Confession: I’m a lemon essential oil junkie.

It all started when I stumbled across an an article in Brain Research. The 2004 research study revealed that corticosterone (a.k.a. the big stress hormone) dropped significantly when lab rats were exposed to the oh-so-lovely aroma of pure lemon essential oil for a two-week period.

That day I went home and purchased my first bottle. I’ve never looked back.

For me, lemon is the essential oil of 1,000 uses. And while my hubby likes to joke that I’m some sort of lemon essential oil sommelier—I take it as a compliment. Heaven knows it took a year of trial and error to find the best source.

For budget reasons, I first bought the generic, cheapo lemon essential oil brands, but I found a lot of those oils had a “pinesol-type” smell. Concerning? Yes.

I eventually upped my game by trying out Young Living, doTERRA, and Mountain Rose Herbs essential oils.  

Out of the three higher-end brands, my favorite lemon essential oil is from doTERRA. I was thrilled to discover that my investment in doTERRA lemon oil actually saved me money since it lasted twice as long as the other generic oils I had purchased. doTERRA’s lemon is pure potency, people. A little really does go a long way. *My one complaint is the lemon oil’s dripper let’s oil out a bit fast.

Anyways, all this sampling got me thinking, “Why does doTERRA’s lemon oil smell and seem so much stronger than its rivals?”  I’ve concluded that the difference comes down to three things:

• Indigenous sourcing

Instead of producing their oil in mass where it is most convenient, doTERRA keeps it real, by sourcing their lemons in the indigenous soil to reap the highest quality oil. doTERRA believes in growing plants where they’ve naturally grown for hundreds of years. It’s one of the reasons why they choose to co-impact source in over 40 different countries. The best part about the co-impact sourcing is how doTERRA is transparent about the entire process. Just this week, I just stumbled across an article about doTERRA’s partnership with Salvatore and Roberto Amedeo, a fourth generation family lemon farm in Sicily and Reggio di Calabria. The family has carefully managed all 865 acres of native lemon trees for hundreds of years. Alfredo, one of the lemon growers, proudly states  “A lemon isn’t a lemon unless it is Sicilian.” Best of all, these products come from passionate families and community farms.

• No synthetics

It shouldn’t come as a shock to you that many essential oil companies aren’t closely regulated and thus can get away with adulterating their oils to make a tidy profit. To make matters worse, they try to add volume to their oils by sneaking in chemical fillers. Thankfully, doTERRA takes 100% natural oil quality seriously. Just take a peek at its Source to You site. You’ll be impressed.

• Rigorous Testing

doTERRA doesn’t mess around with its on-site oil evaluation—we’re talking eight different tests before the oils ever make into a bottle.  

The process is called CPTG testing and it actually starts at the source. For instance, Roberto Amedeo (from that Italian farm I described above) actually analyzes each and every batch of lemons to ensure he’s sending oil that’s up to par.  Last year he tested over 3,000 Gas Chromatograms for the Lemons grown on his acres. The best part is, doTERRA signs long-term contracts with these farms, so there’s less pressure to fake perfect results— and more emphasis on fixing any problems that might pop up seasonally.

Anyway, if you couldn’t already tell, lemon essential oil is the staple at my house. I use it on the daily (maybe hourly), and I thought it might be nice to share a few of my favorite applications:

• Face Wash: Pure lemon essential oil helps tame my overactive sebaceous glands. I dilute a drop or two with coconut oil and rub it on my face after dinner. This timing helps me avoid UV rays for around 12 hours since lemon oil makes skin especially sensitive to sunshine.

• Beverages: My go-to ratio is diluting one drop of lemon oil per 4 fl. oz. of liquid. Remember, a single drop of doTERRA lemon oil is the equivalent of 30 lemons (impressive, I know). I usually like to mix the lemon oil with peppermint (in the winter), sparkling water (for a midday pick-me-up) or a squirt of stevia (for some lemonade). My best friend swears by adding it to turmeric root (but I haven’t gotten that bold just yet.) Anyways, just remember to keep the lemon oil clear of plastic bottles and straws—it’s so strong that it can actually eat away at it.

• Garbage-Disposal: Are you ready for my secret to the ultimate kitchen aroma? After a quick scrub of dishes, I drop 5–6 drops of lemon oil in the disposal and pulse it on/off for a bit. The scent instantly diffuses through the air. Instant gratification.

Cheers,

Hazel