Lime
Citrus aurantifolia

Lime oil comes in two versions that are not interchangeable, and the label rarely says which. Cold-pressed peel oil carries furanocoumarins and burns skin in sunlight.[2] Steam-distilled lime has none of them and is safe on skin, but smells flatter and less zesty. Both are roughly two fifths limonene, with citral and pinene giving the sharp green bite.[1] In lab tests the oil held back bacteria and mopped up unstable molecules.[1]
- Also Known As
- Persian Lime, Key Lime
- Family
- Citrus
- Perfumery Note
- Top
- Intensity
- Medium
- Extraction
- Cold Pressed
- Plant Parts
- Fruit peel
- Origins
- Mexico, India, Brazil
- Effect
- Focus & Mental Clarity, Energy & Uplifting
- Aroma
- Citrus, Zesty, Sharp
- Applications
- Diffusing & Inhalation, Perfumery & Fragrance Making, Cooking & Flavouring, Household & Cleaning
- Price
- $$$$Cold-pressed lime peel is an inexpensive citrus byproduct; steam-distilled lime costs slightly more due to the extra processing step, but both remain budget-tier
References
- [1]Elucidation of the composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of essential oil and extract from Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle peel - Permadi N, Nurzaman M, Doni F, et al. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2024
- [2]A study of the phototoxicity of lemon oil - Naganuma M, Hirose S, Nakayama Y, Nakajima K, Someya T. Archives of Dermatological Research, 1985