Lime Essential Oil (Peruvian Lime flavor)

What it is

Yes, there is citrus in our Peruvian Lime drops, and it comes from lime essential oil, not from hemp. Lime oil is taken from the fruit of Citrus aurantifolia, either pressed cold from the peel or distilled. Chemistry references describe it as mostly limonene, the same terpene that makes lemons and oranges smell like citrus, plus smaller amounts of terpinene, terpinolene and terpineol. The exact mix changes with the fruit and the method. Cold-pressed oil keeps a sharper, greener note. Distilled oil is softer. We don't have a verified answer on which method our supplier uses, so we won't claim one.

Why lime? Hemp tastes earthy and a bit bitter, and an MCT carrier oil adds almost no flavor of its own. A little real essential oil covers that without sugar, sweeteners or artificial flavor. Lime is bright and clean, which suits people who find the Natural flavor too plant-like and don't want mint. It is also a food flavoring: lime oil is on the FDA's generally recognized as safe list for use in food, at flavoring amounts. That is a statement about tiny flavoring doses, not a reason to take lime oil on its own.

A fair warning, because the internet has two different lime oil stories. Straight essential oil is potent, should never be swallowed neat, and cold-pressed lime oil can make skin sensitive to sunlight, so it doesn't belong on your skin undiluted. None of that applies to a drop of flavored hemp oil taken under the tongue, but it's why we only use it in small amounts. Lime and other citrus oils are also a poor fit for dogs and cats. That's why our pet oil is bacon flavored and has no lime in it. Never give a Peruvian Lime oil to a pet; the pet bottle is the one made for them.

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