Information on Petitgrain essential oil
Petitgrain essential oil is extracted from Citrus aurantium var. amara (also known as Citrus bigardia and petitgrain bigarade) of the Rutaceae family.
Petitgrain Essential Oil – this crisp and clear essential oil is most useful to boost the conscious intellectual side of your mind, while calming anger and panic.
Its relaxing properties help to calm rapid heartbeat and insomnia while clearing greasy skin and fighting skin blemishes.
Oil Properties
Petitgrain Essential Oil has a woody and at the same time a floral smell. The color of the oil is pale yellow to amber and it is watery in viscosity.
Origin
This is one of the three oils obtained from the orange tree, the others are neroli from the flowers and orange from the rind of the fruit.
Petitgrain oil is extracted from the leaves of the tree, but was once extracted from the green unripe oranges, when they were still the size of cherries, hence the name Petitgrain or ‘little grains.’
It is widely used in pharmaceutical products and perfumery and is a classic ingredient of eau-de-cologne.
Extraction
This oil is extracted from the fresh leaves, small twigs by steam distillation and yields 0.5 – 1 %.
Chemical composition
Some of the chemical components of Petitgrain Essential Oil are geraniol, linalool, nerol, y-terpineol, geranyl acetate, linalyl acetate, myrcene, neryl acetate and trans-ocimene.
Precautions
There are no known hazards for this essential oil and it enjoys GRAS status.
As with most essential oils, this essential oil should be kept in a dark and cool place and should be stored in an airtight glass bottle (Preferably in the fridge at a temperature of around 4° Celsius / 39° Fahrenheit).
Please read our page with heading: Safety with Essential Oils before using this oil.
We recommend the following book as an excellent resource regarding safety:
Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals by Robert Tisserand & Rodney Young (#ad)
Therapeutic properties
The therapeutic properties are antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, anti-depressant, deodorant, sedative and nervine.
For our glossary and explanation of these therapeutic terms, please click here
Uses
This Essential Oil can help with nervous exhaustion and stress-related conditions and in particular anger and panic.
It calms and soothes the mind, while relaxing the body, easing breathing, reducing rapid heart beat, relaxing muscle spasms and stomach pains.
It is great oil to use for convalescing after an illness and also for insomnia and helps to clear up a greasy skin, acne and excessive perspiration, while toning the skin.
Burners and vaporizers
In vapor therapy, petitgrain oil can help with convalescence, anger, panic, depression and anxiety, calming irritation, while relaxing the body and boosting the conscious intellectual side of the mind.
Blended Massage Oil and in the Bath
As a blended massage oil or diluted in the bath, it assists with convalescence, anxiety, irritability, anger, panic, tension, rapid heartbeat, pain and insomnia, while calming and relaxing the body and fighting skin blemishes.
Blended in Cream
When used in a cream or lotion, it is very useful to help clear up greasy skin and to release the congestion of such a skin, while at the same time helping to clear up acne, pimples and other skin blemishes.
Suggested Dilution Rates
On the skin
Adult:
Face: 0.5% to 1.5%
Body: 0.5% to 3%
Bath: 0.5% to 4%
3 to 24 months:
Face: 0.25% to 0.5%
Body: 0.25% to 0.5%
Bath: Maximum of 0.5%
2 to 6 years:
Face: 0.5% to 1.5%
Body: 0.5% to 2%
Bath: 0.5% to 2 %
6 to 15 years
Face: 0.5% to 1.5%
Body: 0.5% to 3%
Bath: 0.5% to 3%
Pregnancy
Face: 0.5% to 1.5%
Body: 0.5% to 2%
Bath: 0.5% to 2%
- When in doubt consult your doctor / medical professional before use.
- Most professionals and/or Aromatherapists will always err on the side of safety when giving advice regarding the use of essential oils and oleo resins during pregnancy.
- Quite a number of Aromatherapists advise that you should avoid all essential oils completely while pregnant, specifically during the first trimester. This is a very safe approach but may not be necessary at all.
Diffusers and Vaporisers
4 to 8 drops
General:
- When using for the first time – Always use the lowest dilution rate and build up slowly to the maximum. Stop using all essential oils on the skin if irritation or allergy occurs.
- Any advice or instruction received from a medical professional ALWAYS supersedes recommendations or advice found on this website. When in doubt consult your doctor / medical professional.
Summary
Petitgrain Essential Oil helps with nervous problems, soothes aches and pains, and helps clear and tone the skin.
Blends
Although most essential oils blend well with one another, petitgrain oil blends particularly well with Bergamot, Lavender, Palmarosa, Geranium, Rosewood and Sandalwood.
