Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Lemon myrtle

Purifying, Lemon Myrtle essential oil is ideal for diffusing to clean the air. With its exceptional fragrance, Lemon Myrtle essential oil has an intense, refreshing, lemony scent. Lemon Myrtle essential oil is also used in purifying skin care products.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Suitable

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

    Appropriate

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Suitable

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Possible but not recommended

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Leaves

Botanical name

Backhousia citriodora

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

Lemon Myrtle essential oil is traditionally used for: Mycosis

Health

Beauty

Find out more

Properties

Lemon myrtle essential oil is recognised for its purifying and powerful antifungal properties.

Uses

It is traditionally used in the following situations:

  • Bacterial and mycotic infections

  • Acne-prone skin

  • Foot and hand care

In practice

Air purification: atmospheric diffusion.

Precautions

  • Do not use during pregnancy.

  • Not for internal use.

  • Irritating to the skin in its pure state; always use well diluted when applied to the skin. Use with caution, especially on sensitive or allergic skin.

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Avoid contact with the eyes.

  • Certain natural compounds contained in this essential oil may present a risk of allergy for certain sensitive individuals when the essential oil is incorporated into a cosmetic composition (in accordance with the 7th Amendment of the European Cosmetics Directive (2003/15/EC)): linalool, citral (geranial and neral).

  • As a general rule, always test-apply your mixture in the crease of the elbow at least 48 hours before use.

  • Dangerous. Observe safety precautions.

  • May cause a skin allergy. Causes skin irritation (risk associated with the product in its pure form).

Find out more

Lemon Myrtle is a tree in the Myrtaceae family. It grows only in the rainforests of Australia. Its Latin name, Backousia citriodora, comes from the English botanist who discovered it, James Backhouse, and its fresh lemon scent. Its shiny, permanent leaves, which contain theessential oil, give off a delicate lemon fragrance when crushed. They were used by Australian aborigines as an invigorating drink, drunk like tea, or as a skin plaster.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

Anti-smoking (M. Faucon)

Health & wellbeingNerve pain and disorders

  • 1 part Myrtle essential oil
  • 1 part Lemon essential oil

Preparation: Use in an air diffuser and inhale for 5 minutes twice a day.

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

1

Toxicity of Australian essential oil Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle). Part 1 Antimicrobial activity and in vitro citotoxicity

Hayes AJ, Makovic B. - Food Chem Toxicol. 2002 Apr; 40 (4) : 535-43.

2

Toxicity of Australian essential oil Backhousia citriodora (Lemon Myrtle). Part 2 Absorption and histopathology following application to human skin

Hayes AJ, Makovic B. - Food Chem Toxicol. 2003 Oct; 41 (10) : 1409-16

3

Essential oil of lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) in the treatment of Molluscum contagiosum in children

Burke BE, Baillie JE, Olson RD - Biomed Pharmacothe, 2004 May; 58 (4) : 245 -7.4.

4

Bioactivity of Backhousia citriodora: Antibacterial and antifungal activity

J Agr Food Chem. 2003 Jan 1;51 (1): 76-81.