Lemon Essential Oil 10mL
Lemon oil is roughly 70% limonene, which reads as bright zest and peel rather than as lemon itself. The compound your nose registers as true lemon is citral, and there is only about 2% of it here. That is why Lemon Myrtle, at 87 to 95% citral, smells more like lemon than lemon does.
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Lemon is cold pressed from the peel of Citrus limon, grown in Australia. The oil sits in glands in the rind, not in the juice, so pressing the peel is the whole process. The aroma is like fresh lemon rind but richer and far more concentrated, because that is exactly what it is.
From bush to bottle
Citrus limon is grown across the Australian citrus belt. Like orange oil, lemon oil is produced alongside the fruit and juice trade rather than as a crop in its own right, which is part of why cold-pressed citrus oils remain among the most affordable in any range.
The oil glands sit just under the surface of the rind. Cold pressing ruptures them mechanically and separates the oil from juice and water without applying heat, which keeps the aroma close to the fresh fruit.
Nothing is added and nothing is rectified out. Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis.
Published composition for cold-pressed lemon oil puts d-limonene at around 70 to 71%, beta-pinene at 13 to 15%, gamma-terpinene at 5 to 6% and citral at roughly 2%. Limonene is the bulk of it, and limonene smells of zest and peel and general citrus brightness rather than specifically of lemon.
Citral is the compound the nose reads as true lemon, and there is very little of it here. That is the reason a leaf oil like Lemon Myrtle, which runs 87 to 95% citral, hits harder and reads more lemony than the fruit itself. The two are not substitutes: lemon oil is fresher and more zesty, Lemon Myrtle is more intense and more single-minded.
Quality and testing
Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis. The full constituent breakdown sits on the batch certificate rather than here, because the ranges shift with each season and harvest.
Inside the bottle
The bulk of the oil. Reads as zest and peel rather than lemon.
Fresh and lightly resinous underneath.
Adds a sharp green edge.
The true lemon note, and there is far less of it than people assume.
Typical ranges from the supplier's published specification rather than a single batch result. Statements about individual constituents refer to published research on those constituents in isolation, not to an outcome from using this product.
Most of the world's lemon oil comes from Italy, Argentina and the United States. Zea's is Australian grown and Australian pressed, which the certificate of analysis records for each batch.
Lemon, Lemon Myrtle and May Chang
| Lemon | Lemon Myrtle | May Chang | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botanical | Citrus limon | Backhousia citriodora | Litsea cubeba |
| Citral content | Around 2% | 87 to 95% | High |
| Extraction | Cold pressed peel | Steam distilled leaf | Steam distilled fruit |
| Photosensitising | Yes | No | No |
| Aroma | Fresh zest and peel | Intense, sharp lemon | Sweet, fruity lemon |
| Best for | Cleaning and freshening | A very strong lemon note | Citrus in skincare |
A botanical and aroma comparison to help you choose between oils. It is not a claim that one oil performs better than another.
Properties
Traditional and aromatherapy properties associated with this oil. Individual results differ, and this is not a substitute for advice from your health professional.
Ways to use it
3 to 6 drops in a diffuser or oil burner. The simplest way in.
Lemon blends with Lavender, Kunzea, Peppermint, Sweet Orange and Eucalyptus.
One or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba. Patch test first.
One drop inhaled from a tissue when you want the aroma on the move.
A few drops in water instead of a synthetic air freshener.
Well dispersed in a carrier or with bath salts, never neat on water.
A few drops in a homemade surface spray as a fresh deodoriser.
A few drops in a homemade surface spray. One of its best uses.
Lemon is a cold-pressed citrus oil, which brings one restriction the steam-distilled oils do not have.
What customers tell us
★★★★★
“A very intense and lasting oil for my infuser, I'm really impressed. I have tried two other lemon oils since starting to use my infuser regularly and there is no comparison, even my husband noticed when I changed oils.”
Bronwyn H. · Verified buyer
★★★★★
“This little beauty is a wonder in a bottle. Use it to clean your diffusers, use it in your diy dishwasher tablets, diy cleaning paste. Diffuse for a fresh clean smell.”
Jo L. · Verified buyer
★★★★★
“Love the quality and variety of all the Zea oils I've ordered - thank you.”
Megan C. · Verified buyer
Five-star reviews from verified Judge.me buyers. The third speaks to the Zea Essentials range rather than to this oil specifically. Individual experiences differ.
Complete your blending kit
Lemon is a sharp top note. These are the oils that give it somewhere to sit.
Single origin Australian essential oils since 2016





Questions, answered
A 100% pure essential oil, cold pressed from the peel of Citrus limon grown in Australia. It is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis.
Like fresh lemon rind, but richer and far more concentrated. Zesty rather than sherbet-sharp.
Start with 3 to 6 drops in a diffuser. For skin, dilute one or two drops in a carrier oil such as jojoba or sweet almond, and patch test first.
Because it has far more of the compound that actually smells of lemon. Lemon oil is about 2% citral and 70% limonene, which reads as zest. Lemon Myrtle runs 87 to 95% citral.
Take care. Cold-pressed citrus oils can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so keep dilution low and keep treated skin out of direct sun. Diffusing and cleaning use carry no such restriction.
No. Never apply an undiluted essential oil and never take one internally. Dilute in a carrier oil first, and patch test.
Yes. Every batch is GC/MS tested and carries a certificate of analysis, which is how the specifications on this page are established.
Keep it out of reach of children and never apply it undiluted. Diffuse in a ventilated room rather than a closed space. Check with your vet before diffusing around pets.
Below 30°C in a dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap on firmly. The lighter constituents are always the first to escape.
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Free on Australian orders over $75. Orders are dispatched from our Australian warehouse.
Free shipping on Australian orders over $75 · 100% pure · GC/MS tested · Australian grown. Choose your pack and we will get it on its way.
Choose your packLemon Essential Oil is an aromatherapy product for external use only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always dilute before use and follow the label directions. Statements about individual constituents refer to published research on those constituents, not to an outcome from using this product. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.