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 tsp 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 tsp 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

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