Orange oil and its uses

Orange oil is an essential oil produced by the cells within the peel of orange fruit (citrus fruit).Unlike most essential oils, it is extracted by centrifugation as a by-product of orange juice production, resulting in a cold-pressed oil.It consists primarily (greater than 90%) of d-limonene and is often used in place of pure d-limonene.D-limonene can be extracted from the oil by distillation.

Uses

Structural pest control

The state of California has authorized and registered d-limonene (orange oil) as an active ingredient with the EPA and Florida for the eradication of drywood termites,Taiwan termites and other structural pests.It is the active ingredient in the popular structural termiticide XT-2000.As an alternative to traditional fumigation, d-limonene orange oil is gaining popularity as approximately 70% of modern consumers in California prefer topical structured chemical injections over traditional "tent" or fumigation.

Biological pest control

Orange oil can be used as a green pesticide for biological control of pests.It can exterminate or control ants and other insects by erasing their scent pheromone trail indicators or dissolving their exoskeletons,eliminating an infestation or destroying a re-infestation.Orange oil is known to be useful in controlling but not exterminating drywood termites (Incisitermes), it will only kill those who come into direct contact with it.

Household cleaners

Orange oil is used as a cleanser.It is also used as an additive to certain wax finishes/polishes such as Howard's Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a pseudoscience, and the evidence for so-called health effects comes from preliminary studies.

Harm

Limonene, the main component of the oil, is a mild irritant because it dissolves the oils that protect the skin.Commercial use of orange oil, such as that in XT-2000, requires the use of protective gloves under EPA-approved labeling and most municipal structural pest control laws while limonene 1,2-oxide (formed by air oxidation) is a known skin sensitizer.Most reported cases of irritation involved long-term industrial exposure to pure compounds for example during degreasing or paint preparation.However, in a study of patients with dermatitis, 3% were sensitive to limonene.Limonene has been observed to cause cancer in male rats by reacting with α2u-globulin, a major urinary protein that female rats do not produce.There is no evidence of carcinogenicity or genotoxicity in humans. IARC classifies d-Limonene as Category 3: Not Classifiable for its carcinogenicity to humans.Limonene is also flammable.