6 Surprising Uses of Petitgrain Essential Oil Which You Might Not Know About

The essential oil of petitgrain is actually uniquely derived from Citrus Aurantium. Now, for those who are unfamiliar with the plant’s botanical or scientific name, it is actually derived from the refreshing orange fruit!

While orange essential oil is extracted from the peels of the orange through a process of cold compression, petitgrain oil is extracted from the leaves and twigs of the orange tree through a process of steam distillation. Literally every part of the orange plant is extremely beneficial.

It actually has a fresh, citrusy, woody and orange-like fragrance and it is widely used in the perfume industry as it provides a much herbaceous aroma that is popular amongst both men and women. Yet, besides its aromatic fragrance, petitgrain essential oil also boasts a variety of health benefits, which would be described in greater detail below.

Health Benefits of Petitgrain Essential Oil:

1. As a Potent Antiseptic

Like many essential oils out there, petitgrain essential oil is also a powerful antiseptic, capable of ridding bacteria from festering on open wounds, sores and cuts. It ultimately prevents them from becoming septic, which means it prevents the bacterial strain of S.aureus (which can be dangerous) from setting in.

Therefore, it lowers the risks of such wounds from incurring infections that can complicate the healing process and pose problems for the physical health of your body. Instead, it facilitates a much rapid healing process for the body.

How to Use it: On open wounds, cuts or scrapes on the skin, you can dilute petitgrain oil with a carrier oil such as almond, coconut or jojoba oil in a 1:1 ratio and apply onto the affected areas.

2. As a Powerful Antidepressant

Petitgrain is also an effective antidepressant as its sedative and relaxing qualities help to uplift your emotional spirits and combat feelings of depression, bouts of low self-esteem and self-doubt. Its refreshing scent is able to help alleviate anxiety, stress and even anger as it is very calming and sedative.

Thus, you do not need to rely on prescribed antidepressant drugs from pharmacies anymore, when petitgrain essential oil is here to save the day!

As such, this also helps promote a restful and peaceful sleep since it combats feelings of stress and anxiety - factors which can cause insomnia in the first place.

How to Use it: You can diffuse a few drops of the oil in a diffuser or vaporizer. For an even enhanced result, try adding 4 drops of petitgrain, 3 drops of bergamot and 2 drops of grapefruit essential oils into the diffuser and let the aromatic wafts engulf you for a soothing scent. You can also add 4 drops of petitgrain and 2 drops of ylang-ylang in a cup of Epsom salts and pour this mixture in a tub of warm, bathing water for an emotional relief bath.

3. As a Strong Antispasmodic Agent

Spasms are actually involuntary and unwanted contractions in the muscles, tissues and nerves. These can be painful and discomforting to many. Spasms in the respiratory organs may result in lung congestion and breathing troubles while spasms in the gastrointestinal organs may result in painful abdominal cramps. As such, it is important to relieve yourself from such spasmodic episodes.

Luckily, petitgrain possesses strong antispasmodic qualities which helps to alleviate such spasmodic attacks and soothes these muscles, tissues and nerves as it promotes relaxation and sedates them. As such, it helps to manage and prevent spasms from occurring too frequently, thus providing immense pain relief.

How to Use it: Simply massage diluted petitgrain oil onto your abdominal area if you are suffering from abdominal cramps and if you are suffering from lung congestion or painful coughing spells, try creating a steam inhalation by adding a few drops of the oil into a bowl of hot water and slowly inhale the vapors emanating out. You can also rub diluted petitgrain oil onto your chest area.

4. As a Great Deodorant

Petitgrain essential oil, with its woody and floral fragrance, makes for a great deodorizing agent! It has been alluded to earlier that it is widely used in the perfume industry but its antibacterial properties present also helps to curb growth of bacteria on your body. As such, it helps to rid body odour and bad smells, leaving a fresh and refreshing scent in its wake instead!

How to Use it: You can apply diluted petitgrain oil onto your wrists and neck area as a deodorant agent. Alternatively, you can add about 3-4 drops of the oil in a spritz bottle containing water and spray on your body.

5. As a Useful Nervine Agent

Besides that, it is also quite a potent nerve tonic as it induces a soothing and relaxing effect on the nerves, thus helping to alleviate anxiety and fear. It also calms you down from episodic bouts of shock, thus being useful in calming nervous afflictions, convulsions, epilepsy and hysteria. Coupled with its anti-spasmodic benefits which helps to treat abnormal palpitations, it helps to mitigate the risks of seizure attacks.

Furthermore, it helps to boost the overall health of your nervous system, thus making it good for the central nervous system in general.

How to Use it: You can diffuse a few drops of the oil in your diffuser or vaporizer and slowly inhale the aromatic wafts emanating out. Alternatively, you can dilute the oil with a carrier oil of your choice (such as rosehip, jojoba or almond oil) in a 1:1 ratio and gently rub on your temples and back of the neck area to help alleviate the abovementioned conditions related to the nervous system.

6. As a Good Skincare Agent

Additionally, petitgrain is also a good skincare agent, especially if you are suffering from oily skin! It actually helps to balance and regulate oil secretion, thus preventing an excessive formation and secretion of sebum on your face.

This hence helps to keep oil and sebum levels under control. Thus, petitgrain oil also helps to mitigate the occurrences of pimples, acne, blemishes, whiteheads and blackheads to promote a much smoother and healthier complexion!

How to Use it: You can add a few drops of petitgrain essential oil onto your facial moisturizer to keep sebum levels under control. Alternatively, you can create a blend consisting of 3 drops of petitgrain, 2 drops of ylang-ylang and 4 drops of sandalwood oils in a base of coconut oil to be applied directly onto the face.

Safety Precautions:

When applying petitgrain essential oil onto your skin, be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil first in a 1:1 ratio and do a skin patch test by applying it onto a non-sensitive part of your skin first to ensure there are no sensitive or allergic reactions experienced.
If you are pregnant or nursing, do consult your doctor first for professional medical advice before using petitgrain oil as a form of treatment.
Keep out of reach from eyes, ears and nose area.

Petitgrain essential oil blends well with bergamot, geranium, palmarosa, rosewood, lavender and sandalwood essential oils.