Episode 68: Sunny Summer Citrus

doTERRA: When you think of citrus, it brings to mind sunny days, summer treats, and bright colors. Citrus seems to be the perfect summer companion. Thankfully, we have our citrus essential oils to give us that feeling any time, whether on the brightest summer day or during a cold winter storm. And today, we want to let you know how to utilize all of the citrus oils doTERRA has to offer. 

Welcome back to Essential Oil Solutions with doTERRA, the podcast where you'll hear exciting, useful, and simple everyday uses for essential oils from experts in the field. If you like what you hear today, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. We always appreciate hearing from you.

Today, we're excited to talk to Samantha Lewis, a member of our product marketing team, about how she loves to use citrus oils in her life.

Samantha, thank you so much for joining us today. I'm so excited to talk with you about these citrus oils. 

Samantha Lewis: I'm excited to talk with you, too. There are some amazing oils that we have. 

doTERRA: So I know a lot of people think of citrus when they think of summer. It's fun, and it's bright. And, of course, the taste and the smells remind us of summer. But what are some things to be aware of when using citrus oils topically, especially during the summertime? 

Samantha: Like you said, citrus oils are great. They have that bright, fresh smell. They're also great topically for certain uses. However, it's important to be careful where you apply them. 

Most citrus oils have compounds that can cause UV-sensitivity, which basically means your skin is more sensitive to the sun and UV rays. For myself in the summer, I personally don't use many citrus oils topically, unless it's at night or if I absolutely have to. And then I make sure it’s under clothing, things like that.

doTERRA: Right. Absolutely. So we do have to be a little bit more careful about where we're applying citrus oils, but what makes them a great companion during the summertime?

Samantha: They are fantastic. I love combining citrus oils with something to ground them. It really just brightens and refreshes the atmosphere that you're in. 

One of my favorite diffuser blends to use is Wild Orange, Green Mandarin, Grapefruit, and Hawaiian Sandalwood, just a few drops of each of those. It's so refreshing and uplifting, whether that’s during the summer or as things get kind of cooler in the fall. 

doTERRA: That sounds like it would smell amazing. That's definitely one that I want to try. 

Samantha: Yeah, I recommend it. 

doTERRA: So doTERRA has quite a few citrus oils. Some people may be really familiar with; some they might not have tried before. And so, there are kind of a few different categories maybe that we could put these citruses into. 

The first one would be the sweeter citruses, things like Wild Orange or Tangerine. What are some of your favorite uses for the sweeter citrus oils?

Samantha: Wild Orange and Tangerine are my go-to as an addition to my water bottle, to my drinking water. I love the sweet taste. Like you mentioned, they really are in that sweet category. And it helps me drink more water throughout the day, be more mindful about the water that I'm drinking. Plus, there are those emotional benefits that we love from citrus oils. 

doTERRA: Absolutely. And the internal cleansing as well that can come with those citrus oils.

Samantha: Yeah!

doTERRA: That's amazing. And I think you're absolutely right. Sometimes it's hard to get in all the water that we need to, especially when it's hot and we need a little bit of extra water. That taste of that sweet citrus can be such a good companion. 

Samantha: Yeah, it's a great motivator to drink more, for sure. 

doTERRA: So the next category would be kind of the tangy citrus oils, things like Lemon, Lime, Bergamot, Green Mandarin, and Grapefruit. What are some of your favorite ways to use these oils internally?

Samantha: So Lemon and Lime are my favorite go-to oils for cooking, especially in the summer. I use these in salsas or guacamole, along with a little bit of Cilantro oil, for both the taste and the internal benefits—like you mentioned about the internal cleansing and internal emotional benefits we can get from those oils.

doTERRA: Oh, those in a guacamole would be so fresh, and then you don't have to worry about having the fresh ingredients around the house.

Samantha: Exactly. It's divine.

doTERRA: So what are some other ways that I could incorporate these fun citrus oils around the house? 

Samantha: So we all know such as oils are ideal oils for cleaning. But, for me, if I ever need to use a harsher cleaner to remove a stubborn stain or some soap scum, I really like to add a few drops of Grapefruit and Lemon in the bottle cleaner. It adds a bright, fresh aroma—kind of cuts that harsh cleaner if I really have to use something a little heavier—but also helps to clean the stubborn surface. So it adds and it boosts those cleaning benefits.

Also lemon mix with some Arborvitae makes for a great wood cleaner. So that's awesome for, you know, wood tables. But as always, test the oils you're using on a small, inconspicuous area before, just to make sure you're not going to damage your surface, because some of the finishes can be a little touchy to these citrus oils.

doTERRA: Those are great ideas and such a good alternative to some of the harsh chemicals that we would be bringing into our house otherwise for that cleaning and different things. 

Samantha: Yeah, it's definitely—they are great alternatives. 

doTERRA: So the last category that I think we could lump these citrus oils into is kind of the bright citrus oils. And these two are the citrus blends that we have: the Citrus Bliss and doTERRA Cheer. 

As part of our product marketing team, you know, you have some experience with the creation of these oils. What was the thought behind creating these two essential oil blends? 

Samantha: Well, Citrus Bliss is simply inspired by an orange creamsicle. When you smell that, you really get that vanilla ice cream and that sweet, tangy orange. We wanted to create a fresh, summery blend that still reminded us of, you know, simpler days in the sun while enjoying that sweet classic ice cream treat. Diffused, it smells just like an orange creamsicle. 

And then as part of the emotional aromatherapy program, Cheer actually combines citruses and spices, which is on that aromatherapy wheel. And they've been shown to inspire optimism while uplifting a low attitude.

doTERRA: And so, you mentioned diffusing and you mentioned the emotional benefits with the Cheer. How can you utilize these citrus blends every day in your life?

Samantha: I feel like Citrus Bliss is amazing diffused from spring all through summer. I also like to put a few drops on a paper towel, then put that at the bottom of my garbage bin. I found it helps with any unpleasant smells, kind of kicks those smells. 

And then Cheer is one of my favorites from the emotional aromatherapy line, actually. It's the one that I diffuse whenever I need a different type of citrus blend. The spices actually perfectly complement the citrus profile. So I generally use it late summer to fall to warm up the house a bit with those spices, while still keeping it fresh, energized, still having that citrus aroma that you love in the summer.

doTERRA: That sounds amazing. And like you said, they can be used all at different times of the year, whenever you feel that connection with them. I think that's beautiful. 

Samantha: Yeah! 

doTERRA: Samantha, is there anything else that you'd like to share about the citrus oils in general? Why you love them?

Samantha: They are just so easy to use. There's no reason why you shouldn't have a few citrus oils laying around your house. I have a few in every bathroom, in my kitchen, in every room, around every diffuser. They’re so symbol to diffuse, so simple to uplift and brighten any atmosphere. I think that everyone should have a few citrus bottles around their home. 

doTERRA: Well thank you so much for being with us today, for sharing your incredible advice on utilizing these oils every day in your home. 

Samantha: Yeah, thank you so much for having me.

doTERRA: Thanks for joining us and congratulations on living a healthier lifestyle with essential oils. If you liked what you heard today, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. Also, if you want to try any of the products you learned about, go to doterra.com or find a Wellness Advocate near you to place an order today.