Latin (Botanical) Name: Citrus Sinensis
Plant Family: Rutaceae
Common Extraction Method: Cold press
Typically Used Plant Part: Peel
Color: Orange
Aromatic Characteristic: A sweet citrus flavor 
While most essential oils are obtained by steam distillation, sweet orange peel essential oil (and the peel essential oils of other citrus varieties) is obtained by cold pressing. When you peel an orange, you feel small droplets emanating from its peel and an orange flavor at the same time. What you feel is actually the essential oil found in the peel of the orange.
The exact origin of the plant, whose botanical name is Citrus sinensis, from which sweet orange peel oil is obtained, is unknown as it does not grow wild anywhere in the world. However, botanists believe it is a natural hybrid of Pummelo (C. maxima) and Mandarin (C. reticulata) plants and originated between southwest China and the Himalayas.
According to historical sources, in 800 AD, oranges were introduced to East Africa and the Middle East by Arab traders and later distributed around the world via trade routes. In the 15th century, Portuguese travelers brought sweet oranges from China to the forested regions of West Africa and to Europe. In 1450, Italian traders introduced the orange to the Mediterranean region. In 1493, Christopher Columbus carried the orange seeds during his voyage to the Americas and eventually delivered them to Haiti and the Caribbean. Later, it was started to be grown by the rich in their own “orange orchards”. The orange has come to be known as the world's oldest and most widely cultivated tree fruit.
Sweet orange peel oil has been used in traditional medicinal practices for thousands of years. It has been used to relieve colds, coughs, chronic fatigue, depression, flu, indigestion, poor circulation, skin infections, and spasm in the Mediterranean region, as well as parts of the Middle East, India, and China. In China, oranges are believed to symbolize good luck and therefore remain an important feature of traditional medicinal practices.
Industrially, the antiseptic and protective properties of sweet orange peel oil have made it ideal for use in the manufacture of cosmetic and cleaning products such as soaps, creams, lotions, deodorants, and air fresheners.
Sweet orange peel oil offers many benefits thanks to the active ingredients it contains.
KEY COMPONENTS / ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
BENEFITS
Sweet orange peel oil helps to stimulate the strength and resistance of the immune system. One study found that when added to infected human cells in culture, low concentrations of sweet orange peel oil killed bacteria without harming the cultured cells [6].
It is known from researches that smelling the essential oil of sweet orange peel helps to reduce the pulse rate and supports relaxation and calming, cheerfulness and revitalization. For this reason, while experiencing negative moods such as anxiety, sadness, anger, disappointment, diffusing orange essential oil into the room helps transition into a positive mood.
Sweet orange peel oil has anti-inflammatory characteristic thanks to the high amount of Limonene it contains [5] [10] [11]. With this characteristic, it helps to reduce muscle joint pain.
WARNINGS
ACADEMIC STUDIES
[1] C. Yang, H. Chen, H. Chen, B. Zhong, X. Luo, J. Chun (2017). Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Essential Oil from Gannan Navel Orange Peel. Molecules. 2017 Aug; 22(8): 1391.
[2] Espina L, Somolinos M, Loreen S, Conchello P, Garcia D, Pageen R (2010). Chemical composition of commercial Citrus fruit essential oils and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity acting alone or in combined processes. Food Control 22:896-902.
[3] Matiz, G.; Osorio, M.R.; Camacho, F.; Atencia, M.; Herazo, J. Effectiveness of antimicrobial formulations for acne based on orange (Citrus sinensis) and sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) essential oils. Biomedica 2012, 32, 125–133.
[4] Hasan, M.N., Hasan, M.R., Foysal, S.H., Hoque, H., Khan, M.F., Bhuiyan, M.F.H. and Prodhan, S.H. (2019) In-Vitro Regeneration of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck from Mature Seed Derived Embryogenic Callus on Different Solid Basal Media. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 10, 285-297.
[5] D. I. Hamdan, M. E. Mohamed, R. H. Abdulla, S. M. Mohamed, A. M. El-Shazly (2013). Anti-inflammatory, insecticidal and antimicrobial activities and chemical composition of the essential oils of different plant organs from navel orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck var. Malesy) grown in Egypt. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, Vol. 7(18), pp. 1204-1215, 10 May, 2013.
[6] A. Muthaiyan, D. Biswas, P. G. Crandall, B. J. Wilkinson, S. C. Ricke (2012). Application of orange essential oil as an antistaphylococcal agent in a dressing model. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012; 12: 125.
[7] M. Jafarzadeh, S. Arman, F. F. Pour (2013). Effect of aromatherapy with orange essential oil on salivary cortisol and pulse rate in children during dental treatment: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Adv Biomed Res. 2013; 2: 10.
[8] F. Rashidi-Fakari, M. Tabatabaeichehr, H. Mortazavi (2015). The effect of aromatherapy by essential oil of orange on anxiety during labor: A randomized clinical trial. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2015 Nov-Dec; 20(6): 661–664.
[9] Lu-Lu Zhang, Zi-Yu Yang, Gang Fan, Jing-Nan Ren, Kai-Jing Yin, Si-Yi Pan (2019). Antidepressant-like Effect of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck Essential Oil and Its Main Component Limonene on Mice. J Agric Food Chem. 2019 Dec 18;67(50):13817-13828.
[10] Yoon WJ, Lee NH, Hyun CG (2010). Limonene suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 macrophages. J. Oleo Sci. 59: 415-21.
[11] D. Hekmatpou, Y. Pourandish, P. V. Farahani, R. Parvizrad (2017). The Effect of Aromatherapy with the Essential Oil of Orange on Pain and Vital Signs of Patients with Fractured Limbs Admitted to the Emergency Ward: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Indian J Palliat Care. 2017 Oct-Dec; 23(4): 431–436.
