Health Benefits Of Lemon Oil + How To Use It In Your Everyday Life

The saying "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" means you should make the best out of the sour situation you're in. But honestly, being handed a random bag full of lemons sounds like a pretty stellar situation, if you ask me.

This iconically bright yellow citrus fruit is one of the most versatile (and functional) foods. From lemon meringue pie to lemon-scented cleaning products, it's hard to imagine life without it. 

Lemons are wildly useful for everyday use, whether you're deep cleaning or caring for your body. Long used for their medicinal properties, lemons and lemon oil can offer a range of health benefits—including supporting digestion, glowing skin, and even a positive mood.*

Plus, how dull would life be without lemon water and lemonade? I mean, can you imagine summer without them? I can't.

Lemon oil is extracted from the skin of fresh lemons through cold pressing or steam extraction and carries some of the properties of the original fruit. 

"The major constituent of the volatile oil (or 'essential oil') of citrus peels is the terpene limonene," explains Rachelle Robinett, R.H. (AHG), registered herbalist, holistic health practitioner, and founder of Pharmakon Supernatural.

Terpenes are the phytonutrient compounds in plants responsible for their unique scent and flavor. Limonene is a specific type of terpene also found in other key botanicals (e.g., hemp, rosemary, chamomile, ginger, turmeric, juniper, and peppermint) that has anti-inflammatory properties and mood-boosting effects.*

According to Robinett, limonene's citrus fragrance (which is delivered to us as essential oils) has been shown to support immune function, regulate hormone levels to help balance the endocrine system, and even support a healthy mood. 

There are myriad ways you can utilize lemon oil's benefits throughout your house—from your kitchen to your bathroom! "Lemon essential oil can be diffused in the home, mixed into body care products (e.g., mists, toners, and hydrosols), used in cleaning products, and more," says Robinett. 

Add a few drops of lemon oil to a diffuser to perhaps brighten your mood or increase your alertness. She suggests using it in the morning for a little emotional lift, or midday when attention tends to dip. It's also a great ally during winter when you may notice your mood plummet. 

Zolfaghari says that the energizing aroma will not only prompt an uplifting energy to your space but also help cleanse and purify the air since lemon oil has antibacterial properties.

Have lemon oil that you want to incorporate into your skin care routine? Zolfaghari suggests adding a drop to your evening moisturizer to help give your skin a natural glow. "Just be sure your skin is not sensitive following sun exposure, and do not combine with any retinols," she notes. 

For an at-home spa night, make a lemon body scrub to stimulate lymphatic drainage. "Add 10 drops of lemon oil and a tablespoon of jojoba oil into an ounce of Himalayan salt. Use it all over in the shower, giving particular attention to areas that might benefit from its anti-inflammatory actions," Leigh Winters, M.A., M.S., previously wrote for mbg. 

For oral consumption, no recommended dosage nor daily need of lemon oil exists, as it's an essential oil extracted from a fruit (lemons, of course) used to complement other ingredients or formulas typically.

In certain supplements, lemon oil may be leveraged in milligram quantities (e.g., around 100 to 200 milligrams), like in omega-3 potency+, to produce a fresher, lemony aftertaste experience. What's more, the organic lemon oil provides this formula and consumer with incremental antioxidant benefits (i.e., in addition to the leading omega-3 ingredients EPA and DHA) intrinsic to lemon oil.* 

For other uses of lemon oil, the dosage depends on the use. For example, to enjoy the aromatherapy benefits, try adding just three to four drops to your diffuser and set it to diffuse for around 30 minutes. The key thing about the amount of time you use it is to keep your sensitivity to the scent up and prevent becoming nose-blind to it, which might affect some of the olfactory benefits. 

Barring a dietary sensitivity or allergy (certainly possible in some individuals), lemons and the oils from lemons are food-grade and very safe ingredients.

Since genuine food allergens are most commonly related to the protein component of a food, and lemon oil is, well, oil (fatty component), the potential for reactions is lessened even further. But anyone with citrus-specific concerns should partner with their health care provider to be sure.

Lemon oil can be used in your evening moisturizer, in your diffuser, and even in a thoughtful supplement formula like mbg's omega-3 potency+.