# What is Orange Oil Supposed to Do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 1, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774 "2002-11-01T00:10:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/1 "2002-11-01T00:10:54Z")
More and more cleaning products are including orange oil in their list of ingredients. What exactly is orange oil supposed to to? And what advantage is it supposed to have over, say, lemon oil? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/2 "2002-11-01T01:11:43Z")
> [@](#): > > What exactly is orange oil supposed to to? make you buy the product > [@](#): > > And what advantage is it supposed to have over, say, lemon oil? it sounds ‘new and improved’ and makes you more likely to buy the product. As to any true advantages, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/3 "2002-11-01T01:34:38Z")
The main ingredient is [d-limolene](http://www.floridachemical.com/whatisd-limonene.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/4 "2002-11-01T01:44:41Z")
BILLY MAYS HERE,TO DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF ORANGE CLEAN! Clean, polish and renew any wood surface to a gorgeous luster. Use Orange Glo Wood Cleaner & Polish On hardwood and no-wax furniture… To remove dirt and dust, fingerprints and waxy buildup… To hide minor scratches, nicks, scuffs and watermarks. With the natural cleaning power of pure orange oil, Orange Glo also works on Formica, metals, porcelain and vinyl. Apply with a soft cloth or directly to surface. Let stand for half a minute. Wipe off for radiant results. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/5 "2002-11-01T02:49:42Z")
Orange essential oil is great for getting gooey sticky stuff off, and for cutting grease. I just keep a small bottle of it on hand and use it straight when I need it. That way you can also add it to potpourri or a simmer pot to make your house smell good. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/6 "2002-11-01T02:58:13Z")
I also keep a small bottle on hand. Never tried it for general cleaning, but as bodypoet says, it’s great for getting gooey sticky stuff off. ---
**Author:** ![antechinus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@antechinus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/antechinus)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/7 "2002-11-01T03:04:06Z")
Orange oil is probably cheaper than lemon. They both contain the same solvent - each has a few unique terpenes that give the characteristic odours. The oil comes from the peel, and: US annual orange production 15 million tons US annual lemon production 1 million tons So you just have to market the stuff. People still think - oh, its natural it must be good. You have to admit though, orange is a pretty yummy smell. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/8 "2002-11-01T03:35:47Z")
Quintas: With how hyped up Billy Mays is, I’d say that’s incentive to not buy anything he touts. Sheesh, I thought the Engergizer Bunny was bad until I caught one of ol’ Bill’s infomercials. ---
**Author:** ![pud\_lumpkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@pud\_lumpkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pud_lumpkins)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/9 "2002-11-01T03:49:59Z")
hehe, Billy Mays is a freak. He seems like a pedophile. or not… ---
**Author:** ![pud\_lumpkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@pud\_lumpkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pud_lumpkins)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/10 "2002-11-01T03:54:02Z")
BILLY MAYS HERE,TO DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF SPLOOGE CLEAN! Clean, polish and renew any wood surface to a gorgeous luster. Use Orange Ho Wood Cleaner & Polish On hardons and ho-wax furniture… To remove jizz and cum, sploogestains and waxy buildup… To hide minor scratches, nicks, scuffs and watermarks. With the natural cleaning power of pure splooge oil, Orange Ho also works on Formica, metals, porcelain and condoms. Apply with a soft cloth or directly to penis. Let stand for half a minute. Wipe off for radiant results.! ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/11 "2002-11-01T09:24:10Z")
Orange oil is also a highly potent allergene and should be used very carefully. I wouldn’t come near it if avoidable. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/12 "2002-11-01T16:32:25Z")
Its not just for show. Limonene is a hydrocarbon, and is a good solvent for greases, oil etc. It is often used commercially as a non-toxic cleaner ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-orange-oil-supposed-to-do/134774/13 "2002-11-01T18:20:20Z")
Just how old are you, **pud\_lumpkins**?