Grapefruit essential oil: properties and uses

Guide to essential oils

Diffuse grapefruit essential oil with its invigorating properties to bring optimism and good humour. Stimulating, grapefruit essential oil boosts self-esteem and refocuses the mind. In cooking, grapefruit essential oil adds a fine, fruity flavour that is highly valued.

How to use

Skin application and massage
Appropriate
Aromatherapy bath
Suitable
Diffusion
Suitable
Cosmetic active ingredient
Appropriate
Food grade
Suitable

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Cold pressed

Part of the plant used

Zest

Botanical name

Citrus paradisi

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Properties and uses

Grapefruit essential oil is traditionally used for: hair loss, alopecia, cellulite, depression, low mood, insomnia, weight loss, slimming, etc.

Health

Beauty

Wellness

Kitchen

Find out more

Properties

Grapefruit essential oil is recognised for its health benefits:

Airborne antiseptic, helping to purify the environment.
Appetite and digestion stimulant.
A natural liver and kidney cleanser, its detoxifying properties make it effective for easing the effects of overeating.
A diuretic, it helps reduce water retention and promote slimming.
Refreshing, its fruity aroma exudes a pleasant scent.
Relaxing, it helps soothe muscle aches and pains.

Uses

Grapefruit essential oil is traditionally used for the following:

Fatigue and muscle stiffness
Water retention, obesity
Atmospheric diffusion
Disinfection

Synergies

Water eliminator: Lemon, Sea fennel, Fennel essential oils, etc.
Air purifier: Lemon, Psiadia, Fragonia essential oils, etc.
Appetite stimulator: Fennel, Peppermint essential oils, etc.

In practice

Air purification: use in diffusions blended with other oils.

Properties

Grapefruit essential oil is recognised for the following properties:

Slows hair loss.
Draining, it reduces water retention.
Lipolytic, it increases the capacity of fat cells to release the fat they contain.
Astringent

Uses

Cellulite
Combination and oily skin
Acne
Congested and oily skin
Hair loss

Synergies

Slimming: Lemon, Geranium, Cypress, Sea fennel, and grapefruit essential oils, etc.
Hair fortifying: Rosewood, Lemongrass, Panthenol, Rice or Silk proteins, Phytokeratin, etc.
Purifying: Propolis, Burdock root powder, Jupiter's beard CO2 extract, etc.
Mattifying: Arrow root, Bamboo sap, Alum powder, etc.

In practice

Oily skin care: add up to 2% to your skin care formulations such as creams, gels, or lotions.

Toning, slimming: add up to 2% to your oil-based preparations. Apply the blend by massaging firmly into the area concerned.

Properties

Grapefruit essential oil is known for its wellness properties:

Emotionally, grapefruit essential oil, like most citrus oils, symbolises childhood and its innocence.
It enhances the sensitive side of our childlike nature.
It encourages in people who are withdrawn and silent to open up their hearts (palliative care).
It relaxes and induces sleep.
Uplifting.
Like most citrus essential oils, grapefruit essential oil soothes or stimulates the nervous system depending on individual needs and conditions. It is therefore important to connect with this oil and "feel" it, both literally and figuratively, to ascertain whether it is calming or stimulating for you.

Uses

Stress and anxiety
Doubt, uncertainty, hesitation
Palliative care
Release of speech

In practice

Relaxation and calm: use in atmospheric diffusion during a moment when you feel open and ready to receive the benefits of the essential oil (meditation session, relaxation, or a simple moment of calm). Repeat several times a week.

Relaxation and calm (wrist) : add to your oil-based formulation. Massage the blend into your inner wrists. Then join both hands, covering your nose, and take three slow, deep breaths of the blend. Repeat as needed.

Relaxation and calm(plexus) : add to your oil-based formulation. Massage the solar plexus area with this blend.

Grapefruit oil has a delicate and fruity flavour that is very popular, earning it a special place in the kitchen.

It is usually used for:

Making aromatic oils or flavoured syrups with citrus
Adding flavour to raw fish tartares
Yoghurt-based sauces served with vegetables, such as button mushrooms
Desserts, especially those made with fresh fruit like strawberries or raspberries
Flavouring gingerbread
Preparing citrus-infused meat dishes, especially pork
Making flavoured infusions or teas

Discover our article " Aromatherapy and cosmetics - How to use essential oils" to find out more about the symbols on our products and the different ways essential oils can be used.

Precautions

Photosensitising: do not expose yourself to the sun or UV rays for at least 8 hours after topical application of this oil. For cosmetic use, we recommended choosing furocoumarin-free grapefruit essential oil.
May cause irritation, always dilute well for topical use.
Do not use during the first three months of pregnancy.
Grapefruit essential oil is prone to oxidation: store in a cool place (you can keep it in the fridge), dry, and away from light.
Keep out of reach of children.
Avoid any contact with eyes.
Certain natural compounds in this essential oil may pose an allergy risk to sensitive individuals when the essential oil is incorporated into a cosmetic product (according to the 7th Amendment of the European Directive on cosmetic products (2003/15/EC)): limonene, benzyl benzoate, citronellol, geraniol, linalool, citral (geranial and neral).
As a general rule, always perform a patch test of your mixture on the crook of your elbow at least 48 hours before use.

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Download the general precautions and read before using essential oils

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A beautiful tree with dense foliage, the grapefruit tree produces fruits in clusters, which is where its name comes from. Its fruits, commonly called grapefruits, but botanically known as pomelos, belong to the citrus family. They have a yellow to pinkish peel, and their juicy pulp can be yellow, pink, or red, varying from bitter to sweet depending on the variety.

The white grapefruit, which is spherical in shape, may have slightly flattened ends. It is twice the size of an orange and has yellow skin.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Sublingual use: Aroma-Zone's tip for drainage, circulation, and elimination

Mix in a 10 ml tinted glass bottle with a dropper

2 ml peppermint essential oil (mentha x piperita)
1 ml celery essential oil (Apium graveolens)
3 ml grapefruit zest essential oil (Citrus paradisii)
2 ml mediterranean cypress essential oil (Cupressus semperviren)
2 ml tropical basil essential oil (Ocimum basilicum)

Use: 3 drops on a small spoon with some flaxseed or rapeseed oil, to be taken at the end of each meal 2 to 3 times a day, 3 weeks out of 4, for 2 to 3 months depending on your desired weight loss. Drink 1 litre of water per day, flavoured with 2 teaspoons of carrot hydrosol.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with epilepsy, history of hormone-dependent cancer (due to the presence of cypress), people with hypertension or cardiac conditions (due to the presence of peppermint), use of anticoagulant medication (due to the presence of grapefruit). Excerpt from the book 'Le grand guide de l'aromathérapie et des soins beauté naturels' by Aude Maillard and Aroma-Zone, J'ai Lu edition, 2016

6 drops grapefruit essential oil
800 g strawberries
6 tablespoons agave syrup

Directions: hull the strawberries and arrange them in a large saucepan. Place over low heat with the lid on. Once the strawberries in the pan start to release their juices, turn off the heat and allow them to rest, keeping the lid on. This way, the strawberries remain whole and semi-cooked, gently coated in their own juice.

Prepare the paradisii sauce: in a cup, mix the agave syrup with the essential oil. Drizzle over the warm strawberries and gently toss to combine.

Serves 6 - Preparation time: 15 minutes - Steeping time: 2 to 3 hours.

700 g fresh tuna
6 limes
30 cl coconut lotion
Fleur de sel
Black Pepper
1 drop of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) essential oil
2 drops of Orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil

Method: mix the coconut lotion and essential oils in a bowl. Cut the fish into thin slices. Place in a salad bowl, season with salt and cover with lemon juice. The fish will be ready to eat after 2 to 3 hours, as the lemon will have cooked it completely Discard the juice and season with the flavoured coconut lotion. Add a little fleur de sel and pepper. Serve chilled.

For 6 cups

6 drops grapefruit essential oil
100 g dried pineapple
1 litre rice lotion
4 g agar-agar powder
1 teaspoon creamed rice (pre-cooked rice flour)

Directions: the day before, soak the dried pineapple in some of the rice lotion and place it in the fridge. The next day, pour the pineapple and rice lotion into the blender. Blend until you get a creamy consistency, then add the powdered agar-agar and creamed rice. Gradually dilute the mixture by adding the remaining rice lotion. There's no need to add sugar, as rice lotion is naturally sweet, and the dried pineapple also adds natural sweetness. Pour the mixture into a heavy-bottomed saucepan and place it over low heat. When it begins to simmer, stir continuously for 3 minutes. Add the essential oil, mix well, and pour into dessert cups. Let it cool before enjoying.

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml

However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Bibliography

Viuda-Martosa M, Ruiz-Navajasa Y, Fernández-López J and Pérez-Álvareza J. 'Antifungal activity of lemon (Citrus lemon L.), mandarin (Citrus reticulata L.), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) and orange (Citrus sinensis L.) essential oils.'

Food Control, 2008, 19(12), 1130-1138.

Fuselli S.R. ; Garcia De La Rosa S. B. ; Eguaras M.J. ; Fritz R. 'Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Citrus essences on honeybee bacterial pathogen Paenibacillus larvae, the causal agent of American foulbrood.'

World journal of microbiology & biotechnology, 2008, 24(10), 2067-2072.

Tanida M, Niijima A, Shen J, Nakamura T, Nagai K. Olfactory stimulation with scent of essential oil of grapefruit affects autonomic neurotransmission and blood pressure.

Brain research, 2005, 1058(1-2), 44-55.

Haze S, Sakai K, Gozu Y. 'Effects of fragrance inhalation on sympathetic activity in normal adults'

Jpn J Pharmacol. 2002, 90(3), 247-53.

Miyazawa M, Tougo H, Ishihara M. 'Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity by essential oil from Citrus paradisi.'

Nat Prod Lett. 2001, 15(3), 205-10.

Shen J, Niijima A, Tanida M, Horii Y, Nakamura T and Nagai K. 'Mechanism of changes induced in plasma glycerol by scent stimulation with grapefruit and lavender essential oils.'

Neuroscience Letters, 2007, 416(3), 241-246.

Shen J, Niijima A, Tanida M, Horii Y, Maeda K and Nagai K. 'Olfactory stimulation with scent of grapefruit oil affects autonomic nerves, lipolysis and appetite in rats.'

Neuroscience Letters, 2005, 380(3), 289-294.

Haze S, Sakai K, Gozu Y, Moriyama M. 'grapefruit Oil Attenuates Adipogenesis in Cultured Subcutaneous Adipocytes.'

Planta Med. 2010 Feb 8. [Epub ahead of print]

"Huiles essentielles - 2000 ans de découvertes aromathérapeutiques pour une médecine d'avenir " by Dominique Baudoux

'L'Aromathérapie exactement' by Pierre Franchomme and Daniel. Pénoël

'La bible de l'Aromathérapie' by Nerys Purchon

'ABC des huiles essentielles' by Dr Thierry Telphon

"Plantes, huiles et parfums de beauté" by Marie-Françoise Delarozière and Raymonde Trierweiler

'Votre beauté au naturel' by Chantal Clergeaud

"Cosmétiques naturels - Conseils et recettes plaisirs pour préserver sa santé au quotidien" by Tiphaine Chagnoux and Hélène Baron

"90 recettes de beauté bio à faire soi-même" by Sophie Macheteau and Vanina Guet

"Mes petits cadeaux cosmétiques BIO" by Marie Bousquet and Christie Vanbremeersch

"Cooking with essential oils - treasures of flavour and vitality" by Odile Davy and Martine Fayolle

"Saveurs et bien-être - la cuisine aux huiles essentielles" by Nathalie Le Foll and Beatriz Da Costa

"La cuisine aux huiles essentielles - Des recettes saines et créatives" by Aymeric Pataud

'L'aromathérapie énergétique; guérir avec l'âme des plantes' by L. Bosson

'Aromathérapie Corps et âme' by André Bitsas

"Cuisiner avec les huiles essentielles et les eaux florales" by Emmanuel and Valérie Cupillard

http://www.elle.fr/Elle-a-Table/Recettes-de-cuisine/Tartare-de-saumon-pomelo-exotique-a-l-huile-essentielle-de-pamplemousse-2345356

http://www.biogourmand.info/index.php/2009/07/13/198-confiture-de-framboise

http://www.rtbf.be/tv/emission/detail_un-gars-un-chef/actualites/article_les-regles-de-la-cuisine-aux-huiles-essentielles?id=8144748&emissionId=5931

http://www.plurielles.fr/recettes-cuisine/fiche-pratique/comment-utiliser-les-huiles-essentielles-en-cuisine-7361105-402.html

Essential oil of Grapefruit

How to use

Features

Properties and uses

In practice

In practice

In practice

Precautions

Find out more

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

'Ahhhh' Relaxing Therapeutic Bath Oil (N. Purchon)
Health & wellbeingLow energy, fatigue

Grapefruit-Verbena Slimming Mist (S. Macheteau)
BeautyBody care

Cellulite (J-P. Willem)
Beauty

Cellulite (A. Maillard)
Beauty

Raspberry Jam With grapefruit Essential Oil (V. Cupillard)
Kitchen

Warm Strawberries in Paradisii Sauce (E. and V. Cupillard)
Kitchen

Tahitian-style fish with three citrus fruits (A. Pataud)
Kitchen

Pineapple Flans (E. and V. Cupillard)
Kitchen

Equivalents

Bibliography

Essential oil of Grapefruit

How to use

Features

Properties and uses

In practice

In practice

In practice

Precautions

Find out more

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

'Ahhhh' Relaxing Therapeutic Bath Oil (N. Purchon)Health & wellbeingLow energy, fatigue

Grapefruit-Verbena Slimming Mist (S. Macheteau)BeautyBody care

Cellulite (J-P. Willem)Beauty

Cellulite (A. Maillard)Beauty

Raspberry Jam With grapefruit Essential Oil (V. Cupillard)Kitchen

Warm Strawberries in Paradisii Sauce (E. and V. Cupillard)Kitchen

Tahitian-style fish with three citrus fruits (A. Pataud)Kitchen

Pineapple Flans (E. and V. Cupillard)Kitchen

Equivalents

Bibliography

'Ahhhh' Relaxing Therapeutic Bath Oil (N. Purchon)
Health & wellbeingLow energy, fatigue

Grapefruit-Verbena Slimming Mist (S. Macheteau)
BeautyBody care

Cellulite (J-P. Willem)
Beauty

Cellulite (A. Maillard)
Beauty

Raspberry Jam With grapefruit Essential Oil (V. Cupillard)
Kitchen

Warm Strawberries in Paradisii Sauce (E. and V. Cupillard)
Kitchen

Tahitian-style fish with three citrus fruits (A. Pataud)
Kitchen

Pineapple Flans (E. and V. Cupillard)
Kitchen