We LOVE anything citrusy here at Little Soap HQ, and we know that you guys do too! But did you know that the citrus-based essential oils we use in our soaps are chosen not just for their amazing smell, but their amazing health benefits too? Read on to find out more about everything citrus: 5 little benefits you need to know about!
What do we mean by ‘citrus’?
Before we start, we thought we’d quickly cover what exactly we class as ‘citrus’, as the term actually refers to a group of essential oils. So when we say ‘citrus’, we’re talking about essential oils that are derived from members of the citrus family- such as orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit. You can check the ingredients of any of our citrus soaps to see which essential oils we’ve used to bring you our signature zing! And now, on to the amazing benefits of citrus…
Citrus is a mood booster
Sink into a tub fragranced with our amazing Grapefruit & Orange bubble bath, or wake up with a steamy shower infused with our Naturals Lemon Zest bar soap and you’ll get it straight away. You’ll feel invigorated and energised- and there’s a very good reason why.
Citrus essential oils are known mood boosters, working to balance hormones, ease stress and anxiety, and soothe the mind. Studies that have looked further into this have found that aromatic molecules in citrus are able have a direct impact on the areas of the brain that control feelings of anxiety and depression. So when the nerve cells in your nose detect the smell of citrus, a message is sent to the limbic system in your brain- the part that is linked to emotional well-being and pleasure- and the result is an almost instant feeling of happiness. Clever, huh?
Citrus is an energy booster
For similar reasons to the above, citrus also has the ability to boost your energy levels too. Grapefruit in particular is wonderful for giving you a little more spring in your step- one of the reasons why we love starting our day with the Grapefruit & Orange soap bar!
Citrus is naturally antibacterial
For centuries, citrus essential oils have been used to clean and protect- which is yet another reason why we use them in our soap bars! The antibacterial properties of citrus help to fight germs and are actually amazing at tackling cleaning jobs around the house too! Citrus oils also have powerful antioxidant properties that work to neutralise harmful free radicals. These antioxidants also help to protect the immune system too- so an all-round win-win situation!
It’s also worth noting that citrus, in particular lemon, has protective properties when it comes to your skin- with the ability to reduce inflammation and brighten the skin too. Try our gorgeous Eco Warrior Exfoliating bar, which blends lemon with sweet orange essential oils for a refreshing, deep cleaning all over skin treat!
Citrus is great for ‘problem’ skin
You might not be surprised to hear that citrus essential oils have been found to be beneficial for certain skin conditions too- including acne. Given what we already know about the powerful antibacterial and antioxidant properties of citrus, along with the astringent qualities found particularly in lemon, you’ll see why we use it in our Eco Warriors Beauty Edit Cleansing Bar too. Its also a great addition to our Eco Warriors Shaving bar, thanks to its ability to reduce inflammation.
Citrus smells amazing!
Let’s take a moment to talk about just how amazing citrus smells. If all of the above wasn’t enough for you, then surely the aroma alone is worth it?! But why do we love the smell of citrus so much? The answer goes back to all of the benefits already listed; it makes us feel good physically and mentally- plus, it cleans and refreshes too. These positive associations work to make the aroma of citrus very pleasing to most- and we just cannot get enough of it!
