Ingredient
Lime oil
What is Lime oil?
Lime oil is an essential oil extracted from the peel of limes, primarily through cold-pressing or steam distillation processes. It captures the fresh and tangy essence of limes, making it a popular choice in various applications.
Lime oil is commonly used for its strong, citrusy aroma and flavor, which makes it a popular ingredient in foods and beverages as a natural flavoring. In the realm of personal care and cleaning products, it is often included for its fragrance. While lime oil has been traditionally considered safe when used in appropriate amounts, some components in the oil, like citral and limonene, can cause skin sensitivity, especially when exposed to sunlight.
When you see lime oil on a label, it generally indicates the product aims to incorporate a natural citrus flavor or scent. It's useful to check for any skin sensitivity warnings, especially in leave-on personal care products.
Commonly found in: foods, beverages, home_essentials, makeup, cleaning, supplements
What to watch
- Potential for skin sensitivity in sunlight due to furocoumarins.
Lime oil is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in food products by the FDA.
Research highlights both the flavor benefits and caution against phototoxicity in concentrated skin applications.
Lime oil is derived from plants and is typically considered vegan-friendly.
Sources: Lime Oil GRAS Notice
Scout's take
Authenticity testing (UC Davis, 2026 — doi 10.1016/j.afres.2026.102389) found the avocado oil used in this product line not compositionally consistent with authentic avocado oil in every lot of the line's products tested — the fatty-acid profile indicates dilution with cheaper seed oils, so the label's oil claim cannot be relied on.
The case for
Adds natural citrus flavor and aroma, enhancing the sensory profile of foods.
from the analysis of Siete Lime Tortilla Chips - 5ozFound in 1 product
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