GET TO KNOW YOUR OILS
Lemon, steam-distilled
Citrus x limon
Chemotype: limonene-dominant distilled peel oil
- PLANT PART
- peel
- EXTRACTION
- steam distilled
- AROMA NOTE
- top
LEARN AS YOU COMPARE
What’s inside this oil?
Constituents are the natural chemicals that give an oil its character. See the main ones, learn what they do, and explore differences between batches.
Meet the main constituents, then select one to see what makes it interesting.
FOLLOW YOUR SENSES
Aroma & character
A closer look at this oil's scent, strength, and staying power.
- Aroma intensity
- 60 / 100
- Note layer
- top
If you like this scent, explore
A LITTLE CARE GOES A LONG WAY
Using it thoughtfully
Read the full safety context before bringing this oil into your routine.
- Cited dermal maximum · leave-on
- 20%
- Phototoxicity
- Not flagged in this profile
- Oxidation risk
- high
A cited maximum is a limit, not a suggested dilution. Missing restrictions do not establish safety.
Steam-distilled lemon is not phototoxic. AromaWeb states that steam-distilled lemon oil is not phototoxic, and CIR safety literature separately lists oil of lemon, distilled as not photosensitizing in cited animal testing.
Contraindications & cautions
- minorAvoid oxidized oil because both cold-pressed and distilled lemon can become more sensitizing as limonene-rich material oxidizes.
Explore measured chemistry from supplier batches
A supplier report describes a particular sample. Open this workspace to investigate measured constituents and their original documents.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENT
Inside the oil
An oil's character comes from its natural chemical composition. Explore each constituent to understand the connections.
About this composition
Steam-distilled lemon oil is compositionally similar to expressed lemon in its limonene dominance but is materially different in safety and aroma because distillation removes the phototoxic furanocoumarin burden. This profile uses a 2025 third-party GC-FID/MS report from Plant Therapy for exact percentages and supplier/aromatherapy references for the distilled-specific safety and odor differences.
| Constituent | Typical amount | Reported range | Chemical family | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| limonene | 70.21% | 70.21–70.21% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View source25F02-PTH03 - Lemon Distilled - Argentina - LI0112R - HE001 GC-FID_MS - v2 https://www.planttherapy.com/cdn/shop/files/Lemon_Distilled_-_LI0112R.pdf?v=17401925534249326396 (Limonene 70.21%) |
| beta-pinene | 10.4% | 10.4–10.4% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View source25F02-PTH03 - Lemon Distilled - Argentina - LI0112R - HE001 GC-FID_MS - v2 https://www.planttherapy.com/cdn/shop/files/Lemon_Distilled_-_LI0112R.pdf?v=17401925534249326396 (Beta Pinene 10.40%) |
| gamma-terpinene | 7.57% | 7.57–7.57% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View source25F02-PTH03 - Lemon Distilled - Argentina - LI0112R - HE001 GC-FID_MS - v2 https://www.planttherapy.com/cdn/shop/files/Lemon_Distilled_-_LI0112R.pdf?v=17401925534249326396 (Gamma Terpinene 7.57%) |
| alpha-pinene | 1.66% | 1.66–1.66% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View source25F02-PTH03 - Lemon Distilled - Argentina - LI0112R - HE001 GC-FID_MS - v2 https://www.planttherapy.com/cdn/shop/files/Lemon_Distilled_-_LI0112R.pdf?v=17401925534249326396 (Alpha Pinene 1.66%) |
| sabinene | 1.81% | 1.81–1.81% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View source25F02-PTH03 - Lemon Distilled - Argentina - LI0112R - HE001 GC-FID_MS - v2 https://www.planttherapy.com/cdn/shop/files/Lemon_Distilled_-_LI0112R.pdf?v=17401925534249326396 (Sabinene 1.81%) |
| myrcene | 1.53% | 1.53–1.53% | monoterpene hydrocarbon | View source25F02-PTH03 - Lemon Distilled - Argentina - LI0112R - HE001 GC-FID_MS - v2 https://www.planttherapy.com/cdn/shop/files/Lemon_Distilled_-_LI0112R.pdf?v=17401925534249326396 (Myrcene 1.53%) |
| geranial | 0.95% | 0.95–0.95% | monoterpene aldehyde | View source25F02-PTH03 - Lemon Distilled - Argentina - LI0112R - HE001 GC-FID_MS - v2 https://www.planttherapy.com/cdn/shop/files/Lemon_Distilled_-_LI0112R.pdf?v=17401925534249326396 (Geranial 0.95%) |
| neral | 0.69% | 0.69–0.69% | monoterpene aldehyde | View source25F02-PTH03 - Lemon Distilled - Argentina - LI0112R - HE001 GC-FID_MS - v2 https://www.planttherapy.com/cdn/shop/files/Lemon_Distilled_-_LI0112R.pdf?v=17401925534249326396 (Neral 0.69%) |
Profile source: 25F02-PTH03 - Lemon Distilled - Argentina - LI0112R - HE001 GC-FID_MS - v2; Lemon Steam Distilled Essential Oil; Lemon Essential Oil: Benefits, Uses & Insights; Safety Assessment of Citrus-Derived Peel Oils as Used in Cosmetics · https://www.planttherapy.com/cdn/shop/files/Lemon_Distilled_-_LI0112R.pdf?v=17401925534249326396 ; https://www.planttherapy.com/products/lemon-steam-distilled-essential-oil ; https://www.aromaweb.com/essential-oils/lemon-essential-oil.php ; https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/cpeelo092014FR.pdf
A TRADITION OF BOTANICAL CURIOSITY
Traditional & reported uses
These uses reflect the profile's reported traditions and literature. They are not established treatment recommendations.
- traditionally used in aromatherapy for uplifting, mood-brightening diffuser blends
- reported to support mental clarity, focus, and an energized atmosphere
- used in household and cleaning-fragrance blends for its fresh, zesty reputation
- traditionally associated with easing occasional low mood when diffused
- used in perfumery for its clean, bright, citrus-peel top note, softer than cold-pressed lemon
- reported to support digestive comfort in some traditional aromatic use
For aromatherapy and wellness use only — not medical advice. Effect statements are traditional/reported associations, not treatment claims. The Synergy Rating scores blend craft, harmony and safety, not medical efficacy. Read the safety framework.
What we're still learning · 3 data gaps
Good decisions start with knowing what is — and isn't — in the evidence.
- The exact 20% max dermal value is supported by a public dilution table rather than a directly opened Tisserand or IFRA monograph page; the distilled-specific non-phototoxic status itself is directly supported by AromaWeb and CIR.
- Odor intensity 60 is an archive normalization from public qualitative language describing steam-distilled lemon as softer and sweeter than cold-pressed lemon, not a native published 0-100 measurement.
- No public source located in this pass gave directly measured volatility-rate or tenacity-hour values for distilled lemon oil.