Orange scent linked to lower anxiety and better mood in women
Lehrner 2000, Physiol Behav · Source
Sweet Orange
Citrus sinensis hydrosol · certified organic
A bright, cheerful top note in the Tonic. We use sweet orange as a steam-distilled hydrosol, a gentle plant water, rather than a concentrated essential oil.
72people in a dental waiting-room scent study
Hydrosola gentle plant water, not an essential oil
Sun-friendlynot known to make skin sun-sensitive
Why we love it
Sweet orange adds a bright top note to the Tonic, balancing the warm cedarwood. Unlike some citrus oils, sweet orange is not known to make skin sensitive to sun.
What does the research show?
Mood and calm
In a lab stress test, healthy volunteers who smelled sweet orange felt less anxious, without feeling sleepy. In a dental waiting room study of 72 people, women who smelled orange scent felt calmer and less anxious than those who didn't. A larger study of 219 dental patients found no effect, so results are mixed.
Studies
Human study tested in people Lab study a starting point, not proof
How has it been used traditionally?
Orange peel oil is widely used in food flavoring and fragrance.
Is sweet orange safe on my skin?
In the Tonic, sweet orange is a hydrosol, far less concentrated than the essential oil used in the scent studies above. Its main scent compound, limonene, can cause skin allergy once it has been exposed to air, so keep the cap on, and patch test first if you're sensitive to fragrance.
Last reviewed: November 2026.
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Reviewed by the Momotaro Apotheca medical team, including OB-GYNs and naturopathic doctors. Educational information, not medical advice. All ingredient research