There’s nothing quite as relaxing as the natural scent of essential oils - especially citrus oils. Fruity, tangy, and overall super calming, citrus is an essential addition to anyone’s essential oil collection. But, did you know there are actually citrus oil benefits that span beyond relaxation?

That’s right. You can smell good and get healthy at the same time. Nuts, right? Well get ready, because that’s about to be reality.

Let’s talk about orange essential oil benefits specifically. Orange is arguably nature’s more versatile fruit. Want a snack? Grab an orange. Need some orange zest? Use that peel. Wanna make potpourri? Cut off a slice!

How can orange essential oil benefit my health, you ask? All kinds of things; oranges may help your skin and hair, it works as a soothing aromatherapy, you can use it as a natural household cleaner (we’ll get more into that in a bit), and you can even use it to flavor food!

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, or don’t even know what orange oil is, don’t worry. We’re going to get into that, everything else: the definition, how it's made, the uses, the health benefits of orange oil, and where to find some great orange oil based products!

Let’s get started!

What is Orange Oil?

As you may have guessed, orange oil comes from, well, an orange. But, how it is extracted is a little more complicated. In fact, orange essential oil is extracted, becoming a by-product of orange juice production. This then leads to centrifugation (a mechanical process that separates particles from a solution), leading to a concentrated, cold-pressed oil. That’s the technical way, at least!

For learning how to make orange essential oil at home, read on - and don’t worry, you don’t need any kind of scientific mechanism or lab beakers to do it!

How Do You Make Orange Oil?

For those of us who don’t have any centrifugation machines on hand or in their cabinet, there is a better way to get the orange essential oil benefits from the confines of your own home (granted, you may have to allow for a week before completion). Here’s one of the easiest orange essential oil recipes out there, and a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

1. Gather your ingredients.

• 3.5oz (100 grams) of neutral vodka
• 1.7oz (50 grams) of water
• Peels from between 1-5 oranges (depending on how much you want to make)
• One mason jar or a set of mini glass jars to use as containers

2. Wash your orange peels and remove the skin.

Make sure to wash the orange super well before using, then dry completely. Afterwards, remove the skin completely with a knife, taking the orange part only. Leave out the white part (called the pith or abido), otherwise, you may not get the actual citrus oil benefits.

3. Sterilize your jar(s) and weigh out your vodka and water.

Make sure to weigh your vodka and water first, but don’t put it in yet! We also recommend making a nice little label or tag (so no other members of your household get confused and think it’s a free shot of vodka, which I wish I could say has never happened to me), and be sure to put the date on there!

4. Chop your dried peels into pieces and place them in your sterilized bottle.

You can also grind your peels into a coffee grinder or blender for even better extraction!

5. Place them in your sterilized containers and add the vodka and water.

Be sure to add one part water for every 2 parts vodka until the entire bottle is filled, otherwise you won’t have enough oil to reap any of the orange essential oil benefits we’re going to talk about!

6. Close the jar with an airtight lid, then shake for 1 minute.

Make sure the label doesn’t fall off! You just want to make sure the peels are completely saturated.

7. Put your jar(s) in a dark, cool place, and store for 1 week.

It’s a wait, but it’s worth it! Most of the orange peel oil benefits come from time and saturation, so you want to make sure to wait for at least a week before you try to use it.

8. After 1 week, open up the lid and filter out the orange peels.

Once you’ve done that, put your concentrate back into the jar, seal appropriately, and boom, you’re done!

Benefits of Orange Essential Oil

Well, we’ve gotten through all of that work, and now we know what orange oil is and even how to make it! But, the question I’m sure some of you are wondering is, why would I want to make orange oil in the first place? What are the orange essential oil benefits that I’ve heard so much about? Well, let’s answer that with some FAQs:

1. Is orange essential oil good for pets?

When used safely, yes. What do we mean by this? Is orange oil toxic to pets? No. However, it should be noted that you should not use it liberally - our furry pals have way more sensitive noses than we do, so they may get overwhelmed. You should also be sure to make sure these orange oils don’t get your pet’s paws or up their noses, as this can cause discomfort and irritation.

Need a recap? Read up on the do’s and don’ts of essential oils with your pets.

Orange smells and natural cleaning products are okay for pets. However, many citrus scents—as well as the following essential oils—may not be healthy for your pet:

• Tea tree oil
• Cinnamon
• Pine
• Wintergreen
• Ylang Ylang

To recap, essential oils aren’t all bad for your pets, but you run a couple significant risks. If you’re looking for a great alternative that won't have you stressing, try out some of these products from Angry Orange - we use oranges and natural ingredients to bring you much of the same aromatherapeutic qualities (and more), all while being 100% pet safe.

2. Does orange essential oil cover or eliminate smells?

YES! There’s a reason we’re called Angry Orange! Orange extract acts as a natural, safe-for-pets-AND-humans cleaning agent and deodorizer. Cleaning with orange essential oil or natural orange products can be an aromatic way to clean your home and get rid of bad smells, without all the harsh chemicals.

If you’re looking for some natural, orange specific products, try our natural odor eliminator. It’s built for pet stains, but works on just about any other stain as well! It’s safe, smells good, and works directly on furniture.

If you’re looking for more of a cleaning agent, this pet stain remover and deodorizer from Angry Orange should do the trick. It breaks down and removes even tough stains and odors, all while emitting a natural, citrus scent. It’s like you’re getting the benefits of orange aromatherapy, without the oil!

Learn more from our very own experts regarding enzymatic cleaners.

3. Is orange essential oil calming?

Yes. Orange oil is a top choice by aromatherapists for the sake of calming and uplifting abilities. That’s right, you can get calmed down and re-energized by the same smell! But the orange oil benefits don’t stop there - it can also be used as an overall mood enhancer and panic reducer!

4. Can orange oil help with health issues?

The uses for orange oil span way beyond smells and cleaning! Here are just a few of the many orange essential oil benefits that can aid your health:

• Help with digestive issues
• Aid discomfort relating to muscle spasms
• Help prevent skin irritation and infections (when used safely)
• May aid with improving cognitive function, making you more focused and alert
• Healther alternative to toxic cleaning chemicals
• Ease symptoms of nausea, stress, and fatigue

And that’s just some of the many, many benefits of orange oil for your body!

5. Is orange essential oil good for sleep?

Yep, you guessed it! Many people put orange essential oil in a diffuser before they go to sleep, as it acts as a natural sedative, as it calms and balances the mind. You may find that by using it, you’ll fall asleep faster, and stay asleep longer! If that’s not a great benefit I don't know what is.

Additional essential oil sleep aids

Other essential oils that help you fall asleep include lavender, ylang ylang oil, chamomile oil, peppermint oil, sandalwood oil, cedarwood oil, and marjoram oil. Any of these would be great to help you get on track to snoozeville!

Will You Go With Angry Orange or Orange Oils?

You’ve got everything you need now to be an oil expert. You can even make it yourself for super cheap, assuming you’ve got the patience! Orange essential oil benefits span far beyond aroma, from health to cleaning. While both can help keep your house spic and span, our odor and stain removers are pet-safe, long-lasting, and super effective - just a thought.

Happy sniffing!

Contributing Writer: Aurora Detor