Lemon oil is a versatile cleansing and skin care ingredient that you can make yourself at home. To make lemon oil, you will need coconut, grapeseed or sweet almond oil, a few lemons, and a jar with an airtight lid. You can make lemon oil quickly on the stove or with a cold press, which takes 2 weeks. Once done, lemon oil can be used to clean countertops and floors, or added to water for bathing, or sprayed onto the face to soothe and nourish the skin.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Lemon Oil on the Stove
Step 1. Wash and dry 5-6 lemons
Peel off the sticker from the lemon then rinse the lemon with cold water. When rinsing lemons, scrub the outer skin with a sponge or vegetable brush to remove any remaining pesticide and dirt. After that, dry the lemon with a cloth or kitchen paper.
Cleaning the lemons like this will prevent pesticides from mixing with the lemon oil
Step 2. Peel the lemon peel with a tool
If you don't have a fruit peeler, you can use a knife or cheese grater to peel off the lemon zest. Peel off the outside of the lemon with a peeler and pull out the rind in long strips. Place this lemon zest in a bowl and set aside for later use.
It is the yellow part of the lemon peel that contains the oil. You don't need to peel the white part of the lemon
Step 3. Boil half a pot of water on the stove then reduce the heat
If you have a team pot, you can use this pan to make lemon oil. However, if not, you can use a regular pan. Fill half the pot with water then heat it on the stove over high heat. Wait until the surface of the water starts to bubble and then use the lowest heat on the stove.
- If you are using a regular pot, leave room for the bowl.
- Once the stove is turned down, the water should stop boiling.
- You should use the lowest heat on the stove so the lemon oil doesn't boil.
Step 4. Put the lemon zest and 1 cup (250 ml) of coconut oil in a bowl
If you are using a team pan, pour the coconut oil and add the lemon zest to the top of the pan. If not, pour enough oil in a bowl to fit in the pan.
You can use grapeseed and sweet almond oil instead of coconut oil
Step 5. Place the bowl over a pot of water and let it simmer over low heat
Slowly lower the bowl of oil and lemon zest into the hot water. Watch the lemon oil not boil.
- Wear oven mitts so you don't burn your hands.
- The smallest fire will extract all the natural oils from the lemon peel so that it soaks into the coconut oil slowly.
Step 6. Let the oil cool for 2-3 hours
Wear oven mitts when touching a hot bowl. Turn off the stove then remove the bowl from the pot of water. Set the oil aside on the counter and cover it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Wait for the oil to cool to room temperature before moving on to the next step
Step 7. Strain the oil and put it in a jar
Use a sieve or cheesecloth to strain the lemon oil and remove the rind. If you did everything right, the natural lemon oil should seep into the oil you're using.
Use a jar with an airtight lid to make the lemon oil last longer
Step 8. Store the jars in a cool, dark place
Store lemon oil in a cool, dark place such as the refrigerator or kitchen cupboard. Lemon oil can be stored for up to 1 month before expiration.
Method 2 of 2: Using the Cold Press Technique
Step 1. Clean 5-6 lemons under cold running water
Rinse the lemons with cold water from the tap while scrubbing with a coarse sponge or vegetable brush. Remove the sticker attached to the lemon then dry the lemon with a cloth or kitchen paper.
Cleaning lemons like this is useful to ensure the oil is pure and not contaminated with harmful pesticides
Step 2. Peel the lemon and then place the rind in an airtight jar
Use a knife, vegetable peeler, or fruit peeler to peel off the rind of the lemon. Peel the lemon rind in long strips and then put it in a closed container.
- You only need to take the yellow part of the lemon peel because this is the part that contains the oil.
- Use a jar that can hold 500 ml of liquid.
Step 3. Pour enough oil into the jar to soak the lemon peel
Pour in 1 cup (250 ml) of grapeseed, sweet almond, or coconut oil. This oil should soak the lemon zest in the bottom of the jar. Put the lid on the jar then shake it.
Step 4. Place this jar near a window that gets sunlight and shake it once a day for 2 weeks
Shake this jar daily to mix lemon oil and coconut oil, grapeseed oil, or sweet almond oil. The natural lemon oil will seep into the oil in the jar.
The warm temperature of the sun will help allow the lemon oil to soak into the oil in the jar
Step 5. Strain the oil to separate the lemon peel from the oil
Pour the oil through a sieve or cheesecloth over a bowl. This step will separate the lemon peel from the oil. After filtering, throw the lemon peel in the trash.
Step 6. Store the oil in a cool, dark place for up to 1 month
Store the oil in an airtight jar then place it in the refrigerator or storage cupboard. You can now use this oil to clean your house or treat your skin.
