Aromatic Fruits

Aromas of citrus peels are stimulating, in a low-key way that’s also upbeat and positive. These fruity aromas inspire confidence and strengthen the body-mind connection. Otherwise, when we inhale the scents of berry-like fruits, we get the relaxing or pain-relieving essences of oils. These two types of fruit demonstrate how specific aromas can modify human emotions.

Plant oils are essential in the kitchen or they may be processed as ingredients in cosmetics. These oils are often aromatic, yet are not chosen to use for scent. We know them as the natural, organic or certified carrier oils for essential oil blends, or as medicinal oils in herbalism.

See Oils of Other Fruits, below.

Citrus fruits:

Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Mandarin, Tangerine,  & Yuzu

Berry-like fruits:

Juniperberry, May Chang, Pimenta Berry, Black and Pink Pepper*

Oils of Other Fruits:

Avocado, Cocoa, Coconut, Olive, Sea Buckthorn, Shea

Click on bold fruit name above to read more.

Citrus

Lemon – Citrus x limon

Family: Rutaceae is the Rue family, or group of Citrus trees and shrubs

Origin and Biological status: cross between citron and pomelo, possibly by early farmers in region of Asia that spans East India to Burma and north into the Yunnan province of China. Introduced to Europe in the 10th century, brought to America by Columbus in 1492.

Part distilled is the peel, also called “flavedo”, is cold-expressed to catch the oil, at the same time, residual juice is separated from the oil.

Adulteration: frequency is high due to processing in which expressed oil, juice and “albedo” or pith mingle easily.  References to removing terpenes in the oil are common, as the expressed oil yield is “medium”, and flavor and perfume industries requirements vary.

Season: All year except for early fall, when some aromatic/flavor components are low.
Energetics: the essential oil is cooling, activating, strengthening, increases Kapha & appetite

Lemons in Rituals & Medicines: Citrus used to be rare pror to the mid-20th century, considered a luxury fruit. Early pagan rituals and later Christianity cherished citrus fruit as symbolic of Spring. Citron, one of two ancestors of the Lemon, is highly prized in Judaism for the Feast of the Tabernacles. In Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, the peel is medicinal to inflammation, fevers, also made into tea for urinary problems.

Perfumes: used as a top note only in perfumes often with Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) essential oil. Unusual characteristics: a “fragrance category of its own” in perfumery and aroma-therapy, it’s one of the most popular culinary flavors and aromas.

Olfactive features: its smell is very similar to the fruit we consume, to memories; its scent is not tenacious, but is relaxing for its bright, clean, astringent aroma. Aromatic characteristics: a sharp, sweet-spicy scent recalls the fruit itself. Usually expressed from the peel, can be steam-distilled but then is not considered therapeutic with additional processing.