Orange oil is an essential oil produced by glands inside the rind of an orange fruit. It is extracted or steam distilled as a by-product of orange juice production. It is composed mostly of d-limonene, and is therefore often used in place of pure limonene, which can be further extracted from the oil by distillation.

Limonene

Limonene is what gives citrus fruit their familiar aroma, and is therefore used in perfume and household cleaners for its fragrance. It is also an effective, environmentally friendly, and relatively safe solvent, which makes it an active ingredient of choice in many applications, such as, but not limited to, adhesive and stain removers, cleaners of various sorts, and paint strippers.

Safety

Although it is relatively safe to handle, the limonene in the oil is a mild hand irritant, by virtue of dissolving the protective oils in the skin. It is wise to wear solvent-resistant gloves when handling limonene solutions.

Limonene is also flammable. If you squeeze an orange peel in front of a flame, the glands will burst with an aerosol that will ignite on contact with the flame.

Despite being non-toxic to humans, limonene has been observed to cause cancer in male rats, by reacting with α2U-globulin, which is not produced by female rats. In humans, however, the substance is not a carcinogen or a mutagen.

Insecticide

Limonene has been observed to be fatal to insects. Experiments with fruit flies have shown that they by-pass this problem by laying eggs between the oil-producing glands.

External links

• The Effect of Citrus Oils on Fruit Flies

Essential oils

Orangenöl