Lemon Essential Oil, 10 ml

Lemon essential oil gives cosmetics a fresh citrus scent along with a cleansing and refreshing effect, making it particularly suitable for products for oily and normal skin. It is obtained by cold pressing from the peel of Citrus limon fruit. It is added to cleansing preparations, soaps, shampoos, body and massage oils, and candles, where alongside the scent it contributes to a feeling of cleanliness and freshness.

What the oil does in the product

The manufacturer lists five functions for lemon oil. Their extent depends on the dosage and the type of product.

• Scent – fresh scent of fresh lemon. It is volatile, so in the finished product it is most noticeable after opening and during application.
• Cleansing – according to the manufacturer, it helps remove impurities and excess sebum from skin and hair. This is used in rinse-off cleansing preparations and in products for oily skin.
• Refreshing and cooling sensation – the manufacturer describes a refreshing and mildly cooling sensation on the skin, suitable for after-sun preparations, body products, and foot preparations.
• Antimicrobial effect – the manufacturer states antimicrobial properties. In cosmetics these serve as support for skin cleanliness, but the essential oil does not replace the product's preservative system.
• Skin brightening – the manufacturer mentions evening out the skin tone and a fresher appearance. This is the manufacturer's claim and is not supported by a clinical study in the documentation.

Use in formulation

Lemon essential oil is not water-soluble; it dissolves in oils and alcohol. In emulsions and anhydrous products it belongs in the oil phase or is added during cooling. In aqueous products such as tonics, sprays, or hydrolat mixtures, it must first be combined with a solubilizer, otherwise it separates and forms droplets on the surface.

The recommended processing temperature is up to 40 °C. In a hot process, therefore, add it only to the cooled emulsion with constant stirring, or as the last step to the finished base. At higher temperatures part of the fragrance components evaporate and the product's scent weakens.

Lemon develops its scent quickly and fades just as quickly. If the scent is to last longer in the finished product, combine it with more long-lasting fragrance components.

Suitable for products such as

The oil is used in both rinse-off and leave-on products for face, body, hair, scalp, and nails.

• Cleansing preparations and soaps – shower gels, liquid and bar soaps, shampoos, cleansing gels for oily skin.
• Body and massage oils – in an oil base it dissolves completely and the scent develops fully during application.
• After-sun and foot preparations – the refreshing and cooling sensation described by the manufacturer is utilised.
• Hair products – rinse-off conditioners, hair mists, and leave-in preparations with a citrus scent.
• Nail and hand preparations – cuticle oils, hand creams.
• Candles and room fragrances – as a fragrance component of candles and diffuser aromas within IFRA category 12.

Good to know

• The oil is subject to CLP classification and carries the GHS07, GHS08, and GHS09 pictograms. When working with the pure oil, follow the safety data sheet; the finished product is labelled according to its own classification.
• Contains fragrance allergens listed in Annex III of the Cosmetics Regulation. Take this into account when labelling the composition of the finished product.
• Undiluted essential oil is not applied to the skin; it is always incorporated into a carrier or product.
• The scent of citrus oils is sensitive to air, heat, and light. The finished product therefore benefits from a dark or opaque container.
• The oil may have a colourless to yellowish-green tint. At normal fragrance dosage this usually does not affect the product's colour, but with white creams verify this before producing a larger batch.
• The oil is of food-grade and cosmetic-grade quality.

Frequently asked questions