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Orange Oil Recipe



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Orange Oil is available commercially, or you can make your own:

 

Put a bunch of citrus peelings in a container and cover them with water. Let them sit for a couple of days, then strain off the liquid. You can extract more oil by simmering the peelings.

 

The strength of homemade orange oil varies significantly, so you will have to experiment when using it in recipes. It is impossible to duplicate the concentration of commercial orange oil or d-limonene.

 

Orange oil is a pleasant smelling solvent. Commercial d-limonene at full strength can replace a wide variety of products, including mineral spirits, methly ethyl ketone, acetone, toluene and glycol ethers. Be careful when using strong solutions since it can melt plastic and ruin paint finishes. For most practical purposes, 1 - 2 ounces per gallon of water should be the maximum concentration.

 


 

QUESTION: I am in the fifth grade and I am doing a science fair project. I was wondering if you had the recipe for orange oil you could send to me. I was wondering how orange oil kills bugs. I really need a good grade on this project. C.W., Dallas

 

ANSWER: Orange oil that is strong enough to kill insects will be a little hard to make at home. The commercial technique extracts the oil from the orange peelings, creating a solvent-like material that will melt the exoskeletons of insects. The strongest oil you can make at home would be to cook a cup of peelings with a cup of water. The resulting liquid will probably kill insects but I don't know how much it can be diluted and still kill. Whether it kills insects or not, it will be a strong cleaning material and the fragrance is pleasant. If it is used on the ground, it is good for the soil and plant roots. Good luck.

 

 

 

 

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