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Distillation of Orange Oil

Orange oil is a type of essential oil that is natural and non-toxic. Noted for its beautiful aroma of oranges, orange oil requires no harmful chemicals or additives to produce. Find out how to extract this versatile oil, using orange peels and water, and produce your own orange oil at home.

  1. Purpose of Distillation

    • Steam distillation is a heating process commonly used to extract natural oils from plant, fruit, flower or tree parts. It works by creating steam that pulls natural oils out of the products. The extracted oil, along with water droplets, drip into the distiller's collection chamber. Separation of the oil and water completes the process, creating essential oil.

    Preparation of Oranges

    • Peel three medium-sized oranges and place them in a blender. Add about 4 ounces of water and blend until pureed. Breaking down the orange rinds allows the natural oils to flow more readily during distillation.

    Distiller Setup

    • A distiller contains three parts: a flask that holds the orange rind mixture, a condenser tube that receives heated oil vapors and water, and an end chamber that collects the essential oil and water. A heat source, placed under the flask, raises the temperature and creates steam. Whether homemade or store-bought, distillers consist of the same three interconnected components.

    Distillation Process

    • With your distiller setup complete, pour the pureed orange rind mixture into the flask and add water to the halfway point. Apply a heat source underneath the flask to begin a slow heating and steaming process. The oil vapors and water droplets pass through the condenser tube and into the collection container. Once in the collection container, the orange oil will rise to the top, while the water sits on the bottom. Remove the orange oil from the container and bottle for use.

    Uses of Orange Oil

    • Orange oil is a clear, non-toxic essential oil that smells like oranges and has an amber or light orange color. Due to its potency, and potential for skin irritation, it requires dilution before use. Dilute orange oil by adding several drops to a gallon of water. For ease of use, keep diluted orange oil in a convenient spray bottle, and store concentrated oil in a dark-colored glass bottle away from direct heat. Orange oil has a variety of household and personal uses, such as household cleaner, body spritzer, air freshener, massage oil or insect repellant. Unless advised by an alternative health professional, do not take orange oil internally.

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