Lime essential oil is available as both a steam distilled and cold pressed essential oil. Please note that the cold pressed oil is photosensitive while the distilled is not.

Family: Rutaceae

Synonyms: Key lime, West Indian lime.

Aroma: Distilled – fruity, citrus, fresh, sharp. Cold pressed – intensely fresh, rich and citrus.

Colour: Distilled – pale yellow to almost clear. Cold pressed – yellowish green to olive green.

Plant: Bushy tree that grows up to 4 metres or more and has small, round, greenish yellow fruit.

Main Growing Areas: Mexico, Peru, West Indies.

Major Constituents: Limonene, geranial, gamma-terpinene, 1,8 cineole.

Interesting snippets: Lime originated in southeast Asia and made its way to Europe by India, Palestine and Egypt.
Columbus brought lime seeds to the Americas where orchards were quickly established.
Lime was used to prevent scurvy in the crew during long voyages on sailing ships.

Part of Plant used / Extraction: Peel of unripe skin is used for cold extraction and the whole fruit or juice is used for steam distillation.

Therapeutic actions: Coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis, poor digestion, insect bites and minor cuts.

Emotional and Spiritual: Stimulates and refreshes a tired mind. Apathy, anxiety, depression.
Robbi Zeck writes that the tangy, bright fragrance of Lime settles calms and refreshes the emotions, allowing feelings to be explored and released constructively.

Aromatherapy Insight Card:

EASES STRESS
Ease through changes without getting hot under the collar. Lime takes you to that place where life is sweet and easy. Take some time out from the business of life. Learn to ease-off and handle life’s challenges in a way that achieves only positives. Sometimes we just need some time-out away from the heavy going of life. Send your emotions on a holiday.

Fragrant Change Healing Card: I stay calm and relaxed under pressure.

Safety: Non-irritating, non-sensitising, non-toxic.

Sources: Bowles E.J, The A to Z of Essential Oils. New Burlington Books (2003)
Hodges C, Fragrant Change Healing Cards (2015)
Jefferies J, Lime Essential Oil Profile. Aromatherapy Today, Vol.38 (2007)
Jefferies J, Osborn. K, Aromatherapy Insight Cards. Living Energy, Aust. (2nd Ed. 2005)
Zeck R, The Blossoming Heart. Aroma Tours (2004)