential oil in a diffuser is a great wake-up aid in the morning.
Melody says
I haven't tried oils yet but I'm excited to get into them!
kidtrans says
I would love to try this on my legs and stomach where I have some sensitive areas due to my veins.
christina says
I would like to give this a try in my honey and goatsmilk mask and herbal toners.
Waad R says
I love to use essential oils for their calming effect by making air freshener sprayer for my house
Molly says
I would carry it in my purse as a hand sanitizer, use it to clean, use it in a diffuser and to wash veggies. I love that there are so many uses for it!
jo n says
I would use lemon eo to flavor my tea, cleaning, diffuse into the air for a nice lift, hand sanitizer and try the furniture polish. When used as a furniture polish, does it moisturize the wood?
Tash says
Hi there! The sweet almond oil will moisturize the wood. The lemon essential oil will help restore the wood to its original luster! =)
Elizabeth Lamontagne says
I would use it to uplift my energy as well as clean my kitchen and make lemonade!!
Shell says
I would experiment with the suggestions above.
Suzie G. says
I'd put the lemon oil in my diffuser for instant happy! 😉
Laura says
I will be trying out several of the suggestions in your list starting with numbers 19 and 20.
Michelle L says
I'd use it to fight ear infection.
Kelly Burch says
Thank you! I have had lemon essential oil for a while and barely used it. Now I know tons of ways and will probably need to buy more soon!
Dorothy Boucher says
I would definitely use it to help me detox , and also in my cooking besides chicken would like to try to add a few drops into a dressing for salad.. thanks 🙂 @tisonlyme143
Jasmine says
I would add the lemon essential oil to homemade face toner. It would smell amazing and really brighten my skin!