D-Limonene, also known as Citrus Terpenes, is the main chemical constituent found in the cold-pressed peel oils that can be derived from all edible citrus fruits, namely oranges, lemons, and limes. After the first pressing of the peels, it is obtained from the resultant oil through the process of distillation. The two chemical forms of Limonene are d-Limonene, which is found largely in orange peels, and L-Limonene, which is found largely in lemon peels. Limonene gets its name from the botanical name for “Lemon” – Citrus limon – due to the richness of this natural compound in lemon peels.

Its wide range of beneficial applications has made d-Limonene one of the most prominent natural Terpenes. With a light, pleasantly dry, and refreshingly-sweet citrusy scent, it is valued for its aroma and is mostly used in fragrances as well as green cleaning products rather than for therapeutic applications. NDA’s d-Limonene Raw Material is a thin, clear, colorless, oily fluid that is derived from steam distilled citrus rinds. It is safer to use, works more effectively, and is more environmentally-friendly than most commercial and industrial cleaners.

D-Limonene is a fragrance agent, a degumming agent, and a gentle yet powerful cleaner that is reputed to effectively remove stains, grease, tar, and more, thus making a natural replacement for more popular solvents, which usually contain chlorine or petroleum. Its mildness has also made it a popular ingredient in water-free hand soaps, in which it is said to not only cleanse but to also leave the hands smelling fresh. When applied to various types of hard surfaces, such as counter tops, windows, mirrors, floors, bath tubs, refrigerators, cars, and electronic items, d-Limonene is reputed to bring a high shine to all cleaned items.

As with all other New Directions Aromatics products, d-Limonene Raw Material is for external use only. This specific product is meant for household cleaning applications or cosmetic fragrances only. Pregnant and nursing women as well as those with sensitive skin are especially advised not to use d-Limonene Raw Material without the medical advice of a physician. This product should always be stored in an area that is inaccessible to children, especially those under the age of 7.

D-Limonene must never be used near the eyes, inner nose and ears, or on any other particularly sensitive areas of skin. Potential side effects of d-Limonene include irritation or damage of the skin, eye, or tissue, dizziness, rapid and shallow breathing, circulatory collapse, convulsions, unconsciousness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal burning, diarrhea, painful or discolored urination, and abnormal heart rate.

In the event of accidental skin contact and a resulting allergic reaction, see a doctor, pharmacist, or allergist immediately for a health assessment and appropriate remedial action. If d-Limonene is accidentally consumed, do not induce vomiting – instead drink milk then immediately seek medical attention.

The terms “essential oil” and “perfume (oil)” are often used in place of each other due to their aromatic qualities, but there are significant differences between them. Essential oils are natural, volatile, aromatic compounds extracted from botanicals. Fragrance oils are artificial and synthetically created by chemists, who reproduce the chemical composition of a plant’s components; however, they do not contain the same therapeutic benefits as essential oils, and thus they are not used in aromatherapy, as the body does not absorb the structures of the synthetic molecules in the same way it absorbs natural molecules. The similarity between essential oils and fragrance oils is that both types of oils can be found in cosmetics such as moisturizers, soaps, and of course perfumes as well as odorant products used around the house, such as scented candles, diffusers, and sachets for laundry.

Sometimes the term “fragrance oil” or “perfume oil” is used to refer to essential oil blends, which are combinations of several essential oils even though essential oils are not artificially made. The advantage of using essential oil blends is that money will not be spent on purchasing individual oils, but the downside is that the oils contained in a blend will not be customized to the individual’s preference.

It is beneficial and advisable to purchase quality essential oils from a reputable source that specializes in supplying essential oils that are therapeutically active in order to receive their health benefits. Because the purpose of an essential oil is aromatherapy, it is best to avoid using commercial grade oils, which are usually better suited to the industries of perfumery or flavoring. For an essential oil that is 100% pure and natural, and ready to be used in aromatherapy, it should not have anything added to it, as this will compromise its therapeutic properties.

Regardless of how pure an oil claims to be, its composition can vary and is determined by the following factors, all of which impact the final quality of the oil: the scarcity of the botanical, the country of origin, the year the crop is grown, the season, the weather, the geography of the land, the method and duration of distillation, the distiller’s quality standards and how much oil the botanical yields.

The quality of an oil may be identifiable by its label, but it is important to keep in mind that Health Canada and the Food and Drug Administration do not regulate essential oils, thus there is no way to validate the truth of the claims on the bottle label. One hint that points toward an essential oil possessing a good quality is the printed Latin name of the botanical from which the oil was extracted. Also, despite the chance that a label could mislead with the claim of being a “pure” or “100%” essential oil if a label claims this there is a better chance that it is of high quality. Oils with the terms “fragrant oil” or “potpourri oil” on their labels are synthetic, so while they may smell like essential oils, their effects will not be therapeutic and may instead cause an allergic reaction.

To ensure that an essential oil can be used for therapeutic purposes, check for a “Canada Organic,” “United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified,” or “Organic Certified” seal. For more information about the quality that these seals guarantee, have a look at our article titled “Safe Cosmetics.” All of the Organic Essential Oils at New Directions Aromatics are NOP/USDA certified. This means they are 100% pure, natural, and meet all USDA regulations and requirements for organic products, including soil quality and avoidance of genetically modified organisms.

Essential oils are typically sold individually in small, dark individual glass bottles that prevent exposure to light, which would cause them to oxidize and diminish their fragrances as well as their therapeutic properties. The oils may even evaporate. The most common bottle colors are amber and cobalt blue. Oils will cause plastic bottles of any color to deteriorate if they are not PET AND HDPE plastics.

The bottles must be tightly sealed by their caps, as exposure to air will also lead to oil oxidization. The caps should only be taken off when the oil is in use and then it should be recapped immediately afterward. Screw-on bottle caps are recommended over lids with droppers and bulb because despite the rubber droppers making application easier, the rubber will eventually deteriorate and possibly leak into the oil. Oils should not be stored on surfaces that are easily damaged such as paper, plastic, or painted or polished surfaces, as oils can stain these materials.

The ideal spot for storing essential oils is in a cool, dry place with a stable temperature away from direct sunlight, as sunlight will cause oxidization. Oils may be stored inside a refrigerator to prevent exposure to air, direct sunlight, and fluctuating temperatures, and in this case, the optimal temperature is between 5 and 10C (41 and 50F). Although the oil might coagulate, this will not have an unfavorable effect on the quality of the oil, which should return to its liquid state after thawing outside the refrigerator and returning to room temperature. Oils should not be kept in the freezer, as freezing may damage the oil quality. Due to their flash points – temperatures at which a liquid’s flammable vapors mix with air and ignite when exposed to heat – essential oils should be kept away from heat sources such as stovetops and candles or they may catch fire.

Essential oil prices depend on crop and growing conditions and both the suppliers’ and each company’s resources, and their process and production practices, which give insight into their quality and control standards. A buyer should be cautious about avoiding buying only the cheapest oils, as they may not necessarily have the same therapeutic properties as more expensive oils. One company’s high prices might be due to the care given to their distillation, shipment, and storage of their oils. Certified organic oils are also more expensive than non-organic or “conventional” oils. The prices for fragrance oils tend to remain steadily reasonable. Though there are some essential oils with lower prices than their synthetic versions, they are also more volatile. These oils include Lemon, Orange, Pine, and some varieties of Lavender.

Generally, when aromatherapy is approached with the proper cautions it does not lead to any adverse side effects and can promote well-being both physically and mentally. On the other hand, due to their powerful potency and their capacity to act as natural medicine, essential oils are best avoided under the following circumstances: when uninformed about essential oil properties, when undiluted, when pregnant or when pregnancy is suspected, while on medication, near open flames, near eyes, when exposed to sunlight or tanning booths, near children and pets, if prone to allergies or sensitivities, when room lacks proper ventilation.