Exploring Citrus Oils - Lowest Quality Synthetic Grade

Today's post will help you understand how some companies label ORANGE oil on cleaning products (as if it's a miracle molecule). They do NOT use the high quality Genuine Grade Orange oil that you have. They use Synthetic or Manipulated Grades of Orange Oil. This post deals with SYNTHETIC Orange oil.

The most abundant molecule in Orange oil is D-Limonene. D-Limonene makes up 95% of Orange oil.

The manufacturers of cleaning products has 2 choices: Synthetic D-Limonene or Extracted D-Limonene from natural oils.

SYNTHETIC D-Limonene
D-Limonene can me made in chemical factories from refined petroleum chemicals. They are often referred to as "D-Limonene Solvent", "D-Limonene Cleaner", or "D-Limonene Degreaser".

D-Limonene is also known as R-(+)-Limonene. It's aroma is: "fresh, citrus, orange-like".

There is another Limonene molecule that is the mirror image of D-Limonene; it's called L-Limonene or S-(-)-Limonene. The aroma of L-Limonene is: "harsh, turpentine-like, lemon note."

There are synthetic versions of both D-Limonene and L-Limonene. These are not to be mistaken for natural Orange oil. Sometimes companies market them as "Orange oil". This is rock-bottom Synthetic Grade Orange oil. Beware!!!!

SOURCE:  Dr. Cole Woolley