Imagine a warm summer day, laying in soft green grass watching clouds float across the sky. It may be a day for a good book or quiet picnic. It may be a day for fresh fruit. There is something wonderfully refreshing about biting into an orange and letting the juice fill your taste buds. Even more exciting, may be the lesser known citrus delight: the Blood Orange. It’s complex and multifaceted in a way that extends to its essential oil.

Native to Asia, orange trees grow up to 20-30 feet. The trees produce glossy leaves and aromatic white flowers that develop into delicious fruit. The peel of the orange is extracted through a cold pressed method. Blood Orange is considered a variety of sweet orange and shares the same botanical name. The distinctive dark flesh ‘blood’ color is due to the plentiful presence of anthocyanins, a family of healthful antioxidant pigments common to many flowers and fruits, but rare in citrus fruits.

Blood Orange is valued by aromatherapists for its invigorating and yet calming aroma. This fascinating duality make it an ideal aroma during stressful days. The essential oil of Blood Orange exhilarates the senses and inspires a positive outlook.