dōTERRA Lemon Essential Oil - 15ml
Lemon is cold-pressed from the peel rather than distilled, which is why it smells like the fruit rather than like a lemon-scented product. It is bright, clean and slightly sharp, and it changes the feel of a kitchen within a minute of going into a diffuser.
It is the oil people use most often during the day. A few drops in the morning, or in a room that has been shut up, does more than any amount of air freshener.
Being a citrus oil, it is volatile — the aroma arrives quickly and fades quickly. Pair it with a wood or a herb if you want it to hold longer.
Why people choose it
- Bright, clean citrus aroma with real fruit character
- Cold-pressed from the peel, not distilled
- Lifts kitchens and stuffy rooms quickly
- One of the most affordable bottles to keep topped up
- Blends easily with herbs, mints and woods
How it smells
Sharp and sweet at first, clean and slightly zesty as it settles, with very little depth underneath.
How to use it
- In a diffuser
- Three to four drops in a diffuser during the day. Lemon fades faster than most oils, so top it up rather than overloading it at the start.
- On skin
- Dilute with a carrier oil. Citrus oils can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so avoid direct sun on treated skin for around twelve hours.
- Dilution
- One drop of Lemon to four drops of fractionated coconut oil for topical use.
- Worth knowing
- Store it somewhere cool. Cold-pressed citrus oils have a shorter shelf life than distilled oils and turn faster in warmth.
Details
- Botanical name
- Citrus limon
- Plant part
- Peel
- Extraction
- Cold pressed
- Key compounds
- Limonene, Beta-pinene
- Size
- 15 ml
- Item number
- 30010001
Safety
Possible skin sensitivity. May increase skin sensitivity to sunlight — avoid direct sunlight or UV for at least twelve hours after topical use. Keep out of reach of children. If you are pregnant, nursing or under a doctor's care, speak to your practitioner before use. Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears and sensitive areas. Dilute with a carrier oil for topical use.
This information is for general use and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or nursing, speak to your GP, midwife or pharmacist.
Blends well with
Common questions
Why does Lemon oil fade faster than my other oils?
Citrus oils are made up of light, volatile molecules that evaporate quickly. That is what makes them smell so immediate, and also why the aroma does not linger. Blending with a wood or resin gives it something to hold onto.
Does Lemon oil really affect sun sensitivity?
Cold-pressed citrus oils can make skin more reactive to UV. Keep treated skin out of direct sunlight for around twelve hours, or diffuse it instead of applying it before going out.
What does Lemon blend well with?
Peppermint and Rosemary for something fresh in the morning, Lavender to soften it, or Frankincense and Cedarwood if you want the citrus to sit on top of something warmer.
How should I store it?
Somewhere cool and dark, cap on tight. Cold-pressed citrus has a shorter life than distilled oils, and heat shortens it further.



