Zesty, clean, bright and happy—these are all the ways we describe the scent of lemon. From food and drinks with fresh acidic flavors to cleaning products with antiseptic and bacteria-fighting properties, lemon is a hero ingredient. Add lemon to almost anything and you’ll find yourself claiming that it’s good for you, cheery, safe and uplifting. As a big fan of fresh scents, I find that lemon essential oil undeniably shines bright.
Log in to view the full article
Zesty, clean, bright and happy—these are all the ways we describe the scent of lemon. From food and drinks with fresh acidic flavors to cleaning products with antiseptic and bacteria-fighting properties, lemon is a hero ingredient. Add lemon to almost anything and you’ll find yourself claiming that it’s good for you, cheery, safe and uplifting. As a big fan of fresh scents, I find that lemon essential oil undeniably shines bright.
The citrus family is a staple of the perfume industry, including oranges, bergamot, grapefruit, lime—and lemon, a heavy lifter. The lemon tree is thorny and produces the small, fragrant fruit. Photogenic and Instagrammable, lemon is one of the world’s healthiest foods thanks to its sour juice, rich in citric acid.
Interestingly, though, the essential oil (and scent) comes only from the skin of fresh lemon. When extracted, the precious lemon oil can be used in perfume, food, medicine and, of course, aromatherapy.
Mood Therapy
Lemon essential oil is a favored ingredient in most lighter scents associated with summer, which makes sense considering that it’s an incredible mood enhancer. As a top note, your nose will be delighted, but it’s so much more than that. This citrus star is a cure for the blues, a natural antiviral and antibacterial, and helpful for concentration. It can also be used to help minimize stress and anger, or to energize someone feeling run down.
Lemon essential oil is ideal for someone looking to get their work done, as it helps keep them focused, productive and uplifted. By adding lemon essential oil to treatments, you’ve added a unique functional ingredient that can help you better heal your guests.
Lemon aromatherapy is known to be a natural stress reliever. A lemon formulation can stimulate serotonin and dopamine production, which contributes to decreased anxiety.1 Research also indicates that inhaling the aroma of lemon essential oil promotes relaxation.2
A new study even found that lemon aromatherapy helps people feel better about their body image. The research from Sussex Computer-Human Interaction (SCHI) Lab in the UK revealed that people felt lighter, with renewed self-love and positivity, when they smelled lemon.³
Lemon essential oil is aligned with the Solar Plexus Chakra, an area we often need to shift to be more optimistic. This chakra is the place from which we have our “gut feelings.” It is located above the navel and below the base of the breastbone, near the physical center of the body. Its color is yellow (like a lemon), and the energy spins a little faster than the first and second chakras. It’s associated with the element of fire.
When in balance, this chakra impacts personal power, ego identity, self-assurance, respect for self and others. A balanced Solar Plexus Chakra allows appropriate boundaries in our lives and the willpower to adhere to them.
Therapeutic Applications
There are plenty of ways to incorporate lemon—and all its benefits—into wellness offerings. It can easily be added to massage oils and lotions. Remember that a pure lemon essential oil should never be applied directly to the skin or used in larger amounts than recommended (the oil is absorbed through the skin and using too much can be harmful). The most common side effect in these cases is an increase in photosensitivity, meaning that citrus-oil-treated skin may become red and irritated when exposed to the sun.
Lemon can be used in a variety of aromatherapeutic blends that promote well-being. Organic jojoba oil is a great, skin-safe carrier oil, allowing therapists to massage a lemon-infused blend on the body and pulse points, or as an invigorating inhalation ritual before and after a treatment.
Create unique lemon scented blends in oil or water-based carriers, or find brands that carry lemon formulations. A citrusy, water-based blend is perfect for misting around the face and hair during a treatment, or for spritzing during a mask portion to refresh and clear the breath.
You can deliver lemon as an ambient smell by adding the essential oil to diffusers or water-based sprays to cleanse and purify spa spaces. It can be blended with other scents that promote harmony and good energy, then sprayed in treatment rooms and shared spaces to protect and purify. Use it in break rooms to support staff in clearing dense energy that may be left behind.
Finally, be sure to add lemon juice or slices to beverages. Never ingest lemon oil; for food and beverages, you should use a lemon extract or real lemon juice or peel.
However you choose to implement it, lemon is a must have. Adding it to your treatment protocols will support guests who desire increased stamina, self-discipline, confidence, focus and motivation.
References
- Effect on Blood Pressure of Daily Lemon Ingestion and Walking: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003767
- Biological Activities and Safety of Citrus spp. Essential Oils: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/7/1966
- As Light As a Lemon: How the Right Smell Can Help With a Negative Body Image: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/broadcast/read/49415
Laura McCann is the founder and CEO of Adoratherapy, a line of aromatherapeutic perfumes designed to elevate mood and help people tap into their best selves.
