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Cold-pressed from the peel of the fruit, wild orange essential oil has a fresh, sweet aroma. Wild orange essential oil is great for adding a scent to DIYs, making all-natural cleaners, and diffusing into the air.

Keep reading to learn all about wild orange oil, including its benefits, how to use it, and precautions you need to know.

Wild orange essential oil bottle on white table with orange pieces in background.
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Wild orange essential oil has many benefits. It was actually the very first essential oil presented to me. When I went to an oil class that a friend was teaching, she had small samples of wild orange sitting on the table. I opened it, inhaled, and was hooked. 

Next to lemon, wild orange is one of my most-used essential oils. It is one of my favorites to diffuse, use topically, and clean with. 

Have you ever peeled an orange, and a mist came out of the peel? That was the essential oil! Essential oils are very concentrated liquids. It will take over 25 large oranges to get a usable amount of wild orange essential oil! 

Ways to Use Wild Orange Essential Oil

Similar to most essential oils, wild orange essential oil can be used aromatically and topically. It also makes an excellent addition to DIY cleaning products, home fragrances, and skincare.

Topically

Wild orange can be applied topically to help reduce blemishes, ease pain, and soothe stress and anxiety. Because it’s highly concentrated, it should always be diluted with a carrier oil or lotion before use. You can apply the diluted oil directly to your skin, use it in DIY skincare products, or create a roller bottle blend for convenient application.

It’s important to note that wild orange is a photosensitive oil, so you should stay out of the sunlight for 12-24 hours after using it topically.

Aromatically

My favorite way to use wild orange essential oil is aromatically. The aroma of wild orange can give you a natural boost of energy, enhance focus, and reduce stress and anxiety.

There are quite a few ways to use essential oils aromatically:

  1. Electric diffuser: The easiest and most common way to use essential oils aromatically is with a diffuser. You can learn how to use a diffuser if you’re new to the device.
  2. Homemade diffuser: If you’d rather not invest in an electric diffuser, you can make your own simply and affordably. Try a homemade reed diffuser, DIY salt diffuser, or homemade diffuser necklace.
  3. Use your hands: Get a burst of wild orange aroma immediately with this method. Add a drop of essential oil to the palm of your hand, rub your hands together, then cover your nose with your hands and breathe in. It works amazingly well without any sort of diffuser!
  4. Room sprays: You can make an essential oil room spray to mist the wild orange oil directly into the air.
doterra wild orange bottle

Cleaning

Wild orange oil is excellent for cleaning because of its antimicrobial properties and ability to cut through grease and grime.

You can add a lot of benefits and a lovely smell to your DIY cleaning products with just a few drops of this wonderful essential oil.

Add the orange oil to homemade window cleaner or multi-surface bathroom cleaner to get started.

Fragrance

Essential oils are great alternatives to artificial fragrance in perfume, candles, air fresheners, and more. Because of the many benefits of wild orange and the generally enjoyable aroma, wild orange is a great option for scenting your DIY products.

Top 10 Uses for Wild Orange Essential Oil

  1. Diffusing wild orange essential oil adds a bright, uplifting scent to your space and helps create a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere. Add a few drops to your diffuser when you want to make a space feel more cheery and inviting.
  2. The warm and citrussy smell of wild orange makes the perfect addition to seasonal diffuser blends around fall and the holiday season. Pair it with spicy oils such as cinnamon and clove for a cozy fall blend.
  3. Apply topically under the nose or diffuse wild orange for a natural boost of energy. Wild orange can help stimulate the brain and creativity. Add in peppermint and rosemary for ultimate results! 
  4. Diffuse wild orange essential oil to promote feelings of happiness and to uplift the mood. 
  5. Because of its aromatherapeutic benefits and the pleasant, citrusy smell, wild orange is a great addition to your DIY products. Add it to homemade candles, skincare products, and DIY room sprays to enjoy the aroma of orange every single day.
  6. Wild orange is excellent for cleaning products and odor neutralizers. Use it in your DIY kitchen and bathroom cleaners, or use it to deodorize your trash cans.
  7. Add it to a spray bottle mixed with a 50/50 ratio of water and vinegar to make an all-purpose house cleaner
  8. Use it to remove sticky residue. Add a couple of drops to a microfiber cloth and rub it on a surface to remove stuck-on glue or sticker residue.
  9. Wild orange’s bright, punchy aroma gives a nice boost to homemade simmer pots. Add a few drops to get a stronger scent out of your natural air freshener.
  10. Wild orange makes an energizing, uplifting scent for homemade soaps. Add it to homemade coconut milk soap bars or melt and pour coconut oil soap for a lovely natural fragrance.
wild orange essential oil and oranges on white background

Diffuser Blends with Wild Orange Essential Oil

Wild orange makes it into most of my favorite diffuser blends. With the beautiful aroma and many benefits, it is definitely one you will want in your diffuser too! 

Wild orange blends well with several oils. Check out how to use wild orange essential oil with these fun diffuser blends.

Wake Up

Happy Day

Sweater Weather

Essential Oil Roller Bottles

Making essential oil roller bottles is really easy to do, and it makes the application easier. You can make a roller bottle with wild orange alone, or you can blend it with several oils. 

My rule of thumb is 20-30 drops of essential oil total in a roller bottle and then top the rest off with a carrier oil. Get a full dilution chart and several carrier oil options, so you know exactly how to make your roller bottle safely. 

Several of my roller bottle recipes that I share on the blog have wild orange in them. Here are a few recipes you may want to check out: 

orange slices on white ship lap

Precautions + Safety

  • Wild orange is a photosensitive oil, which means it can cause the skin to be sensitive to sunlight. Avoid using wild orange topically before going out in the sun.
  • Essential oils should always be diluted in a lotion or carrier oil. Wild orange is especially concentrated, so always be sure to dilute it well before using it on the skin.
  • Only use essential oils aromatically in a well-ventilated room.
  • Keep out of reach of children and pets.

Wild Orange Essential Oil FAQs

Can I substitute sweet orange for wild orange?

Yes, you can. The difference between these two oils is where the oranges are sourced from. Wild orange oil comes from wild-grown oranges, while sweet orange oil comes from cultivated orange trees. They both have a pleasant citrus scent, but sweet orange has a sweeter smell, while wild orange is tangier and bolder. If you like the scent of sweet orange better, you can certainly substitute it in most cases.

Is wild orange essential oil good for laundry?

Yes! Adding wild orange to your homemade laundry detergent will give your clothes a fresh scent and help with unwanted odors.

What does wild orange blend well with?

Wild orange blends well with floral oils or fresh-smelling oils like rosemary and peppermint. I also like to use it a lot in my autumn diffuser blends with warm and spicy essential oils.

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Have you ever used wild orange essential oil? What is your favorite way to use it?

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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2 Comments

  1. Ava Thill says:

    Hi Laura! I was wondering if Wild Orange is safe to use around dogs?

    1. Laura says:

      I personally do! I have a post talking about the safety guidelines for using essential oils around pets that you can check out.