Orange essential oil has a long list of benefits, whether you use it for aromatherapy, skincare, hair care, or any other purpose. However, there isn’t just one orange essential oil – there are different types with unique properties.
Among the different varieties, bitter orange and sweet orange essential oils are commonly compared with each other. If you’re planning to use bitter orange or sweet orange essential oils, it is critical to know their differences. After all, they are completely different in many regards, even though they both derive from orange.
In this bitter orange vs sweet orange essential oil article, we will cover all the differences to note about these two types of essential oils. Read on to discover everything you need to know about their differences.
What Is Bitter Orange Essential Oil?
Bitter orange essential oil comes from the Citrus aurantium tree, which produces a more tangy fruit that isn’t very edible like the orange we eat. This essential oil is obtained from the peel of the fruit. It has a sharp aroma, which indicates to those experienced with essential oils that it has high phototoxicity. This means that it reacts badly to UV light due to the compounds in it, making it difficult to use for skin care when used outside if not diluted properly.
In addition to skincare, bitter orange essential oil mainly has uses in perfumery, along with traditional medicine for digestive issues. However, never use bitter orange essential oil, or any other, to treat the symptoms of a disease unless advised by your doctor.
What Is Sweet Orange Essential Oil?
Sweet orange essential oil is extracted from the peel of the Citrus sinensis fruit. It is the same species of orange that we eat, so it isn’t as unfamiliar as the fruit used for extracting bitter orange essential oil. This essential oil can be used for aromatherapy, skincare, and natural cleaning products. Sweet orange essential oil is also quite gentle and more forgiving to dilution mistakes when using it for one’s skin.
As the name suggests, sweet orange essential oil has a sweet, cheerful citrus aroma, which makes it popular for aromatherapy to boost mood and awareness.
Bitter Orange vs Sweet Orange Essential Oil: Top Differences
Since you now know more about both bitter orange essential oil and sweet orange essential oil, here are the top differences to note. Understanding these differences will enable you to find the right one for your use case.
- Source: Bitter orange essential oil is extracted from Citrus aurantium, which isn’t edible and a bitter type of orange, whereas sweet orange essential oil comes from Citrus sinensis, the same orange that we eat fresh.
- Smell: Bitter orange essential oil has an intense, tart smell, while sweet orange essential oil emits a sweet, almost candy-like aroma.
- Phototoxicity: As mentioned, while bitter orange essential oil is phototoxic, sweet orange essential oil isn’t.
- Chemical Compounds: Sweet orange essential oil has an abundance of limonene, whereas bitter orange essential oil has a much smaller amount of limonene but includes other chemical compounds, such as linalyl and furocoumarins, which can have their own benefits.
- Availability: Lastly, the availability of these essential oils varies, with sweet orange essential oil being much more common than bitter orange essential oil. The latter is more niche, but you can find it in large online essential oil stores easily.
Bitter Orange vs Sweet Orange Essential Oil: Which One to Buy?
Bitter orange and sweet orange essential oils have their own differences. It would be wrong to say that one is better than the other, as both have their unique properties. Choosing which one to buy ultimately comes down to your use case and individual needs. For instance, sweet orange essential oil is better at uplifting the mood, whereas bitter orange essential oil is considered superior for relieving digestive issues.
Once you know which one to buy, you can purchase essential oils wholesale to save costs if you plan on using your chosen orange essential oil on a regular basis. If using the essential oil for skin or other uses that require dilution, we also recommend buying your carrier oil in bulk to save costs, as both essential oils and carrier oils cost significantly less per use as the bottle gets bigger. However, be mindful of the expiration date, as they don’t last forever.