Grapefruit Essential Oil

One extremely fragrant essential oil (EO) is grapefruit (both white and pink).  In my opinion, it is one of the best essential oils for generating smiles - so uplifting, bright and happy!

There are many fragrances available that include notes of grapefruit, such as Clinique’s Happy, Jo Malone’s Grapefruit Cologne and Antica Farmacista’s Pompelmo.  I have sampled all of these and each is quite pretty.  So with the wide variety of available grapefruit fragrances, why would anyone even care about pure grapefruit EO?

Try this at home:

If you happen to have a real grapefruit nearby, you can get an idea of what the EO smells like by scratching a little of the fruit’s peel and then breathing in the scent (ideally, try this test with an organic grapefruit because the scent is less likely to be tainted).  Because of its intensity, it is nearly impossible to not react to the smell.  When I smell grapefruit essential oil, I think of happiness, fun, freshness, youth, energy and health.  Just imagine the sun bottled!!!

Perhaps you have a fragrance or two around lying around with some hints of grapefruit.  If so, see if your nose is able to detect the difference between the faux and the EO.  Grapefruit is also a unisex scent, which makes it a nice choice to use around your home.

Essential Oil Benefits:

When I talk to people about their thoughts after smelling the pure essential oil, I hear words like “invigorating”, “clean” and “cheery”.  A few drops in an essential oil diffuser can be refreshing and uplifting when we feel sluggish and tired.

Essential Oil Safety:

It is important to understand some basics about essential oil safety.  With very few exceptions, essential oils should not be used in their pure / uncut form on the skin because of the potential for skin irritation.

All citrus essential oils, including grapefruit EO, are phototoxic.  So the skin should never be exposed to the sun for at least 12 hours after applying grapefruit, bergamot, orange or any other citrus EO (even when it has been diluted).  A simple mixture of grain alcohol, distilled water and a few drops of grapefruit essential oil in an atomizer can be spritzed around the environment for a wonderful mood boosting effect.  After shaking it well, I often spritz my clothes with this light mixture and let it dry before getting dressed in the morning.  It does not stain clothes and the scent can still be enjoyed without compromising the skin.

Some people swear that the actual fruit of grapefruit is a great detox for the body.  Others claim it is a diuretic.  But unless specifically advised by a medical doctor, essential oils should never, ever be taken internally.  So enjoy responsibly!